THE PROBLEMS OF FALL, RISK FACTORS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT AMONG GERIATRIC POPULATION IN INDIA
Abstract
Falls, road accidents and burns are responsible for the highest rates of mortality among Geriatric Population, particularly in the age group 85 or over. In 2006, with approximately 76.6 million (above 7.7% of total population) India alone accounted for one-seventh of world’s elderly. Their population has been steadily growing. It is estimated that India will soon become home to the second largest number of older people in the world. The challenges are unique, a majority (80%) of them are in the rural areas, making service delivery a challenge, feminization of the elderly population (51% of the elderly population would be women by 2016), increase in the number of the older-old (persons above 80 years) and 30% of the elderly are below poverty line.