Falls are still rising among older adults: how to lower the risk of a life-changing hip fracture

A hip fracture is often not just a bad fall. It is the result of two problems meeting at once: a fall risk problem and a bone-strength problem.

That is why the CDC’s updated older-adult falls pages matter. On Jan. 27, 2026, the agency refreshed its plain-language hip-fracture prevention advice. On Feb. 26, 2026, it updated its falls data page with newer mortality information. The message is simple and important: falls among adults 65 and older are common, preventable, and still becoming more deadly.

Why this matters now

According to the CDC, more than 14 million U.S. adults age 65 and older report falling each year. That is about 1 in 4 older adults. Not every fall causes a major injury, but many do. The agency says the age-adjusted death rate from falls in older adults rose 21% from 2018 to 2024.

This is not a story about one new study or a sudden medical discovery. It is a current service reminder built on refreshed federal data and prevention guidance: waiting until after a fracture is the hard way to find out someone was at risk.

Why hip fractures are especially serious

Broken hips are among the most serious injuries older adults can suffer in a fall. The CDC notes that about 300,000 hip fracture-related hospitalizations each year are tied to older-adult falls. In 2019, falls caused most hip-fracture deaths, emergency visits, and hospitalizations in this age group.

Recovery can be long and uneven. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says only about 40% to 60% of people who have a hip fracture regain their previous level of mobility and ability to handle daily activities. The CDC also warns that many people are not able to live on their own afterward.

An American Academy of Family Physicians review adds more context: hip fractures are a major cause of disability, and one-year mortality can approach 30%. Those numbers do not predict what will happen to any one person, but they do show why prevention matters so much.

Who is at higher risk

Risk rises with age, but age is only part of the picture. A 2025 review in JAMA describes common osteoporosis and fracture risk factors, including older age, prior fractures, prior falls, low body weight, smoking, heavy alcohol use, some chronic illnesses, glucocorticoid use, and low bone mineral density.

For everyday readers, the practical list is easier to remember:

Having fallen before
Poor balance, leg weakness, or trouble getting up from a chair
Medicines that cause dizziness, sleepiness, or low blood pressure
Vision problems
Low bone density or osteoporosis
Low body weight
Smoking or heavier alcohol use
A prior fragility fracture, especially after a minor fall

Women carry a larger share of hip fractures, but older men are not exempt. The important point is that hip-fracture risk often builds quietly for years before the injury happens.

What actually helps lower risk

The CDC’s prevention advice is refreshingly practical. The most useful steps are not exotic supplements or expensive gadgets. They are the basics that lower fall risk and address bone health at the same time.

1. Do strength and balance work

Exercise that strengthens the legs and improves balance can lower the chance of falling. The CDC highlights strength and balance exercises and specifically mentions tai chi as one example. This is one of the clearest, most evidence-based places to start.

2. Review medicines

Ask a clinician or pharmacist to review prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Sedatives, some sleep aids, some blood pressure medicines, and other drugs can increase dizziness or unsteadiness. Medication review is one of the most overlooked prevention steps.

3. Get vision checked

The CDC advises eye exams at least yearly and updating glasses when needed. Blurry vision, poor depth perception, and the wrong lenses outdoors can all raise fall risk.

4. Make the home safer

Remove tripping hazards, improve lighting, add grab bars in the bathroom, and make sure stairs have sturdy railings. Home safety changes are not glamorous, but they can matter a lot.

5. Address bone strength, not just fall mechanics

If someone is at risk for osteoporosis, preventing a fall is only part of the job. A stronger bone is less likely to break when a fall happens. That is where screening and treatment discussions come in.

When to ask about osteoporosis screening

The clearest U.S. screening guidance comes from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which issues evidence-based recommendations for preventive care.

Its current recommendation says:

Screen women age 65 and older for osteoporosis.
Screen younger postmenopausal women who are at increased risk.
For men, the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against routine screening.

That last point matters. “Insufficient evidence” does not mean men never need evaluation. It means the task force does not have enough evidence to make a routine population-wide screening recommendation for men. Decisions in men are often more individualized.

If you are a postmenopausal woman under 65, it is reasonable to ask whether your personal risk factors make screening a good idea. Risk can go up with low body weight, smoking, certain medicines such as long-term steroids, prior fractures, or a history of falls.

What a bone density test can and cannot do

The usual screening test is a bone density scan, often called a DXA or DEXA scan. It does not tell the whole story by itself, but it can help a clinician estimate fracture risk and decide whether treatment might help.

This is important because a low bone density result is not just a number on a report. In the JAMA review, higher-risk patients benefited from treatments that reduce fracture risk, including hip-fracture risk. The right treatment depends on the person’s age, fracture history, test results, medications, and overall health. It is not one-size-fits-all.

What Medicare may cover

For many readers, cost and access are part of the decision. Medicare says Part B covers bone mass measurements for qualifying people, typically once every 24 months and sometimes more often if medically necessary.

Examples of qualifying situations listed by Medicare include being a woman whose clinician determines she is at risk because of estrogen deficiency, having X-rays that suggest osteoporosis or osteopenia, taking prednisone or similar steroid-type drugs, having primary hyperparathyroidism, or needing monitoring to see whether osteoporosis treatment is working.

Medicare also says you pay nothing for the test if your doctor or other provider accepts assignment. But that does not mean every person automatically qualifies, or that every more-frequent test will be covered. It is smart to ask both why the test is being ordered and whether your specific situation meets Medicare’s coverage rules.

Why supplements alone are not enough

Vitamin D and calcium can matter, and low vitamin D levels have been linked with poorer bone health in older adults. The CDC even advises asking a clinician about vitamin D supplements. But supplements are only one piece of prevention.

They do not fix medication side effects, poor balance, weak leg muscles, bad lighting on the stairs, or unrecognized osteoporosis. They also do not replace an individualized decision about whether someone needs screening, a prescription osteoporosis treatment, supervised exercise, or a fall-risk workup.

In other words, a vitamin aisle plan is not the same thing as a fracture-prevention plan.

When to seek medical care

Ask for medical advice sooner rather than later if an older adult has:

A fall with pain in the hip, groin, thigh, or trouble bearing weight
Repeated falls or new dizziness
A noticeable decline in balance or walking
A fracture after what seemed like a minor fall
Questions about whether current medicines may be increasing fall risk

A prior fall or a prior fracture is useful information, not something to shrug off.

What this means for readers

The most useful takeaway is this: hip-fracture prevention is not just about trying not to slip. It means lowering the chance of falling and lowering the chance that a fall will break a fragile bone.

For many families, the best next step is simple: start with strength and balance exercise, review medicines, get vision checked, and make the home safer. If you are a woman 65 or older, or a younger postmenopausal woman with risk factors, ask whether osteoporosis screening makes sense for you. And if Medicare is part of your coverage, ask whether you qualify for a bone density test before a fracture forces the issue.

Prevention works best before the emergency room does.

Sources

This article is for general informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Research findings can be early, limited, or subject to change as new evidence emerges. For personal guidance, diagnosis, or treatment, consult a licensed clinician. For current outbreak or public health guidance, follow your local health department, the CDC, or another relevant public health authority.