Life Insurance Quotes

Senior citizens and the risk of falling down

08/02/11

A recent study conducted by UnitedHealthcare surveyed 15,000 individuals across 10 states who are at least 65 years old about falling down and the associated health and financial risks.

The study, entitled "The Burden of Falling on the Quality of Life Among Adults with Medicare Supplement Insurance," found that 21 percent of the respondents had fallen down in the previous year. A further 17 percent stated that they had problems balancing or walking and felt at risk of falling.

The survey reports that falling or the risk of falling can have a significant impact on the well-being and quality of life of older persons. It reports that being at risk of falling has a larger influence on quality of life than common chronic conditions like diabetes, arthritis and respiratory issues.

"The burden of falling can be severely debilitating and is generally thought of as a physical disability," said the executive vice president of Health Services at UnitedHealth Group. "It is clear from this survey, however, that falling and being at risk of falling also affect quality of life mentally and socially, as well as physically."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that every year, one out of every three adults over the age of 65 falls. Life insurance can financially support the surviving members of a family should the policyholder die as a result of a fall.

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