Assessment, Management and Reduction of Falls in the Older person - Essay Example

This concept indicates a factual phenomenon that the life span of people aged 60 and above has steadily increased in the past half century. There are over 600 million in 2000; 1.2 billion in 2025 and 2 billion in 2050 (WHO). This phenomenon has created a huge sector in the society, which is comprised by people from age 60 and above. The occurrence of this size of a population of people who are 60 and above is unheard of, throughout recorded history because certain conditions meant that people normally and generally lived only until an average of thirty-five.

However, with the advancement of medical technology the increasing number of people who survive to above 60 years old is a commonality (WHO 1999). Moreover, the ageing population phenomenon is a global concern (WHO). This means that almost all countries across the globe except for some countries in Africa are experiencing the dramatic increased of an ageing population (WHO). In this regard, looking into the conditions and concerns of the elderly members of the society has become one of the major interests of both the government, especially policy makers, and some non-governmental organizations (WHO).

As governments respond to the phenomenon of ageing population, one concern that has become dominant in their sector is the problem of the results of a fall. This is due to the fact that one of the major causes for morbidity within the elderly population is a fall. Every year, oe third of those over the age of 65 experience a fall with an increase in incidences occurring with the increase in age. More than 50% of women who are over the age of 85 experience a fall within a year. (Pearse 2004: 478).

Furthermore, injuries resulting into fall are not only a major cause of death among the elderly but that it “imposes an enormous public health burden world-wide” (Devroey et al 2002: 113). As well, the issues with falls is a concern where costs of the results of the fall impact the health care