Elder Law

Study Warns of Hazards for Elderly Using Walking Aids

By Levin & Perconti

A study shows that about 47,000 elderly Americans are treated in emergency rooms each year from falls associated with walkers and canes. An epidemiologist at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention stated that walking aids can be a hazard if not used properly. The study found that 87 percent of fall injuries involved walkers and 12 percent involved canes. A statistical analysis estimates that there are 47,312 falls a year that involve a cane or walker. Sixteen percent of the falls involving walkers occurred at nursing homes. Doctors should consider taking more time to show patients how to use walkers properly and that additional research could lead to design improvements for walking aids. To read more about the fall study, please click the link.

Full post as published by Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog on July 05, 2009 (boomark / email).