[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 137 (Tuesday, September 22, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S6900]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 264--DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 23, 2015, AS ``NATIONAL 
 FALLS PREVENTION AWARENESS DAY'' TO RAISE AWARENESS AND ENCOURAGE THE 
                 PREVENTION OF FALLS AMONG OLDER ADULTS

  Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Mrs. McCaskill) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 264

       Whereas older adults, 65 years of age and older, are the 
     fastest-growing segment of the population in the United 
     States;
       Whereas the number of older adults in the United States 
     will increase from 35,000,000 in 2000 to 82,300,000 in 2040;
       Whereas 1 out of 3 adults over age 65 in the United States 
     falls each year;
       Whereas falls are the leading cause of both fatal and 
     nonfatal injuries among older adults;
       Whereas, in 2013, approximately 2,500,000 older adults were 
     treated in hospital emergency departments for fall-related 
     injuries, and more than 734,000 were subsequently 
     hospitalized;
       Whereas, in 2013, more than 25,500 older adults died from 
     injuries related to unintentional falls, and the death rates 
     from falls among older adults in the United States have risen 
     sharply in the last decade;
       Whereas, in 2013, the total direct medical cost of fall-
     related injuries for older adults, adjusted for inflation, 
     was $34,000,000,000;
       Whereas if the rate of increase in falls is not slowed, the 
     annual cost of fall injuries will reach $67,700,000,000 by 
     2020; and
       Whereas evidence-based programs show promise in reducing 
     falls by utilizing cost-effective strategies, such as 
     exercise programs to improve balance and strength, medication 
     management, vision improvement, reduction of home hazards, 
     and fall prevention education: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates September 23, 2015, as ``National Falls 
     Prevention Awareness Day'';
       (2) recognizes that there are proven, cost-effective falls 
     prevention programs and policies;
       (3) commends the 72 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) 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 partners to 
     continue to promote evidence-based programs and services in 
     communities across the United States to reduce the number of 
     older adults at risk for falls;
       (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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