Australian sons and daughters have been urged to use Father's Day on Sunday 5 September 2010 to do a safety audit of the home for elderly parents, especially those living alone. 

Fall injuries are the leading cause of injury-related death and are a leading cause of injury-related hospitalisation in those aged 65 years and older. Many of these injuries are severe: less than half of older people hospitalised for a fracture or other serious injury following a fall are able to return home. The remainder require long term care, that requires substantial resources by aged care facilities.

Population (epidemiological) studies show that hip fractures are the most serious fall-related injury in older people with 15% dying in hospital and a third not surviving beyond one year afterwards. Source: Public Health Association of Australia

Mr Agnew said environmental risk factors contributing to falls in the home are slippery surfaces and uneven floors, poor lighting, poorly designed steps and stairs and lack of grab rails, and also hard surfaces causing injury on landing. But protruding door thresholds, loose rugs and carpet runners can also be hazardous, as well as tangled power and telephone cords.

Behavioural factors such as undertaking cleaning, DIY projects and gardening tasks on ladders, stepladders, chairs and tables and wearing unsuitable footwear increase the risk of falls in older men and women. Source: Monash University Accident Research Centre.