III 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 248 

Designating September 22, 2013, as ‘‘National Falls Prevention Awareness 

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

older adults. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 19, 2013 

Mr. NELSON (for himself, Ms. COLLINS, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. 

FRANKEN, Mr. COONS, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. KING, and Mr. CASEY) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating September 22, 2013, as ‘‘National Falls Prevention Awareness Day’’ to raise awareness and encourage 

the prevention of falls among older adults. 

Whereas older adults, 65 years of age and 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 35,000,000 in 2000 to 

72,100,000 in 2030; 

Whereas 1 out of 3 older adults in the United States falls 

each year; 

Whereas falls are the leading cause of death and hospital admissions for injuries among older adults; 


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•SRES 248 ATS 

Whereas, in 2010, approximately 2,300,000 older adults were 

treated in hospital emergency departments for fall-related 

injuries, and more than 650,000 were subsequently hospitalized; 

Whereas, in 2010, more than 21,000 older adults died from 

injuries related to unintentional falls; 

Whereas the total annual medical cost of fall-related injuries 

for older adults is estimated at $30,000,000,000; 

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

the total annual medical cost of fall-related injuries for 

older adults will reach $59,600,000,000 by 2020; and 

Whereas evidence-based programs show promise in reducing 

falls by utilizing cost-effective strategies, such as comprehensive clinical assessments, exercise programs to improve balance and health, medication management, vision 

correction, and reduction of home hazards: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates September 22, 2013, as ‘‘Na3 tional Falls Prevention Awareness Day’’; 

4 (2) recognizes that there are proven, cost-effec5 tive falls prevention programs and policies; 

6 (3) commends the Falls Free Coalition and the 

7 falls prevention coalitions in 42 States and the Dis8 trict of Columbia for their efforts to work together 

9 to increase education and awareness about the pre10 vention of falls among older adults; 


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•SRES 248 ATS 

1 (4) encourages businesses, individuals, Federal, 

2 State, and local governments, the public health com3 munity, and health care providers to work together 

4 to raise awareness of falls in an effort to reduce the 

5 incidence of falls among older adults in the United 

6 States; 

7 (5) urges the Centers for Disease Control and 

8 Prevention to continue developing and evaluating 

9 interventions to prevent falls among older adults 

10 that will translate into effective community-based 

11 falls prevention programs; 

12 (6) urges the Administration for Community 

13 Living, the Centers for Disease Control and Preven14 tion, and associated partners to continue to promote 

15 evidence-based programs and services in commu16 nities in the United States to reduce the number of 

17 older adults at risk for falls; 

18 (7) encourages State health departments, which 

19 provide significant leadership in reducing injuries 

20 and injury-related health care costs by collaborating 

21 with organizations and individuals, to reduce falls 

22 among older adults; and 


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•SRES 248 ATS 

1 (8) encourages experts in the field of falls pre2 vention to share their best practices so that their 

3 success can be replicated by others. 

Æ 


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