This news item expired on Thursday, October 31, 2013 so the information below could be outdated or incorrect.
A lot of people have seen the commercial that is known for that tag line, but in truth, falling is no laughing matter! September is Fall Prevention Month and according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of injury deaths among adults age 65 and older.
One in three adults age 65 and older falls each year. It's estimated that around 17 percent of older North Carolinians have experienced a fall in the past three months, with one-third of those falls resulting in an 
injury.
The good news is that most falls are preventable. Recommendations for preventing falls among older adults include:
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exercise regularly
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have medications reviewed
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get vision checked
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reduce hazards in the home that can lead to falls
For a home safety checklist, contact Buncombe County Cooperative Extension or see "A Housing Checklist for Older People" (PDF).