[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 171 (Thursday, September 30, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6849-S6850]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 403--DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 2021 AS ``NATIONAL HEALTHY 
  AGING MONTH'' TO RAISE AWARENESS OF AND ENCOURAGE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE 
     BEHAVIORS AND THE PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC HEALTH 
                     CONDITIONS AMONG OLDER ADULTS

  Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Casey, Mr. 
Blumenthal, Mr. Warnock, Mr. Braun, Ms. Collins, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Scott 
of Florida, Mrs. Gillibrand, and Mr. Burr) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                               S. Res 403

       Whereas individuals who are 65 years of age or 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 approximately 56,100,000 in 2020 to an 
     estimated 80,800,000 by 2040;
       Whereas 90 percent of the $3,800,000,000,000 in annual 
     health care expenditures in the United States are for people 
     with chronic physical and mental health conditions;

[[Page S6850]]

       Whereas 80 percent of older adults have at least 1 chronic 
     condition and nearly 70 percent of Medicare beneficiaries 
     have 2 or more chronic conditions;
       Whereas more than 868,000 people in the United States die 
     of heart disease or stroke every year, costing the health 
     care system of the United States $214,000,000,000 per year 
     and causing $138,000,000,000 in lost productivity on the job;
       Whereas, each year, more than 1,700,000 people in the 
     United States are diagnosed with cancer and almost 600,000 
     die from it, costing an estimated $174,000,000,000 in 2020;
       Whereas more than 34,200,000 people in the United States 
     have diabetes and another 88,000,000 adults in the United 
     States have prediabetes, putting them at risk for type 2 
     diabetes, both of which cost a total estimated 
     $327,000,000,000 in medical costs for diagnosed diabetes and 
     lost productivity in 2017;
       Whereas obesity affects 19 percent of children and 42 
     percent of adults, including older adults who have obesity 
     rates exceeding 37.5 percent in males and 39.4 percent in 
     females, costing the health care system $147,000,000,000 per 
     year;
       Whereas falls are the leading cause of injury, and injury-
     related death, among older adults and result in medical costs 
     totaling $50,000,000,000 per year, 75 percent of which are 
     paid by Medicare and Medicaid;
       Whereas approximately 20 percent of older adults experience 
     some type of behavioral health concern, including anxiety, 
     depression, bipolar disorder, cognitive impairment, and 
     substance use disorders, which are often factors in suicide 
     among older adults;
       Whereas factors that influence healthy aging include--
       (1) improving diet and exercise;
       (2) managing risk factors for physical and behavioral 
     health conditions, as well as falls;
       (3) keeping up with regular health screenings and 
     preventative care; and
       (4) staying socially active; and
       Whereas, as of August 2021, nearly 11,000 senior centers 
     serve 1,000,000 older adults aged 50 and older, helping them 
     continue to be part of a community, exercise, and receive 
     nutritious meals: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates September 2021 as ``Healthy Aging Month''; 
     and
       (2) encourages the people of the United States to provide 
     opportunities for older individuals to continue to flourish 
     by--
       (A) emphasizing the importance of exercise, nutrition, 
     health promotion, disease prevention, and social engagement;
       (B) encouraging the balance of mind, body, and spirit, as 
     older individuals can share their wisdom, experience, and 
     skills with younger generations; and
       (C) recognizing that people in the United States are living 
     longer and a healthy lifestyle will help enhance later life 
     experiences.

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