Market guidance: This article covers materials from both Korea and the U.S. Each piece of information is marked 🇰🇷 Korea or 🇺🇸 U.S. in the text to indicate which country it applies to.
When an elderly parent slips or falls at home, the family's daily life is shaken alongside them. A fall is not simply an accident. It is a serious public health challenge that can lead to severe injury, death, and long-term care needs. Yet many families put off preparing, thinking that 'falling is just something that happens as you age.' Both Korea and the U.S. are now placing fall prevention at the top of policy priorities as of 2026. Let's explore what has changed and what support your parents may be able to receive.
🇰🇷 Korea According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare's 2023 Survey on the Actual Conditions of Elderly Life, the experience rate of fall accidents among people aged 65 and older was 5.6%, a slight decrease from 2020 (7.2%). We cannot feel reassured simply because the numbers have dropped. The proportion of elderly people living alone has increased by 13.0 percentage points compared to 2020, reaching 32.8% of all elderly households, and environments where it is difficult to receive immediate help when a fall occurs are growing. 🇺🇸 U.S. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 4 adults aged 65 and older experiences a fall each year, with about 14 million incidents reported annually. As of 2021, falls were the leading cause of injury-related death in this age group, and the number of emergency room visits reached approximately 3 million.
🇰🇷 Korea In 2026, the Ministry of Health and Welfare is expanding its 'integrated care' system nationwide and has included fall prevention as a key element of preventive care services. The target beneficiaries of the Customized Elderly Care Service (노인맞춤돌봄서비스) have been increased to 576,000 people, and fall prevention education and specialized support for high-risk groups have been strengthened during home visits. Additionally, home healthcare centers are being expanded to 250 locations nationwide, establishing a system where doctors and nurses visit elderly people with limited mobility to assess fall risk factors. Even those without long-term care insurance grades can be prioritized if they need prevention of condition deterioration.
🇺🇸 U.S. At the federal level, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) has provided over $53 million in support for evidence-based fall prevention programs since 2014, and in 2025 released the National Falls Prevention Action Plan. This plan is structured around six key goals: raising awareness, expanding funding, strengthening evidence-based interventions, promoting inter-agency collaboration, utilizing technology, and improving data. Even within federal budget negotiations, the 2026 budget proposal explicitly maintains funding for fall prevention programs. The CDC's STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries) program is a practical tool that helps healthcare providers systematically screen for and intervene in fall risk among elderly patients.
🇰🇷 Korea If you are caring for an elderly person at high risk of falls, you can request a consultation for home safety improvements through community health centers or the Customized Elderly Care Service providers. If your parent receives long-term care insurance benefits, assistive device coverage can provide non-slip mats, bathroom safety grab bars, and other aids. 🇺🇸 U.S. Medicare Part B includes fall risk assessment as part of the Annual Wellness Visit. You can request a 'fall risk screening' from your parent's primary care physician and receive assessment and exercise prescription covered by insurance. Additionally, using the 'Falls Free CheckUp' tool on the NCOA website allows your parent to assess their own fall risk level in about 2 minutes.
You should also carefully review medications your parents are taking. Research shows that during the first 45 days of taking antihypertensive medication, fall risk increases by 69% and hip fracture risk increases by 43%. Antidepressants, sleep aids, and anti-anxiety medications are also known to increase fall risk. Asking your parent's doctor to review all medications they are taking is an important starting point for prevention. Falls are not something to fear, but a risk that can be foreseen and managed.
Source: Ministry of Health and Welfare 2023 Survey on the Actual Conditions of Elderly Life Results Announcement (October 2024), Ministry of Health and Welfare 2026 Health and Welfare Policy Changes Guidance (December 2025, Republic of Korea Policy Briefing), Ministry of Health and Welfare and Central Customized Elderly Care Service Support Center 2026 Customized Elderly Care Service Project Guidance, U.S. CDC Older Adult Fall Prevention Data Page (February 2026), ACL Falls Prevention Program Official Page, NCOA National Falls Prevention Action Plan (September 2025), Korean Pharmacy Association Journal 'Fall Risk Medications to Watch in Elderly Care — Focusing on U.S. STEADI-Rx' (2024).
Note: This article was compiled by AI from the sources cited above. We strive for accuracy, but for decisions about your specific situation, please confirm the latest guidance from a professional or the relevant agency.