IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1478 

Supporting the goals and ideals of ‘‘National Falls Prevention Awareness 

Day’’ to raise awareness and encourage the prevention of falls among 

older adults. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 22, 2008 

Mr. PALLONE (for himself and Mr. HALL of Texas) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of ‘‘National Falls Prevention Awareness Day’’ to raise awareness and encourage 

the prevention of falls among older adults. 

Whereas older adults value their independence and a fall can 

significantly limit their ability to remain self-sufficient; 

Whereas falls are the leading cause of death from unintentional injuries among older adults in the United States; 

Whereas older adults are by far the population at greatest 

risk for falling unintentionally, with more than 1⁄3 of all 

people 65 years or older falling each year; 

Whereas older adults who fall once are 2 to 3 times more 

likely than adults who have not fallen to fall again; 


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•HRES 1478 IH 

Whereas, in 2000, the Bureau of the Census reported that 

more than 34,800,000 adults older than the age of 65 

live in the United States, and that number is expected to 

grow to almost 55,000,000 by 2020; 

Whereas 20 to 30 percent of older adults who fall suffer moderate to severe injuries, such as bruising, hip fractures, 

and head traumas; 

Whereas, in 2005, falls resulted in nearly 1,800,000 older 

adults being treated in emergency departments and more 

than 433,000 older adults being hospitalized; 

Whereas, in 2005, nearly 16,000 people aged 65 and older 

died from injuries related to unintentional falls; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that the mortality rate from falls among older adults 

increased 45 percent between 2000 and 2004; 

Whereas the total in direct costs associated with both fatal 

and non-fatal falls is more than $19,000,000,000 annually for hospitalization, emergency department visits, and 

outpatient care; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that if the rate of increase in falls is not stemmed, 

annual direct treatment costs will reach $43,800,000,000 

by 2020, with an annual cost under the Medicare program of $32,400,000,000; 

Whereas evidence-based programs show promise in reducing 

falls and facilitating cost-effective interventions, such as 

comprehensive clinical assessments, exercise programs to 

improve balance and health, management of medications, 

correction of vision, and reduction of home hazards; 

Whereas, on April 23, 2008, the Safety of Seniors Act of 

2007 (Public Law 110–202) was enacted, amending the 


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•HRES 1478 IH 

Public Health Service Act to create a national education 

campaign aimed at older adults, their families, and 

healthcare providers, and injury prevention programs 

that focus on the reduction and prevention of falls among 

older adults; and 

Whereas the Falls Free Coalition Advocacy Work Group, its 

numerous supporting organizations and all other supportive organizations, have designated September 22 as 

‘‘National Falls Prevention Awareness Day’’ and should 

be commended for their efforts to raise awareness and to 

promote greater understanding, research, and pilot programs to prevent falls among older adults: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of ‘‘National 

3 Falls Prevention Awareness Day’’ as recognized by 

4 Falls Free Coalition; 

5 (2) commends the National Falls Free Coalition 

6 and all other supportive organizations for their ef7 forts to promote awareness about preventing and re8 ducing falls among older people in the United 

9 States; 

10 (3) encourages the private sector, the public 

11 health community, healthcare providers, advocacy 

12 organizations, and Federal, State, and local govern13 ments to work together to increase education and 

14 awareness about the prevention of falls; and 


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•HRES 1478 IH 

1 (4) urges national and community organiza2 tions, businesses, individuals, and the media to use 

3 National Falls Prevention Awareness Day to pro4 mote awareness of this important public health prob5 lem in an effort to reduce the incidence of falls 

6 among older people in the United States. 

Æ 


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