The worst injuries are brain injuries. We all fall and bump our head now and then. But if you’re on any blood-thinning medication, such as aspirin or other anti-platelet agents for coronary stents, medications that might be given for atrial fibrillation to reduce the risk of stroke or medication to prevent formation of blood clots if you’ve had a previous DVT or pulmonary embolism, all of these put you at risk for a severe brain injury after hitting your head.
Other injuries that the older population suffer include rib fractures. Those can be of significant consequence. If patients get fractures, they have more pain, and aren’t breathing as deeply, and are at risk of pneumonia. As we age, our bones lose strength and fractures of any sort are possible after a fall.