The short answer
- An estimated 234,094 nonfatal bathroom injuries among people 15 and older were treated in U.S. emergency departments in one year, and 81.1% were caused by falls (CDC MMWR, 2008 data).
- Bathroom injury rates rise with age, reaching 515.3 per 100,000 among adults 85 and older.
- 68.3% of bathroom injuries happened in or around the tub or shower.
- 43,020 U.S. adults 65 and older died from falls in 2024, according to the National Safety Council.
- In Canada, 20% to 30% of seniors fall each year, and falls cause 85% of seniors’ injury-related hospitalizations.
- Americans 65 and older numbered more than 61 million in 2024 and are projected to exceed 78 million by 2040.
Key bathroom fall statistics at a glance
| Statistic | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Nonfatal bathroom injuries treated in U.S. emergency departments (ages 15+) | 234,094 in one year | CDC MMWR, 2008 data |
| Share of bathroom injuries caused by falls | 81.1% | CDC MMWR |
| Share that happened in or around the tub or shower | 68.3% | CDC MMWR |
| Bathroom injury rate, ages 85+ | 515.3 per 100,000 | CDC MMWR |
| Bathroom injury rate, ages 15–24 | 58.8 per 100,000 | CDC MMWR |
| Fall deaths, U.S. adults 65+ | 43,020 in 2024 | National Safety Council |
| Fall deaths, U.S. adults 65+ | 29,668 in 2016; 18,334 in 2007 | CDC MMWR, 2018 |
| Older-adult emergency department visits for falls | Over 3.85 million in 2023 | National Safety Council |
| Canadian seniors who fall each year | 20% to 30% | Public Health Agency of Canada |
| Canadian hip fractures caused by falls | 95% | Public Health Agency of Canada |
| U.S. adults 65+ | 61 million+ (2024); 78 million+ projected (2040) | America’s Health Rankings, Census data |
Bathroom injury rates rise sharply with age
The most detailed national look at bathroom injuries comes from a CDC study published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Researchers analyzed a nationally representative sample of emergency department visits and estimated that 234,094 nonfatal bathroom injuries among people aged 15 and older were treated in one year. The overall rate was 96.4 per 100,000 people.
The number of injuries was similar across age groups, but the rate climbed steeply among older adults, because there are fewer people in the oldest age groups and they are injured far more often.
Source: CDC, MMWR 60(22), “Nonfatal Bathroom Injuries Among Persons Aged ≥15 Years — United States, 2008” (2011), Table 1.
Show the numbers
| Age group | Injuries per 100,000 |
|---|---|
| Ages 15–24 | 58.8 |
| 25–34 | 73.1 |
| 35–44 | 76.0 |
| 45–54 | 70.5 |
| 55–64 | 84.8 |
| 65–74 | 112.1 |
| 75–84 | 241.0 |
| 85 and older | 515.3 |
Adults aged 85 and older had a bathroom injury rate of 515.3 per 100,000, more than twice the rate of adults aged 75 to 84 (241.0) and nearly nine times the rate of adults aged 15 to 24 (58.8). Women had a higher rate than men: 121.2 per 100,000 compared with 70.4.
What it means: The bathroom becomes more dangerous with every decade after 65. Planning bathroom safety in your late 60s or 70s, before a fall happens, is far easier than reacting afterward.
Most bathroom injuries are falls
The CDC found that falls caused 81.1% of bathroom injuries. The most common diagnoses were contusions or abrasions (29.3%), strains or sprains (19.6%) and fractures (17.4%). The head or neck was the most commonly injured body part (31.2%). Most patients were treated and released, but 13.7% were hospitalized.
What it means: Bathroom falls are not only bruises. Nearly one in five resulted in a fracture, and nearly one in three involved the head or neck.
Where in the bathroom injuries happen
Source: CDC, MMWR 60(22), “Nonfatal Bathroom Injuries Among Persons Aged ≥15 Years — United States, 2008” (2011), Table 2.
