Guest Blog: Real Patient Story: Fall Prevention for Betty Lou
By Brady Whetten PT, DPT
Multi-Site Clinical Director at Therapy Partners Group
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy
Betty Lou’s Story: Why Fall Prevention Matters
At 73 years old, Betty Lou was thriving in retirement. Her days were filled with joy—playing pickleball, going on daily walks, tending to her flower garden, and spending quality time with her six grandchildren. She stayed active, socialized with her church community, and often said, “getting older isn’t as bad as people make it out to be.”
Until, suddenly, it was.
A bout of pneumonia landed Betty Lou in the hospital for a week. After returning home, she noticed that her nagging back pain—once just an occasional nuisance—had become more limiting. It kept her off the pickleball court and made gardening uncomfortable. Her energy level still seemed low. Then, just a few weeks later, while weeding her garden, she lost her balance and fell. Thankfully, she wasn’t seriously injured—but she couldn’t get up on her own.
Like many older adults, Betty Lou brushed it off. She had a doctor’s appointment coming up, and while she planned to ask about her fatigue and back pain, she decided she’d only mention the fall if the doctor brought it up. She didn’t want to be told she needed a walker or that her independence was slipping away.
What happens next in this story depends on what kind of care Betty Lou receives. Unfortunately, many older adults experience #1 of these two common paths:
Path 1: The Costly Cascade
Betty Lou discusses her fatigue and back pain, and her doctor orders x-rays and an MRI ($1,000), plus bloodwork ($125). She’s prescribed two new medications ($200/month), which come with side effects that slow her down even more. No one asks about her fall, and she doesn’t bring it up. Her activity level continues to drop. She loses strength, mobility, and confidence.
Eventually, while stepping up a curb, she falls again—this time fracturing her hip. She is rushed to the hospital, requiring surgery, rehab, and significant recovery time.
- Estimated cost to Medicare: $50,000+
- Personal cost to Betty Lou: her independence, confidence, and quality of life.
Path 2: Early Physical Therapy Intervention
Instead, let’s imagine Betty Lou is referred to physical therapy for both her back pain and a fall risk assessment. She completes 12 sessions ($1,200 total). She and her PT build a relationship throughout those appointments, and Betty Lou feels comfortable enough to disclose the story about her fall.
Her PT identifies the source of her back pain and teaches her exercises to relieve pressure and build core strength. Her pain improves, and she feels energized to return to her favorite activities.
During therapy, it becomes clear that Betty Lou is at high risk for another fall. Her PT works on balance training, functional strengthening, and confidence-building. Together, they find fun, safe ways to keep her moving and engaged.
- Outcome: No more falls. No hospitalization. No loss of independence.
- Bonuses: Back to pickleball and a flourishing garden for Betty Lou.
These two paths aren’t fiction—they’re everyday realities faced by older adults across the country. Annual numbers (regarding older adults) according to the CDC:
- 88% of emergency department visits and hospitalizations caused by falls
- 3 million emergency department visits due to falls
- 1 million fall-related hospitalizations
- 319,000 are hospitalized annually for hip fractures
- 83% of hip fracture deaths are due to falls
- Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury in older adults
Why the SAFE Act Matters
The Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act would help preserve patient access to essential physical therapy services—services that prevent avoidable falls, reduce costly hospitalizations, and most importantly, change lives.
Physical therapists play a critical role in identifying risk factors early, delivering targeted interventions, and helping people like Betty Lou remain safe, active, and independent.
Supporting the SAFE Act means making sure that seniors across the country can access this kind of care—before the fall, before the fracture, before their lives change forever.
Let’s not wait until it’s too late.