PHOENIX (May 1, 2025) – May is Trauma Awareness Month and Banner Health is seeing a growing number of senior patients suffering serious injuries from repeated falls, highlighting the urgent need for awareness and prevention.
“At Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix, we often see older adult patients who have fallen either at home or in public spaces,” said Melissa Luxton, RN, the trauma outreach coordinator for the hospital. “These falls are due to a variety of factors like mobility issues, medication side effects, underlying health issues and environmental hazards. Many senior patients also have preexisting conditions like osteoporosis, which can make them more vulnerable to injuries when they fall.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the leading cause of injury for adults ages 65 and older – and 1 in 4 older adults report falling every year.
“We do see a high frequency of serious injuries related to falling in our senior patient population,” said Dr. Nimit Agarwal, director of geriatric medicine at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix. “Unfortunately, recurring falls are a common issue, particularly for seniors who have experienced falls previously. Every fall increases the risk for patients to get seriously injured, and those injuries include rib fractures, hip fractures, joint dislocation, head injuries, spine fractures, damage to muscle and ligaments, and even sometimes traumatic brain injuries, which we commonly see at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix.”
Luxton said that seniors tend to fall when engaging in everyday activities, such as walking, climbing stairs, or moving around their homes and says it really is important to address fall prevention measures year-round.
However, falls aren’t always due to environmental factors.
“Addressing health concerns through regular medical checkups and ensuring that seniors have the appropriate treatments, medications and vision or cognitive care can help prevent falls and improve overall safety,” Luxton said.
Luxton adds that there are a variety of things loved ones can do to keep the seniors in their lives safe from falling.
“We recommend that seniors live in environments that are fall-proof, such as removing tripping hazards, installing grab bars and ensuring good lighting. Regular physical therapy and strength-building exercises can improve mobility and balance,” Luxton notes. “For seniors who live independently or far from family, it's crucial that they have regular check-ins, whether through in-person visits or technology (like emergency alert systems or video calls) to ensure they're doing well and can get help when needed.”
Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix trauma service involves the geriatrics team to identify frail older adults and address common issues such as delirium, medication polypharmacy and mobility challenges. The team conducts comprehensive geriatric assessments and supports patients with pain management, medication review, and advance care planning to ensure they’re living in the safest possible situations.
“A big focus of the geriatrics team is to identify ways to prevent future falls, guiding patients to improve bone health, and follow-up with programs which can help improve gait, balance and strength,” Dr. Agarwal says.
Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix is a large teaching hospital that has provided medical care to Arizona and the Southwest since 1911. It is part of Banner – University Medicine, a premier academic medical network. The institution, which has trained thousands of doctors over decades as a teaching hospital, is the academic medical center for The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix. The hospital, recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of the nation’s best hospitals, specializes in heart care, cancer care, high-risk obstetrics, neurosciences, organ transplants, medical toxicology and emergency care, including a Level I trauma center. Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix is part of Banner Health, a nonprofit health care system with 33 hospitals in six states. For more information, visit bannerhealth.com/universityphoenix.
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