Press Release

06-30-09
Jerry Carey
856-566-6171
careyge@umdnj.edu

UMDNJ Geriatrician Available to Discuss New Research on Falls in Older Adults

Media interested in arranging an interview with Dr. Anita Chopra should contact Jerry Carey at (856) 566-6171 or (973) 972-3000.

STRATFORD - Each year, one out of every three people over the age of 65 falls resulting in nearly 16,000 deaths. Government statistics estimate that 1.8 million older adults who fall are treated each year in hospital emergency rooms for nonfatal injuries - including bruises, fractures and head trauma - and that 433,000 of those individuals need to be hospitalized because of their injuries. Research published this month in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society has found that a significant number of those falls – an average of 129 per day – involved the use of walkers and canes, the very devices that millions rely on to help them avoid the dangers posed by falling.

“Falls are a particularly serious health hazard for the elderly,” said Dr. Anita Chopra, a geriatrician and the director of the New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging at the UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine. “When an older person falls, there’s a 20 to 30 percent chance of an injury that could result in an extended period of convalescence or limit that person’s ability to live independently.”

Noting that the study found that more than half (56 percent) of the falls that caused injury occurred in the home, Chopra said that having an assistive device like a cane or walker isn’t enough to ensure safety from falling.

“There are many falling hazards in the home,” she said. “Clothing that is too long, shoes or slippers that don’t provide good support, clutter, loose rugs or poorly lit rooms can all contribute to falls.”

According to Chopra, falling isn’t an inevitable part of aging.

“As we grow older, the likelihood of a fall and the chance that the fall will cause some sort of injury, increase,” she said. “Taking proactive steps – including exercise to improve balance and strength, being aware that some medications can affect balance, getting regular vision checks and getting prompt medical attention for any pain or difficulties with your ears – will help to keep falls out of your life as you age.”

The UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine is dedicated to providing excellence in medical education, research and health care for New Jersey and the nation. Working in cooperation with Kennedy Memorial Hospitals-University Medical Center, its principal affiliate, the UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine places an emphasis on primary health care and community health services that reflect its osteopathic philosophy, with centers of excellence that demonstrate its commitment to developing clinically skillful, compassionate and culturally competent physicians from diverse backgrounds, who are prepared to become leaders in their communities.