The most interesting part about the fear of falling is that it increases the risk of falling. The CDC reports that 1 in every 3 adults falls each year and is the major cause of injury deaths. Women are twice likely to suffer fractures after a fall than men of the same age but the rate of deaths from falls is a third higher among men. Annually, more than $30billion of medical expenses are due to falls among the elderly. According to surveys, the greatest fear among the seniors is not crime, financial loss or even being placed in nursing homes rather, it is the fear of hitting the ground.

Fear of falling leads to inactivity and eventually loss of fitness which in turn increases the actual risk of falling. However, as evidenced by Dr. Harley’s mother-in-law fall log, she has fallen in every room and in almost every situation, the fear is somewhat justified. The CDC explains that falls are a largely preventable public health problem with preventive measures including regular exercise, osteoporosis screening, vision examination, review of medication and implementation of home safety measures. However, people believe that fortune has a big role to play. The fall log kept by her father-in-law puts into evidence the endless places that her mother-in-law has fallen that could have been very dangerous or even fatal yet she only came out with minor scratches.

It is a wonder how there have been so many major scientific developments like placing a man on the moon, a car that drives itself yet no solution for falls. I guess not everything can be explained and to some extent, we rely on luck to protect us and our aging parents and alleviate their fear of falling.

Work cited

2013. Roberts, MD., Harley. “Fear of Falling.” The New York Times2013. Web. 5 June 2021.