PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Arizona is home to more than a million people ages 65 and older and falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths for that population.
Data show it’s a mounting problem in our state, with an increasing amount of falls causing hospitalizations and deaths every year.
Doctors say that is likely because our population is growing and aging.
There are hazards and uneven surfaces all over the place. Something as a simple as a single step or a rug can lead to a deadly fall for seniors.
“I Miss him dearly,” said Dr. Tara Ostrom, senior medical director at Optum.
Her father, Ronald Ostrom, enjoyed a full life.
A World War II veteran, Ronald raised three children with his wife and had several careers. At one point, his job was to introduce technology into health care systems.
“Back in the day when it was just paper,” said Dr. Ostrom. “He was very proud that I went into the medical field.”
It’s been five years since Ronald died.
“It was five days after his 94th birthday,” she said.
The beginning of the end was something Dr. Ostrom saw coming.
“He had a fall, which wasn’t the first fall and had a traumatic brain injury,” said Dr. Ostrom.
She said her dad’s stubborn nature is common among seniors.
“He didn’t always like grabbing that walker, made him feel old and he didn’t think he was old at 94,” said Dr. Ostrom.
Many of her patients share that “don’t tell me what to do” attitude.
“They’re all convinced they’re not going to have a fall, but what they can resonate with is that preserve independence,” said Dr. Ostrom.
Every year, millions of Americans are hurt, hospitalized, or die after a fall.
“This is a huge problem in Arizona,” said Dr. Ostrom.
Dr. Ostrom said falls are not an inevitable fate. They are preventable.
“Get up from the chair. Hold your walker. Hold your cane and just wait. Maybe count to ten and then wait. Give your body that time so it can adjust,” she said.
Building strength and balance can make a big difference.
To reduce the risk, Optum Community Centers across the Valley offer free classes like chair yoga, drumming, and dance.
Dr. Ostrom said avoiding non-essential medications can help, too.
Side effects like confusion and drowsiness often contribute to tumbles.
She said grab bars are a good idea to add in the bathroom to avoid slips.
As you age, she said the worst thing you can do is nothing.
“Even like a fear of falls where people get so unsteady and they’re fearful so they get more sedentary and then more weak and that increases the likelihood of falls,” said Dr. Ostrom.
If a senior does fall, smart watches can be life-saving, especially if they live alone.
Fall detection technology alerts family and even emergency services right away.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Copyright 2025 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.