Show the numbers
| Location | Share of injuries |
|---|---|
| In or around the tub or shower | 68.3% |
| On or near the toilet | 23.4% |
| Bathroom, not specified | 6.7% |
| Sink | 1.2% |
More than two-thirds of injuries (68.3%) happened in or around the bathtub or shower, and about a quarter (23.4%) happened on or near the toilet. The highest injury rates were for the tub or shower (65.8 per 100,000) and the toilet (22.5 per 100,000).
What it means: The tub and shower are the single biggest hazard area in the bathroom. The toilet is second, and its share grows with age, as the next chart shows.
The tub and the toilet become more dangerous with age
Show the numbers
| Location and age | Injuries per 100,000 |
|---|---|
| Tub or shower, ages 15–24 | 49.7 |
| Tub or shower, ages 85+ | 200.2 |
| Toilet, ages 15–24 | 4.1 |
| Toilet, ages 85+ | 266.6 |
Injuries in or around the tub or shower rose from 49.7 per 100,000 among people aged 15 to 24 to 200.2 among people 85 and older. Toilet-related injuries rose even more steeply, from 4.1 to 266.6 per 100,000. Among adults 85 and older, 51.7% of bathroom injuries happened on or near the toilet.
The share of injuries that happened while getting on, off or using the toilet grew with age: 19.3% at ages 65 to 74, 26.9% at 75 to 84, and 36.9% at 85 and older. The CDC noted that standing up after sitting can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, a known fall risk.
What it means: A complete bathroom safety plan covers both the tub and the toilet. Grab bars beside the toilet and a comfort-height seat matter as much as the tub. See our senior bathroom safety upgrades guide.
What people were doing when they were hurt
Source: CDC, MMWR 60(22), “Nonfatal Bathroom Injuries Among Persons Aged ≥15 Years — United States, 2008” (2011), Table 2.
Show the numbers
| Precipitating event | Share of injuries |
|---|---|
| Bathing or showering | 27.5% |
| Slipped | 17.3% |
| Using the toilet | 14.1% |
| Getting out of tub or shower | 9.8% |
| Loss of consciousness | 5.5% |
| Getting into tub or shower | 2.2% |
| Transferring from wheelchair or walker | 1.5% |
| Not specified | 16.7% |
Bathing or showering was the most common activity at the time of injury (27.5%), followed by slipping (17.3%), using the toilet (14.1%) and getting out of the tub or shower (9.8%). Only 2.2% of injuries happened while getting into the tub or shower. The researchers noted that bathing, showering and getting out of the tub or shower were the most hazardous activities for all ages.
What it means: Getting out is roughly four times as risky as getting in, because surfaces are wet and slippery and the body has been relaxed by warm water. That is exactly the moment a walk-in tub changes: instead of climbing out of a slippery basin, you stand up from a seat and step over a low threshold. Learn more about how a walk-in tub is installed.
Fractures climb dramatically in the oldest adults
Show the numbers
| Age group | Fractures per 100,000 |
|---|---|
| Ages 25–34 | 5.8 |
| Ages 85 and older | 165.6 |
The rate of fractures from bathroom injuries rose from 5.8 per 100,000 among adults aged 25 to 34 to 165.6 among those 85 and older. Hospitalization rates followed the same pattern, from 11.9 per 100,000 at ages 55 to 64 to 197.4 at 85 and older. The CDC noted that osteoporosis contributes to serious injuries such as hip fractures in older adults.
What it means: The consequences of a bathroom fall grow as bones become more fragile. Prevention matters more with each passing year.
Few homes had grab bars
The CDC report cited the Home Safety Council’s 2004 report on home safety in America, which found that 63% of U.S. homes used bath mats or nonskid strips to reduce bathtub falls, but only 19% had grab bars. The CDC researchers suggested that adding grab bars inside and outside the tub or shower, and next to the toilet, could help prevent bathroom injuries for everyone in the household.
AARP’s 2024 survey found that among adults 50 and older who expect to need home modifications to age in place, 72% anticipated needing grab bars.
What it means: Grab bars are among the simplest and least expensive bathroom safety improvements, and many homes still lack them.
Fall deaths among older adults keep rising
Source: CDC, MMWR 67(18), 2018 (2007 and 2016 figures); National Safety Council, Injury Facts: Older Adult Falls (2024 figure).
