Whatcom County health official: older adult falls are rising, prevention and community support urged
May 29, 2026 | Sudden Valley, Whatcom County, Washington
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A Whatcom County Health Department official presented local and national data Tuesday, saying falls are the leading cause of injury for older adults and reporting that "In 2024 alone, Whatcom County EMS responded to 551 fall-related calls." The official framed the talk as an effort to "advance equity and partner with our community" around prevention.
The presenter said the risk picture is shifting as Whatcom’s population ages: the county’s 65-and-over group is growing faster than the state average, the 60+ population is expected to grow about 25% between 2025 and 2030, and the 85-and-older cohort is projected to roughly double between 2020 and 2040. Those demographic trends, she said, increase the potential burden of fall-related emergency care and hospitalizations.
The official cited national and local figures to illustrate the scope: nationally more than 36 million fall incidents contribute to fractures, head trauma and hospital stays; in the U.S. about $50 billion was spent on nonfatal fall injuries in 2020. Locally, the presenter noted that about 23% of EMS calls for people 65 and older were fall-related and that roughly "about 63% of these falls incidents were provided transport." She added, "Falls are not just accidents," and underscored the preventive value of stopping a first fall because "having one fall doubles your risk for future falls."
The presentation separated risk factors into three domains. Medical and physical contributors included vision and hearing impairment, neuropathy, blood-pressure instability, frailty, arthritis and dementia, with the presenter noting dementia substantially raises fall risk. Behavioral risks listed included substance use, refusing assistive devices and risky actions such as standing on ladders. Environmental hazards ranged from loose rugs and cords to poor lighting and pets, the presenter said, using a personal anecdote about her 84-year-old mother who fell after chasing a dog to illustrate how multiple small factors can combine.
On interpreting local trends, the official cautioned that rising injury-rate lines are "really tricky to interpret": possibilities include a true rise in incidents, but staff suspect part of the increase could reflect underestimates in population denominators as the 65+ cohort grows faster than projections. She invited input from the room and introduced a panel of first responders who would discuss what they are seeing in homes.
The presenter thanked EMS and county epidemiologists for contributing data used in the analysis and closed by inviting questions from attendees. The panel discussion with first responders was scheduled to follow the data presentation.
The presenter said the risk picture is shifting as Whatcom’s population ages: the county’s 65-and-over group is growing faster than the state average, the 60+ population is expected to grow about 25% between 2025 and 2030, and the 85-and-older cohort is projected to roughly double between 2020 and 2040. Those demographic trends, she said, increase the potential burden of fall-related emergency care and hospitalizations.
The official cited national and local figures to illustrate the scope: nationally more than 36 million fall incidents contribute to fractures, head trauma and hospital stays; in the U.S. about $50 billion was spent on nonfatal fall injuries in 2020. Locally, the presenter noted that about 23% of EMS calls for people 65 and older were fall-related and that roughly "about 63% of these falls incidents were provided transport." She added, "Falls are not just accidents," and underscored the preventive value of stopping a first fall because "having one fall doubles your risk for future falls."
The presentation separated risk factors into three domains. Medical and physical contributors included vision and hearing impairment, neuropathy, blood-pressure instability, frailty, arthritis and dementia, with the presenter noting dementia substantially raises fall risk. Behavioral risks listed included substance use, refusing assistive devices and risky actions such as standing on ladders. Environmental hazards ranged from loose rugs and cords to poor lighting and pets, the presenter said, using a personal anecdote about her 84-year-old mother who fell after chasing a dog to illustrate how multiple small factors can combine.
On interpreting local trends, the official cautioned that rising injury-rate lines are "really tricky to interpret": possibilities include a true rise in incidents, but staff suspect part of the increase could reflect underestimates in population denominators as the 65+ cohort grows faster than projections. She invited input from the room and introduced a panel of first responders who would discuss what they are seeing in homes.
The presenter thanked EMS and county epidemiologists for contributing data used in the analysis and closed by inviting questions from attendees. The panel discussion with first responders was scheduled to follow the data presentation.
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