Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Injury Prevention

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Geriatric Trauma and Critical Care

  • 1506 Accesses

Abstract

The elderly population is the fastest-growing segment of the population in industrialized countries. According to the US Census Bureau, between the year 2012 and 2050, the population of those aged 65 and older is estimated to nearly double from an estimated 43.1 million in 2012 to a projected 83.7 million in 2050 [7]. Injury prevention is vital to maintaining and improving the quality of life and reducing the morbidity and mortality of the elderly.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/falls/data/cost-estimates.html.

  2. Ambrose A, Paul G, Hausdorff J. Risk factors for falls among older adults: a review of the literature. Maturitas. 2013:51–61. Retrieved 4 May 2015, from www.elsevier.com/locate/maturitas.

  3. Hill A, Hoffmann T, Beer C, Mcphail S, Hill K, Oliver D, Haines T. Falls after discharge from hospital: is there a gap between older peoples’ knowledge about falls prevention strategies and the research evidence? Gerontologist. 2011;51(5):653–62. doi:10.1093/geront/gnr052.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Lachs M, Pillemer K. Abuse and neglect of elderly persons. N Engl J Med. 1995:437–43. doi:10.1056/NEJM199502163320706.

  5. Thompson H, Mccormick W, Kagan S. Traumatic brain injury in older adults: epidemiology, outcomes, and future implications. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2006;54(10):1590–5.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Grundstrom A, Guse C, Layde P. Risk factors for falls and fall-related injuries in adults 85 years of age and older. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2011;54:421–8. doi:10.1016/j.archger.2011.06.008.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Ortman J, Velkoff V, Hogan H. 2014. Http://www.census.gov/prod/2014pubs/p25-1140.pdf. Retrieved 7 May 2015, from http://www.census.gov/prod/2014pubs/p25-1140.pdf.

  8. Chang J, Morton S, Rubenstein L, et al. Interventions for the prevention of falls in older adults: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. BMJ. 2004;328:680. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.328.7441.680.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Muir S, Gopaul K, Odasso M. The role of cognitive impairment in fall risk among older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Age Ageing. 2012;41:299–308. doi:10.1093/ageing/afs012.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. n.d. Retrieved 7 May 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/em-factsheet-a.pdf.

  11. Carande-Kulis V, Stevens J, et al. A cost-benefit analysis of three older adult fall prevention interventions. J Safety Res. 2015;52:65–70. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022437514001170.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Greenberg M, Kane B, et al. Injury due to mechanical falls: future directions in gender-specific surveillance, screening, and interventions in emergency department patients. J Soc Acad Emerg Med. 2014;21(12):1380–5. doi:10.1111/acem.12523.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Gschwind Y, Kressig R. A best practice fall prevention exercise program to improve balance, stength/power, and psychosocial health in older adults: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. BMC Geriactr. 2013;13(105):1471–2318.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kannus P, Sievänen H, Palvanen M, Järvinen T, Parkkari J. Prevention of falls and consequent injuries in elderly people. Lancet. 2005;366:1885–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Older Driver Safety. Guidelines for state highway safety programs. 2014;13:1–5

    Google Scholar 

  16. http://www.aamft.org/iMIS15/AAMFT/Content/Consumer_Updates/Suicide_in_the_Elderly.aspx.

  17. Luoma J. Contact with mental health and primary care providers before suicide: a review of the evidence. Am J Psychiatr. 2002:909–16.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Oquendo M. Ethnic and sex differences in suicide rates relative to major depression in the United States. Am J Psychiatr. 2001;158:1652–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Bamonti P, Price E, Fiske A. Depressive symptoms and suicide risk in older adults: value placed on autonomy as a moderator for men but not women. Suicide Life-Threat Behav. n.d.;44(2):188–99.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Important facts about falls. 2015. Retrieved 12 Nov 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/adultfalls.html.

  21. Tinetti M, Williams C. Falls, injuries due to falls, and the risk of admission to a nursing home. N Engl J Med. 1997:1279–84. doi:10.1056/NEJM199710303371806.

  22. 2015. Retrieved 13 Nov 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/steadi/.