Show the numbers
| Year | Deaths from falls, age 65+ |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 18,334 |
| 2016 | 29,668 |
| 2024 | 43,020 |
The CDC reported that 18,334 adults aged 65 and older died from falls in 2007, rising to 29,668 in 2016, a 31% increase in the age-adjusted death rate. The National Safety Council reports that 43,020 older adults died from preventable falls in 2024, and that older-adult fall deaths rose 51% over the past ten years while emergency department visits rose 38%. By contrast, fall deaths among people younger than 65 rose only 8% over the same period.
The CDC also notes that about one in four U.S. adults aged 65 and older reports falling each year.
What it means: These totals include falls everywhere, not only in bathrooms. But the trend shows that falls are a growing risk for an aging population, and the bathroom is one of the places where families can make the biggest difference.
Canadian bathroom and fall statistics
Source: Public Health Agency of Canada, Seniors’ Falls in Canada: Second Report and PHAC infographic.
Show the numbers
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Seniors who fall each year (upper estimate) | 20–30% |
| Injury hospitalizations caused by falls | 85% |
| Hip fractures caused by falls | 95% |
| Fall hospitalizations that begin at home | 50% |
The Public Health Agency of Canada reports that falls are the leading cause of injury among older Canadians and that between 20% and 30% of seniors fall each year. Falls cause 85% of seniors’ injury-related hospitalizations and 95% of all hip fractures, and half of all falls that cause hospitalization happen at home. Over one-third of seniors hospitalized for a fall are later admitted to long-term care. PHAC estimated direct health care costs of falls among seniors at $2 billion a year.
What it means: Canadian families face the same risks. The federal Home Accessibility Tax Credit, worth up to $3,000 a year on up to $20,000 of eligible renovations, can help offset the cost of safer bathrooms. See our funding guide.
Why this matters more every year
Source: America’s Health Rankings, citing U.S. Census Bureau estimates and projections.
Show the numbers
| Year | Adults 65+ |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 61M+ |
| 2040 (projected) | 78M+ |
The number of Americans aged 65 and older passed 61 million in 2024, about 18% of the population, and is projected to exceed 78 million by 2040, about 22%. More older adults means more people at the age when bathroom injury rates rise fastest.
At the same time, most older adults want to stay home. AARP’s 2024 Home and Community Preferences Survey found that 75% of adults 50 and older want to remain in their current homes as they age.
Source: AARP 2024 Home and Community Preferences Survey.
Show the numbers
| Statement | Share of adults 50+ |
|---|---|
| Want to stay in their current home | 75% |
| Want to stay in their community | 73% |
| Say they need a home that supports independent aging | 51% |
| Expect they will have to move | 44% |
How to use these statistics
If you are trying to persuade a parent or partner to make the bathroom safer, statistics can help, but they work best when paired with empathy. A few suggestions:
- Lead with independence, not danger. “I want you to be able to keep bathing on your own” lands better than “You are going to fall.”
- Use one number, not twenty. “Most bathroom injuries happen getting in and out of the tub” is easier to hear than a table.
- Connect it to their goals. Most older adults want to stay home. A safer bathroom helps make that possible.
- Offer choices. Grab bars, a transfer bench, a walk-in tub or a walk-in shower. Let them decide.
What the data suggests you can do
The research points to a few clear, practical steps:
- Add grab bars inside and outside the tub or shower, and beside the toilet.
- Make getting out safer. Getting out of the tub or shower is far riskier than getting in. A walk-in tub with a seat and low threshold, or a curbless shower, changes that motion.
- Use slip-resistant surfaces in and around the tub.
- Address the toilet. A comfort-height toilet or raised seat and a nearby grab bar.
- Stand up slowly. Especially after a warm bath or sitting on the toilet.
- Light the path. Night-lights reduce nighttime trips and stumbles.
- Plan early. The risk rises with each decade; planning in your 60s or 70s gives you more options.
If a walk-in tub is on your list, our overview of walk-in tubs for seniors explains the options, and our guide to whether walk-in tubs are worth it covers the trade-offs honestly.
