[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21987]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL FALLS PREVENTION 
                             AWARENESS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TIM MAHONEY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 25, 2008

  Mr. MAHONEY of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of a 
resolution introduced by my colleagues Reps. Frank Pallone and Ralph 
Hall that will create National Falls Prevention Awareness Day. This day 
will raise awareness and encourage all of us to do more to prevent 
elder falls.
  More than one-third of adults 65 and older fall every year. And 
almost 2 million of them end up in the emergency room as a result. 
Falling is also the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries 
for those 65 and over.
  In fact, according to the National Falls Free Coalition, 436 people 
fall per year and die as a result--in Florida ALONE. With the baby 
boomers aging, the U.S. Census Department estimates there will be 
almost 55 million Americans aged 65 and older by 2020. What's more, the 
CDC projects that direct treatment costs from older adult falls will 
escalate to $43.8 billion annually by 2020. This is unacceptable. Older 
adults living in America deserve more attention.
  It is our responsibility to promote awareness of this important 
public health problem in an effort to reduce the incidence of falls 
among older Americans.
  I hope that you will join me in recognizing the importance of 
establishing a National Falls Prevention Awareness Day to raise 
awareness and encourage prevention of falls among older adults. More 
funding, research and community pilot programs will hopefully follow, 
and that is our ultimate goal.

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