[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 124 (Thursday, September 19, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6663-S6664]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 248--DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 22, 2013, AS ``NATIONAL 
 FALLS PREVENTION AWARENESS DAY'' TO RAISE AWARENESS AND ENCOURAGE THE 
                 PREVENTION OF FALLS AMONG OLDER ADULTS

  Mr. NELSON (for himself, Ms. Collins, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Sanders, Mr. 
Franken, Mr. Coons, Mr. Markey, Mr. King, and Mr. Casey) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 248

       Whereas older adults, 65 years of age and older, 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 35,000,000 in 2000 to 72,100,000 in 2030;
       Whereas 1 out of 3 older adults in the United States falls 
     each year;
       Whereas falls are the leading cause of death and hospital 
     admissions for injuries among older adults;
       Whereas, in 2010, approximately 2,300,000 older adults were 
     treated in hospital emergency departments for fall-related 
     injuries,

[[Page S6664]]

     and more than 650,000 were subsequently hospitalized;
       Whereas, in 2010, more than 21,000 older adults died from 
     injuries related to unintentional falls;
       Whereas the total annual medical cost of fall-related 
     injuries for older adults is estimated at $30,000,000,000;
       Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
     estimate that if the rate of increase in falls is not slowed, 
     the total annual medical cost of fall-related injuries for 
     older adults will reach $59,600,000,000 by 2020; and
       Whereas evidence-based programs show promise in reducing 
     falls by utilizing cost-effective strategies, such as 
     comprehensive clinical assessments, exercise programs to 
     improve balance and health, medication management, vision 
     correction, and reduction of home hazards: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates September 22, 2013, as ``National Falls 
     Prevention Awareness Day'';
       (2) recognizes that there are proven, cost-effective falls 
     prevention programs and policies;
       (3) commends the Falls Free Coalition and the falls 
     prevention coalitions in 42 States and the District of 
     Columbia for their efforts to work together to increase 
     education and awareness about the prevention of 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) urges the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to 
     continue developing and evaluating interventions to prevent 
     falls among older adults that will translate into effective 
     community-based falls prevention programs;
       (6) urges the Administration for Community Living, the 
     Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and associated 
     partners to continue to promote evidence-based programs and 
     services in communities in the United States to reduce the 
     number of older adults at risk for falls;
       (7) encourages State health departments, which provide 
     significant leadership in reducing injuries and injury-
     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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