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Falls, Arthritis and Aging in Place: Key Statistics

A reference page of figures on falls, arthritis and independent living in the United States, each one attributed to its source. Journalists, students and caregivers are welcome to cite any of these — please cite the original source rather than this page.

Last reviewed: September 2026. Figures are restated from the organisations named; GrabbersTool has not conducted this research.

Falls among older adults

  • About one in four adults aged 65 and older falls each year. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Older Adult Falls.
  • Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among adults aged 65 and older in the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • Less than half of older adults who fall tell their doctor about it. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, STEADI initiative.
  • One fall doubles the chance of falling again. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Falls in the bathroom

  • Most non-fatal bathroom injuries are caused by falls, and injury rates rise sharply with age. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MMWR: Nonfatal Bathroom Injuries Among Persons Aged 15 Years and Older, United States.
  • Injuries occurring in or around the tub or shower are among the most frequent, and the activity most associated with them is bathing or showering itself. Same source.

Arthritis and hand function

  • About one in four US adults has doctor-diagnosed arthritis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Arthritis: National Statistics.
  • Arthritis is a leading cause of work disability among US adults. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • Thumb basal joint arthritis is particularly common in women over 40. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, OrthoInfo: Arthritis of the Thumb.
  • The compressive force at the thumb's basal joint during a pinch is several times greater than the force applied at the fingertip. Cooney WP, Chao EYS, Biomechanical analysis of static forces in the thumb during hand function, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 1977. This is the mechanism behind why keys, jar lids and pull tabs become difficult before heavier tasks do.

Aging in place

  • The large majority of adults aged 50 and older say they want to remain in their own home as they age. AARP, Home and Community Preferences Survey.
  • The number of Americans aged 65 and older is projected to grow substantially over the coming decades. US Census Bureau, population projections.
  • Most existing US homes lack the basic features needed for someone with a mobility limitation, such as a step-free entry, single-floor living and wide doorways. Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, Housing America's Older Adults.

Hip and knee replacement

  • Hip precautions after posterior hip replacement typically restrict bending the hip beyond 90 degrees, crossing the legs, and rotating the operated leg inward, which is why reaching and dressing aids are standard in recovery. StatPearls, Hip Precautions, National Library of Medicine.
  • Total hip and knee replacements are among the most commonly performed elective surgical procedures in the United States. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Skin cancer and the back

  • The back is one of the most common sites of melanoma in men. American Academy of Dermatology.
  • Sunscreen should be applied to all skin not covered by clothing and reapplied roughly every two hours, which is the point at which self-application of hard-to-reach areas becomes the limiting factor. American Academy of Dermatology.

How to cite these figures

Each figure above belongs to the organisation named beside it. If you are writing an article, cite that organisation and link to its page directly. If this page helped you find the figure, a link back to GrabbersTool is appreciated but not required.

If you spot a figure that has been superseded, email hello@grabberstool.com and we will correct it.

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Compiled by GrabbersTool Editorial. GrabbersTool sells practical independence tools and did not conduct any of the research cited here. This page is general information, not medical advice.

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