The three leading causes of unintentional deaths in the elderly are motor vehicle accidents, falls, and fire-burns. This article discusses three theories on the etiology of unintentional injury: the biological, sociological, and epidemiological theories. According to the biological view, significant anatomic and physiological changes which occur during the aging process, e.g., the weakening of bones and sensory perceptions, contribute to accidents. Furthermore, medications such as sedatives and antidepressants have various deleterious side effects, including hypotension and impairment of gait. The sociological role theory stresses an individual's physical ability to cope with potential injury situations and to survive them. Middle-aged single men were found to have the highest rate of death from unintentional injury, followed by married men, single women, and married women. Finally, the epidemiological view considers unintentional injury as a disease and takes into account the environment's contribution to injury. There is a variety of methods which can be used to control injuries. The elderly, for instance, should be encouraged to continue to learn and be attentive and should be provided with facilities for recreation and exercise. They must also be helped to understand the roles overnutrition and undernutrition play in weakening the body. A figure illustrating the epidemiology of unintentional injury is included.


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