[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 29, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5984-S5985]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 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

  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:

                              S. Res. 734

       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

[[Page S5985]]

     that their success can be replicated by others.

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