New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals a troubling trend: fatal falls among older adults are increasing at an alarming rate. 

According to a newly published CDC report, fall death rates among adults aged 65 or more years rose significantly between 2003 and 2023. The report highlights sharp increases in fatal falls across age groups: deaths rose by over 70% for those 65 to 74, exceeded 75% for individuals 75 to 84, and more than doubled among adults 85 and older. 

Men aged 65 and older experienced a particularly sharp increase, with fatal fall rates reaching 74.2 per 100,000, compared to 66.3 per 100,000 among women. The risk intensifies with advancing age, from 19.2 deaths per 100,000 in the youngest group to 339.5 per 100,000 in those 85 and above. The CDC’s findings suggest that without stronger fall prevention and injury mitigation efforts, these numbers may continue to climb as the population ages. 

This data reinforces the urgent need for senior care providers to double down on both proactive fall prevention and harm reduction strategies. While common interventions like gait training, strength-building exercises, and home safety evaluations remain essential, experts emphasize that those measures alone are not enough. 

“Every adult aged 65 years or older should be assessed yearly for fall risk,” CDC officials urge in their report. 

Risk reduction can’t stop at prevention. Even with best efforts in place, falls can and do still happen—making it critical to have systems in place that help minimize harm. Environmental protections, like impact-absorbing flooring, paired with responsive staff training and safety-focused design, can make a measurable difference. 

As fall-related mortality continues to rise, senior care communities have an opportunity to lead with innovation. By embracing a layered approach to fall management—one that prioritizes both prevention and protection—providers can better support the health, safety, and dignity of the aging adults in their care.