About this data
The CDC bathroom injury study is the most detailed national analysis of bathroom injuries available, but it has limits the authors describe: it uses emergency department data only, so injuries treated elsewhere are not counted; it describes one year of data; and nearly 17% of injuries could not be attributed to a specific activity. Fall death totals from the CDC and National Safety Council include all falls, not only bathroom falls. We update this page when new national data is published.
Citing this page
You are welcome to cite or link to this page. Please cite the original sources listed below for each statistic, and link back to this page if our charts helped you.
The statistics behind a single bathroom fall
National numbers can feel abstract. It helps to trace how they connect in one household. An older adult in their eighties takes a bath in a standard tub. Getting in goes fine; the CDC data shows only 2.2% of bathroom injuries happen then. After a warm soak, blood vessels near the skin are dilated and the surfaces are wet. Standing up from the tub floor and lifting a leg over the tub wall is exactly the moment the data flags as far riskier. If a fall happens, the CDC data suggests nearly one in five bathroom injuries is a fracture, and the rate of fractures is highest in the oldest adults. Hospitalization rates in the CDC study reached 197.4 per 100,000 among those 85 and older. That is the chain families are trying to break, and it is why getting out of the tub is the first thing to make safer.
Where to find more data
For local numbers, many state health departments publish older-adult fall reports using the same national surveillance methods. The CDC’s WISQARS system lets researchers query injury data by age, cause and year, and the National Safety Council’s Injury Facts site publishes updated national tables. In Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Institute for Health Information publish national injury and hospitalization data. When you cite any figure, cite the original publisher and the data year, since numbers are updated regularly.
Frequently asked questions
How many seniors fall in the bathroom each year?
National data does not count bathroom falls among seniors separately each year. The CDC estimated 234,094 nonfatal bathroom injuries among people 15 and older treated in emergency departments in one year, with 81.1% caused by falls and the highest rates among the oldest adults.
What percentage of falls happen in the bathroom?
National data does not give a single figure for all falls. The CDC’s bathroom study found that among bathroom injuries, 81.1% were caused by falls and 68.3% happened in or around the tub or shower. In Canada, PHAC reports that 50% of falls causing hospitalization happen at home.
Where do most bathroom falls happen?
In or around the tub or shower, which accounted for 68.3% of bathroom injuries in the CDC study. Among adults 85 and older, injuries on or near the toilet became more common, at 51.7%.
Is getting into or out of the tub more dangerous?
Getting out. In the CDC study, 9.8% of bathroom injuries happened while getting out of the tub or shower, compared with 2.2% while getting in.
How many older adults die from falls each year?
The National Safety Council reports that 43,020 U.S. adults aged 65 and older died from falls in 2024. The CDC reported 29,668 in 2016 and 18,334 in 2007.
How common are falls among older adults?
About one in four U.S. adults aged 65 and older reports falling each year, according to the CDC. In Canada, PHAC reports that 20% to 30% of seniors fall each year.
Do grab bars prevent bathroom falls?
The CDC researchers recommended grab bars inside and outside the tub or shower and next to the toilet, while noting more research is needed on how effective they are. A 2004 report cited by the CDC found only 19% of U.S. homes had grab bars.
Are bathroom injuries more common in women or men?
Women. The CDC found a bathroom injury rate of 121.2 per 100,000 for women, 72% higher than the rate for men at 70.4.
Sources
- CDC, MMWR: Nonfatal Bathroom Injuries Among Persons Aged ≥15 Years, United States, 2008 (published 2011)
- CDC, MMWR: Deaths From Falls Among Persons Aged ≥65 Years, United States, 2007–2016 (published 2018)
- National Safety Council, Injury Facts: Older Adult Falls
- Public Health Agency of Canada, Seniors’ Falls in Canada: Second Report
- Public Health Agency of Canada, Seniors’ Falls in Canada infographic
- America’s Health Rankings, Population Ages 65+ (U.S. Census Bureau data)
- AARP, 2024 Home and Community Preferences Survey
- AARP press release, December 10, 2024