Maintaining independence is important to all adults, but as people age, living alone can become dangerous. Of particular concern is the fact that there's no one around to help you in a medical emergency like a fall.
Before you think, "That'll never happen to me," consider that nearly 29% of Americans 65+ fall each year. Since there's currently more than 54.1 million people in the US over the age of 65, that means over 15 million of them have fallen in the last 12 months.1,2
And most of them aren't falling while doing dangerous stunts—an estimated 43% to 60% of falls happen inside the home during a daily routine.3,4,10
In short, falls are a big deal for older people and their loved ones. We'll focus mainly on fall prevention in this guide, but we'll also cover some other senior safety tips to help you prevent or plan for emergencies related to chronic health conditions, medication side effects, burglaries, and even online scams.