Falls, aging, and disability

Falls are a major public health problem, contributing to significant morbidity and mortality among older adults in the US. This paper summarizes and compares – (a) fall prevalence rates, (b) fall risk factors, (c) consequences of falls, and (d) current knowledge about fall prevention interventions - between community-dwelling older adults and people aging with physical disability. In this latter group, we focus on individuals with multiple sclerosis, late-effects polio, muscular dystrophies and spinal cord injuries.