Falling over at home is the major cause of injury deaths in Victoria. According to the most recent data from the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit, more than a third of all injury deaths occurred in the home. Also, home injuries accounted for around a fifth of all years lived with a disability as a result of injury. Falls on the same level, from slipping, tripping and stumbling, accounted for almost half of all fall deaths.
Further, almost a quarter of hospital admissions and more than a third of injury ED presentations over the period 2009/10-2011/12 were for injuries that occurred in the home. The majority of home fall admissions were females among the three older age groups: 65-74; 75-84 and 85+.
Because the home dominates as the leading setting for injury burden, prevention programs should be a priority.
Go to: www.monash.edu/miru/visu