PRESS RELEASE (new journal publication): Older Farmers with dementia face Higher Risk of Serious Injuries, New Study Finds

by | May 5, 2026 | Uncategorized

PRESS RELEASE

New Journal Publication

5/5/2026

Older Farmers with Dementia Face Higher Risk of Serious Injuries, New Study Finds

Contact: Jenn Patterson, Center Coordinator Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health jennifer-j-patterson@uiowa.edu

Iowa City, IA —A new national study highlights a growing safety concern on U.S. farms: older farmers living with dementia or memory loss are more likely to suffer severe injuries when accidents happen on farms compared with similar individuals injured off the farm.

Researchers analyzed injury data from over 700 trauma facilities across the nation, involving adults age 60 and older, and found that farm related injuries among people with dementia often lead to more serious outcomes, including higher chances of having surgery and ICU stays.

As farmers age, changes in memory or decision-making can make everyday tasks more dangerous, especially when working around heavy equipment, livestock, and traffic. Farming is physically demanding and work often continues well past the traditional retirement age. Many producers keep working in their 70s and beyond. At the same time, memory loss and dementia become more common with age.

This study shows that when dementia and farm work intersect, the risks go up.

Key Findings

  • Older farmers with dementia injured on farms were more likely to have severe injuries than those with dementia in non‑farm settings.
  • Unlike non‑farm injuries where falls were the main cause, farm injuries involved a wide range of hazards, including machinery, vehicles, and environmental conditions.
  • Injury severity among farmers with dementia was like that of farmers without dementia, meaning the farm environment itself carries serious risks, regardless of diagnosis.

“These findings reinforce what many dementia caregivers and farm families already believe,” said Kanika Arora, principal investigator and assistant professor at the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health. “Cognitive changes can make everyday farm tasks more dangerous, especially around equipment, uneven terrain, and traffic.”

Because farms often lack formal safety oversight and rely on family labor, caregivers and family members play a critical role in recognizing risks and adjusting work roles.

Experts suggest simple, proactive steps can make a difference:

  • Reevaluate job tasks for older farmers experiencing memory challenges
  • Limit solo work, especially around machinery or livestock
  • Improve signage, lighting, and clear pathways
  • Have regular conversations about changing abilities and safety
  • Encourage routine medical check‑ins and cognitive screening

The researchers emphasize the need for more tailored safety guidance for aging farmers and greater support for caregivers in rural communities. As the farm population continues to age, planning ahead can help keep farmers safe and productive for as long as possible.

About the Study 

The study used national trauma data from 2017–2021 and was conducted by researchers from the University of Iowa and University of Illinois Chicago, with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U54 OH 007548).

Farm Families Coping with Dementia (FFCD) Summer Workshops PDF available at Summer 2026 FFCD

Concerned about someone in a farming community showing signs of dementia?

You may be eligible for FFCD. FFCD is a free, online educational series created to support caregivers of individuals living or working on or near farms who are showing signs of memory loss or confusion.

Over four weekly sessions (1 hr), to learn about:

  • Dementia Basics
  • Farm Safety and Dementia
  • Improving Safety with Dementia
  • Caregiving and Communication

When: 10 am Wednesdays

Dates: June 24, July 1, 8, 15

6 pm Tuesdays

Dates: June 23, 30, July 7, 14

Where: Online

Contact: Kanika Arora kanika-arora@uiowa.edu or Julie Bobitt: jbobitt@uic.edu

Musculoskeletal Symptoms Among Farmers

by | Dec 23, 2014 | Uncategorized

Overview

Despite the large size of the agricultural workforce and the elevated prevalence of musculoskeletal pain compared to other industries, only a small number of studies have examined associations between agricultural activities and musculoskeletal pain. Inferences from these studies are limited by several methodological weaknesses. Our study of musculoskeletal pain among farmers obtains information every six months (Spring 2012 through Spring 2015) using questionnaires completed by farmers in IL, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI). The questionnaires allow us to track (over time) information about demographics, personal health (including musculoskeletal pain), occupational psychosocial stress, farm characteristics, and farm-related tasks and equipment. In addition, we also travel to several participating farm operations to obtain direct measures of exposure to physical risk factors for musculoskeletal pain, such as working postures, muscle activity levels, and vibration (during use of vehicles). Combining the questionnaire information with the measured exposure information will allow us to better characterize associations between agricultural activities and musculoskeletal pain and provide a robust evidence-base from which to design future interventions.

 

Relevance

Musculoskeletal pain is a common work-related health outcome among famers. As many as 80% report musculoskeletal pain in any body area during the previous year, and nearly 50% reporting low back pain, specifically, during the previous year.[1]

This research study will determine more precise associations between agricultural work and musculoskeletal pain by using direct measures of physical work hazards. Prospective observation of a large number of agricultural workers provides a strong and direct study design that will provide a more complete understanding of associations between exposure to physical risk factors and musculoskeletal symptoms among agricultural workers. This study will also provide information about seasonal trends in participants’ musculoskeletal symptom experience. Moreover, we expect the proposed research to provide an evidence base for the development of new intervention strategies to reduce the number and severity of musculoskeletal outcomes among this large population of workers.

[1] Osborne A, Blake C, Fullen BM, Meredith D, Phelan J, McNamara J, Cunningham C. 2012. Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among farmers: a systematic review. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 55:143-158.

 

Study Progress

Questionnaires

We enrolled 518 subjects at baseline for this study. The study participants are slightly older, have a higher income and greater number of acres of land than the representative population comprising the nine states of the Great Plains Region. Of these 518, 493 (4.8%) were not eligible to participate in the follow-up portion due to farming status (i.e. no longer farming, etc.) . We have completed five rounds of follow-up questionnaires with response rates averaging about 68%.

Representation of the location of the 518 participants in the study (above).

Data from the baseline questionnaire shows the types of commodities study participants produce (below).

Typical Commodities of Study Participants

Physical Work Load Measures

We have also completed about 60% of the on-farm measures of physical work exposure. These measures have been conducted on farms in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri. The farms are representative of a variety of production commodities including dairy, beef cattle, hogs, horses, poultry, sheep, goats, corn, soybeans, hay, alfalfa, poultry, tree harvesting, specialty items (heirloom seeds), specialty poultry, etc. During the farm visits, an inventory of farm equipment that is used is conducted.