  23. Gillespie L., Robertson M, Gillespie W, Sherrington C, Gates S, Clemson L, Lamb S. 2012. Interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database of Syst Rev (2):CD0071.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Falls prevention programs for older adults | NCOA. 2015. Retrieved 13 Nov 2015, from https://www.ncoa.org/healthy-aging/falls-prevention/falls-prevention-programs-for-older-adults/.

  25. Older adult drivers. 2015. Retrieved 13 Nov 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/older_adult_drivers/.

  26. Automakers pledge to make automatic braking standard. n.d. Retrieved 13 Nov 2015, from http://www.iihs.org/iihs/news/desktopnews/u-s-dot-and-iihs-announce-historic-commitment-from-10-automakers-to-include-automatic-emergency-braking-on-all-new-vehicles.

  27. How to understand & influence older drivers. n.d. Retrieved 13 Nov 2015, from http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/olddrive/UnderstandOlderDrivers/.

  28. Program goals and outcomes. n.d. Retrieved 13 Nov 2015, from http://www.car-fit.org/carfit.

  29. Learn about: CDRS – ADED – the association for driver rehabilitation specialists. n.d. Retrieved 13 Nov 2015, from http://www.aded.net/?page=210.

  30. Anderson J, Petersen N, Kistner C, Soltero E, Willson P. Determining predictors of delayed recovery and the need for transitional cardiac rehabilitation after cardiac surgery. J Am Acad Nurse Pract. n.d.;18(8):386–92.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Read “Cognitive rehabilitation therapy for traumatic brain injury: evaluating the evidence” at NAP.edu. n.d. Retrieved 13 Nov 2015, from http://www.nap.edu/read/13220/chapter/6.

  32. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) [Online]. 2003. National center for injury prevention and control, centers for disease control and prevention (producer). Available from: URL: www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars. [2016 Feb 5].

    Google Scholar 

  33. Ten leading causes of death and injury. 2015. Retrieved 13 Nov 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/LeadingCauses.html.

  34. Important facts about falls. 2016. Retrieved 05 Feb 2016, from http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html.

  35. Falls prevention in older adults: counseling and preventive medication. n.d. Retrieved 05 Feb 2016, from http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/UpdateSummaryFinal/falls-prevention-in-older-adults-counseling-and-preventive-medication.

  36. Lotfipour S, Cisneros V, Chakravarthy B. Emergency departments and older adult motor vehicle collisions. West J Emerg Med. 2013:582–4.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Tinetti ME, Speechley M, Ginter SF. Risk factors for falls among elderly persons living in the community. N Engl J Med. 1988;319(26):1701–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Summary

In order to reduce the burden on emergency departments and hospitals, communities must increase the adoption and utilization of the injury prevention programs that are currently available to the geriatric communities. In addition, further research is required to better understand the root causes of these injuries and the modifications that are needed to reduce an individual’s risk in the future. If left unchecked, the impact of potential injuries the growing geriatric population is at risk for could reach epidemic proportions. Increasing injury prevention knowledge and access is a key component to increasing an older adult’s quality of life, and the additional positive outcome will be the reduction of the burden of geriatric injuries on the nation’s healthcare systems.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. VP Clinical Service, Surgical Service Line, Vice Chairman of Surgery, System Chief Division of Acute Care Surgery, Associate Professor of Surgery, Hofstra/Northwell School of Medicine, Hempstead, NY, USA

    Jeffrey Nicastro MD, FACS, FCCP

Authors
  1. Jeffrey Nicastro MD, FACS, FCCP
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeffrey Nicastro MD, FACS, FCCP .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Stritch School of Medicine Loyola University of Chicago Edward Hines, Jr. Veterans Administration Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois, USA

    Fred A. Luchette

  2. Professor of Surgery, Hofstra School of Medicine Medical Director for Surgical and Perioperative Services, Southside Hospital/Northwell Health, Bay Shore, New York, USA

    Jay A. Yelon

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Nicastro, J. (2017). Injury Prevention. In: Luchette, F., Yelon, J. (eds) Geriatric Trauma and Critical Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48687-1_24

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48687-1_24

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-48685-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-48687-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation