Fall injuries in the elderly.

Injuries are the sixth leading cause of death in the 75-and-over population, with falls the leading cause of injury-related deaths. Hospitals and residential centers for the elderly have high rates of falls and injuries. With increasing age, patients in nursing homes have a corresponding increase in the proportion of fatal falls. The patterns of reduction of injury and mortality in the past two decades are likely to have been the result of our medical and trauma care system's impact on the outcome of less severe injuries. Major improvements in the future will come through prevention.