A Hidden Epidemic

My mind is racing as I scroll through page after page of statistics....

I’m researching fall statistics out of curiosity, expecting to see improvements. After all, preventing falls seems like it should be a solved problem in 2025, right? Instead, I'm staring at my screen in absolute shock.

Falls aren't decreasing—they're INCREASING… dramatically, across all age groups. The line graphs pointing upward feel like an accusation. How is this happening? Why aren't emergency response systems activating? Where's the public outcry?

My curiosity quickly turned to investigation. I spent days diving into research papers, public health databases, and medical journals. What I found left me speechless.

There's an alarming lack of research on WHY we fall. Prevention programs are scattered and underfunded. Public awareness is practically non-existent. We're in the midst of a silent epidemic that's sweeping through our homes, and almost nobody is talking about it. Falls injure and kill about the same number of people in the USA  as drivers and shooters. 

I was processing this troubling information when the historical parallel suddenly became clear. This situation mirrors exactly what happened with automobile safety in the mid-20th century.

Car fatalities were once considered an unfortunate but inevitable cost of transportation. It wasn't until Ralph Nader published "Unsafe at Any Speed" in 1965 that Americans realized these deaths weren't inevitable—they were preventable through better design and mandatory safety features.

Nader's advocacy led directly to seat belt laws, tempered glass requirements, collapsible steering columns, padded dashboards, and dozens of other features we now take for granted. These weren't optional upgrades—they became legal requirements that transformed our relationship with automobile safety.

We need the same revolutionary approach for home safety. Every shower needs several grab bars. Every staircase needs proper handrails on BOTH sides. Every threshold needs to be clearly marked. Every dark hallway needs nightlights, every bathroom needs non-slip flooring. No exceptions. Required by law (because we know homebuilders and renovators won't do it otherwise)

These should not be optional or luxury additions—they're essential safety features that could prevent millions of injuries and thousands of deaths annually. The solutions are simple, affordable, and proven effective. Yet they remain optional in a world where falls have become a leading cause of injury and death.

The economic impact alone should motivate change. The medical costs of fall-related injuries exceed $50 billion annually in the U.S., with projections showing this number will only increase as our population ages.

I keep coming back to Nader's example. One person with conviction changed the entire landscape of automobile safety. With falls increasing, we need that same determination for home safety standards now.

I'm not waiting for someone else to sound the alarm. This is it. This is our call to action. Join me in demanding comprehensive home safety legislation before another preventable fall changes someone's life forever. Take action with your own home and your loved ones home now. 

Because falling shouldn't be a leading cause of injury in the 21st century. Not when the solutions are so straightforward.