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Updated: Apr 20, 2026
Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
More than half a million older Californians fell repeatedly in the past year
Insights
Falls are a major cause of death and healthcare costs for older Californians. Many older adults experience multiple falls, yet few discuss risk reduction with healthcare professionals.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Injury Prevention
Background:
- Falls are the primary cause of death and medical care utilization among Californians aged 65 and older.
- In 2012, falls resulted in 1,819 deaths, over 72,000 hospitalizations, and 185,000 emergency department visits for older adults in California.
- The annual medical cost of falls in California exceeds $2 billion, with repeated falls posing the highest risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize older Californians who experience recurrent falls.
- To examine the healthcare utilization patterns of older adults with multiple falls.
- To identify actionable strategies for reducing fall risk and associated healthcare costs.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the 2011-2012 California Health Interview Survey.
- Examination of demographic and health-related characteristics of individuals aged 65 and over who reported multiple falls.
- Review of healthcare usage data associated with fall-related injuries.
Main Results:
- 12.6% of older Californians (556,000 individuals) reported falling more than once in the past year.
- A significant gap exists in discussions between older adults experiencing multiple falls and health professionals regarding risk reduction.
- Individuals with repeated falls represent a high-risk group with substantial healthcare utilization.
Conclusions:
- Falls represent a critical public health issue for older Californians, incurring significant mortality, morbidity, and economic costs.
- There is a need for targeted interventions and policy changes to address recurrent falls in the older adult population.
- Facilitating conversations about fall risk reduction between patients and healthcare providers is essential for mitigating future falls and healthcare expenditures.
Abstract:
Falls are the leading injury-related cause of death and of medical care use among Californians ages 65 and over. In 2012, there were 1,819 deaths due to falls among older Californians. More than 72,000 hospitalizations were caused by fall injuries among older adults during that year, along with more than 185,000 emergency department (ED) visits. The medical costs alone of falls in the state have been estimated to be over $2 billion annually. Those who have fallen more than once are at the highest risk of injury and further falls. Data from the 2011-2012 California Health Interview Survey show that 12.6 percent of older Californians, or 556,000 individuals, had fallen more than once during the past year. Very few of those experiencing multiple falls discussed how to reduce their risk with a health professional. This policy brief details the characteristics of older Californians who have repeated falls, their health care use, and the actions they can take to reduce the risk of future falls. It also provides policy suggestions for reducing the risk of falls among older Californians and decreasing the costs to the medical care system.
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