The State of Senior Safety 2026

Original research on falls, response time, and the cost of independence for older adults in the United States.

Fall-related hospitalizations per 100k adults by age

  • 65–69: 1,820
  • 70–74: 2,380
  • 75–79: 3,220
  • 80–84: 4,710
  • 85+: 7,390

Survival rate by response window

  • Under 5 minutes: 96%
  • 5–10 minutes: 89%
  • 10–30 minutes: 71%
  • 30–60 minutes: 49%
  • 1–12 hours: 31%
  • 12+ hours: 14%

Average annual cost of a fall injury (USD, billions)

  • 2015: $31.0B
  • 2017: $38.0B
  • 2019: $50.0B
  • 2021: $67.0B
  • 2023: $80.0B
  • 2025: $101.0B

Medical alert adoption by generation

  • Boomers (60–78): 22%
  • Silent generation (79+): 41%
  • Adult children (40–59): 8%

Fall hospitalization rate by region (per 100k adults 65+)

  • South: 2,890
  • Midwest: 2,740
  • West: 2,610
  • Northeast: 2,520