Talking about falls with older adults

Among adults 65 and older, falls are the leading cause of injury death and injuries from falling send two million older Americans to the emergency room each year. Experts say countless people never report those falls to their doctor — or anyone else.

This is part of a series on aging in the Delaware Valley called “Gray Matters: New Tools for Growing Older” from the WHYY Health and Science Desk. The six-week series features audio and video stories as well as personal essays.

Among adults 65 and older, falls are the leading cause of injury death and injuries from falling send two million older Americans to the emergency room each year. Experts say countless people never report those falls to their doctor — or anyone else. WHYY/Newsworks asked a local physical therapist and some Delaware Valley residents to talk about falls.

Ronald El, 69, lives in the Brewerytown section of Philadelphia.

Emily Keshner is chair of the Department of Physical Therapy at Temple University.

Ruby Forrest, 64, lives in Philadelphia.

Helen Baker, 71, lives in Cherry Hill, N.J., with her husband.

Alice Foley, 64, lives in the Germantown section of Philadelphia.