[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 734 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 734

  Designating the week of September 21 through September 25, 2020, as 
  ``National Falls Prevention Awareness Week'' to raise awareness and 
         encourage the prevention of falls among older adults.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

           September 30 (legislative day, September 29), 2020

 Ms. Collins (for herself, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr. 
Casey, Ms. McSally, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Hawley, Ms. Warren, Mr. Braun, 
     and Ms. Sinema) submitted the following resolution; which was 
                        considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Designating the week of September 21 through September 25, 2020, as 
  ``National Falls Prevention Awareness Week'' to raise awareness and 
         encourage the prevention of falls among older adults.

Whereas individuals who are 65 years of age or older (referred to in this 
        preamble as ``older adults'') are the fastest growing segment of the 
        population in the United States, and the number of older adults in the 
        United States will increase from approximately 56,100,000 in 2020 to an 
        estimated 73,100,000 by 2030;
Whereas approximately 30 percent of older adults in the United States fall each 
        year, with each 10-year increment in age increasing the risk of falls;
Whereas falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries among 
        older adults;
Whereas, in 2018, older adults reported 35,600,000 falls, with approximately 
        8,400,000 of those falls resulting in an injury that limited regular 
        activities or resulted in a medical visit;
Whereas, in 2018, approximately 3,000,000 older adults were treated in hospital 
        emergency departments for fall-related injuries, and more than 950,000 
        of those older adults were subsequently hospitalized;
Whereas, in 2018, more than 32,000 older adults died from injuries related to 
        unintentional falls, and the death rate from falls of older adults in 
        the United States is expected to continue to sharply rise to more than 
        100,000 per year by 2030;
Whereas, in 2015--

    (1) the total direct medical cost of fall-related injuries for older 
adults, adjusted for inflation, was approximately $50,000,000,000;

    (2) with respect to nonfatal falls, Medicare paid approximately 
$28,900,000,000, Medicaid paid approximately $8,700,000,000, and private 
and other payers paid approximately $12,000,000,000; and

    (3) overall medical spending for fatal falls was estimated to be 
$754,000,000;

Whereas, if the rate of increase in falls is not slowed, the annual cost of fall 
        injuries will surpass $101,000,000,000 by 2030; and
Whereas evidence-based programs reduce falls by utilizing cost-effective 
        strategies, such as exercise programs to improve balance and strength, 
        medication management, vision improvement, reduction of home hazards, 
        and falls prevention education: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the week of September 21 through September 
        25, 2020, as ``National Falls Prevention Awareness Week'';
            (2) recognizes that there are proven, cost-effective falls 
        prevention programs and policies;
            (3) commends the 73 member organizations of the Falls Free 
        Coalition and the falls prevention coalitions in 43 States and 
        the District of Columbia for their efforts to work together to 
        increase education and awareness about preventing falls among 
        older adults;
            (4) encourages businesses, individuals, Federal, State, and 
        local governments, the public health community, and health care 
        providers to work together to raise awareness of falls in an 
        effort to reduce the incidence of falls among older adults in 
        the United States;
            (5) recognizes the Centers for Disease Control and 
        Prevention for its work developing and evaluating interventions 
        for all members of health care teams to make falls prevention a 
        routine part of clinical care;
            (6) recognizes the Administration for Community Living for 
        its work to promote access to evidence-based programs and 
        services in communities across the United States;
            (7) encourages State health departments and State units on 
        aging, which provide significant leadership in reducing 
        injuries and related health care costs by collaborating with 
        organizations and individuals, to reduce falls among older 
        adults; and
            (8) encourages experts in the field of falls prevention to 
        share their best practices so that their success can be 
        replicated by others.
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