[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 133 (Monday, September 21, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S9591]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 SENATE RESOLUTION 276--DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 22, 2009, AS ``NATIONAL 
                    FALLS PREVENTION AWARENESS DAY''

  Mr. KOHL (for himself, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Casey, Mr. 
Sanders, and Mrs. Murray) submitted the following resolution; which was 
considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 276

       Whereas older adults age 65 and over are the fastest 
     growing segment of our population and whose numbers will 
     increase from 35,000,000 in 2000 to 55,000,000 in 2020;
       Whereas 1 in every 3 people in the United States who are 65 
     years of age or older falls each year;
       Whereas falls are the leading cause of injury, deaths, and 
     hospital admissions for traumatic injuries among adults 65 
     years of age and older;
       Whereas, in 2007, approximately 1,900,000 people with fall-
     related injuries were treated in hospital emergency 
     departments and approximately 492,000 were hospitalized after 
     treatment;
       Whereas, in 2006, more 16,600 people aged 65 and older died 
     from injuries related to unintentional falls;
       Whereas, in 2000, direct medical costs for fall-related 
     injuries for adults aged 65 and older totaled more than 
     $19,000,000,000;
       Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
     estimate that if the rate of increase in falls is not slowed, 
     annual direct treatment costs under the Medicare program will 
     reach $32,400,000,000 by 2020;
       Whereas evidence-based programs show promise in reducing 
     falls and facilitating cost-effective interventions, such as 
     comprehensive clinical assessments, exercise programs to 
     improve balance and health, management of medications, 
     correction of vision, and reduction of home hazards;
       Whereas research indicates that fall prevention programs 
     for high-risk older adults have a net-cost savings of almost 
     $9 in benefits to society for each $1 invested;
       Whereas the Safety of Seniors Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-
     202) was enacted to amend the Public Health Service Act (42 
     U.S.C. 280b et seq.) to create a national education campaign 
     aimed at older adults, their families, and healthcare 
     providers, and injury prevention programs that focus on the 
     reduction and prevention of falls among older adults; and
       Whereas the Falls Free Coalition Advocacy Work Group and 
     its numerous national and State supporting organizations 
     should be commended for their efforts to raise awareness and 
     to promote better understanding, research, and programs to 
     prevent falls among older adults: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates September 22, 2009, as ``National Falls 
     Prevention Awareness Day'';
       (2) commends the Falls Free Coalition Advocacy Work Group 
     and the 22 State falls coalitions for their efforts to work 
     together to increase education and awareness about the 
     prevention of falls among older adults;
       (3) encourages businesses, individuals, Federal, State, and 
     local governments, the public health community, and health 
     care providers to work together to promote the awareness of 
     falls in an effort to reduce the incidence of falls among 
     older people in the United States;
       (4) urges the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to 
     continue developing and evaluating interventions to prevent 
     falls among older adults that can be used in effective 
     community-based fall prevention programs;
       (5) encourages State health departments to use their 
     significant leadership to reduce injuries and injury-related 
     health care costs by collaborating with colleagues and a 
     variety of organizations and individuals to reduce falls 
     among older adults; and
       (6) recognizes proven, cost effective fall prevention 
     programs and policies and encourages experts in the field of 
     fall prevention to share their best practices so that their 
     success can be replicated by others.

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