Unintentional falls are one of the leading causes of death for South Dakotans aged 65 years and older. From 2013 to 2022, there were 1,640 unintentional fall-related deaths among South Dakotans aged 65 years and older. The number of fall-related deaths increased 55% from 127 deaths in 2013 to 197 deaths in 2022. In 2021, South Dakota had the third highest age-adjusted rate (140.8 per 100,000) for unintentional fall-related deaths among individuals aged 65 years and older, the national rate was 78.3 per 100,000.
Unintentional Falls Among Older Adults Report, 2023