The two articles and sidebar focused on the dramatic increase in the number of older Americans who fall and suffer serious, even fatal injuries. The population is aging, and people are living longer in bad shape. In fact, falls are the leading cause of injury-related death for people over 65. The first piece focused on the balance that retirement communities, assisted-living facilities and nursing homes try to achieve between assuring safety and allowing their residents to live as they choose. The second followed one 79-year-old woman and the aftermath of a fall she took in 2013. The sidebar offered suggestions on preventing falls. The online version of the article included videos showing stairs and toilet seats as they appear through aging eyes; the videos made clearer why falls happen. An 85-year-old with glaucoma or cataracts will see things very differently than a 55-year-old with relatively healthy eyes.
