Health · Fitness & Nutrition · 8 hrs ago
Survey finds many Americans miss everyday fall risks
A national survey by Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center found that many Americans do not recognize common fall risks.
Among 1,007 adults surveyed, 63% did not identify anxiety about falling as a risk, 60% missed hearing loss and 74% missed an urgent need to use the bathroom.
Fear can lead people to avoid activity, while hearing changes can affect balance and bathroom urgency can make people move quickly or leave support devices behind.
A previous fall is the biggest risk for another fall, according to the clinic’s nurse practitioner, Michelle Easley.
The clinic assesses each patient’s health, medicines and walking, and may provide physical therapy or connect them with other specialists.
Personalized care can help people rebuild strength and confidence, as former athlete Ben Melancon did after more than a dozen falls.
He completed four months of treatment and has not fallen since, while the clinic recommends checking homes for hazards such as poor lighting, loose rugs and difficult stairs.
A national survey found that many U.S. adults do not recognize several everyday factors that can increase the risk of falling.
The survey of 1,007 adults found that 74% did not recognize an urgent need to use the bathroom as a fall risk.
It also found that 63% did not recognize anxiety about falling and 60% did not recognize hearing loss as risks.
Ohio State University’s Fall Prevention Clinic assesses patients’ risks and may provide physical therapy and referrals to specialists.
A former athlete who had fallen more than a dozen times said he had not fallen since completing the clinic’s program earlier this year.
- Who
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center surveyed 1,007 U.S. adults.
- What
- The survey found that many adults do not recognize everyday fall risk factors.
- When
- The survey was described in an article published on 2026-11-10.
- Where
- The United States.
- Why
- The survey examined whether adults recognize factors that can increase the risk of falling.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Ben Melancon became afraid to use stairs.
Melancon attended Ohio State’s Fall Prevention Clinic several times a week and worked on strength and balance.
Melancon completed the program and had not fallen since.
News-Medical published the survey findings.
- Survey participants
- 1,007 U.S. adults
- Bathroom urgency
- 74% did not recognize it as a fall risk
- Anxiety about falling
- 63% did not recognize it as a fall risk
- Hearing loss
- 60% did not recognize it as a fall risk
- Clinic program
- Melancon attended several times a week for four months
What people are saying
That fear of falling is actually one of the biggest risks of falling.
The number one risk for a fall is a previous fall.
It's all about safety, not taking away independence.
I'm not fearful anymore of steps.