III 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 569 

Designating September 23, 2014, 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 18, 2014 

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

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating September 23, 2014, as ‘‘National Falls Prevention Awareness Day’’ to raise awareness and encourage 

the prevention of falls among older adults. 

Whereas adults who are age 65 or older (referred to in this 

preamble as ‘‘older adults’’) are the fastest-growing population in the United States; 

Whereas the number of older adults in the United States is 

expected to increase from 35,000,000 older adults in 

2000 to 79,700,000 older adults in 2040; 

Whereas each year, 1 out of every 3 older adults in the 

United States falls; 

Whereas falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults; 


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•SRES 569 IS 

Whereas in 2012, more than 2,400,000 older adults were 

treated in hospital emergency departments for fall-related 

injuries, and more than 722,000 older adults were subsequently hospitalized from such injuries; 

Whereas in 2011, more than 22,900 older adults in the 

United States died from injuries related to unintentional 

falls; 

Whereas in 2010, the total direct medical cost of fall-related 

injuries for older adults, adjusted for inflation, was 

$30,000,000,000; 

Whereas between 2004 and 2014, the rate of death from falls 

of older adults in the United States has risen sharply; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that if the rate of falls does not decrease, the annual cost of injuries from falls will reach an estimated 

$67,700,000,000 by 2020; and 

Whereas evidence-based programs show promise in reducing 

falls by utilizing cost-effective strategies, such as exercise 

programs to improve balance and strength, medication 

management, vision improvement, comprehensive clinical 

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

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates September 23, 2014, 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 72 member organizations of 

7 the Falls Free® Coalition, and the falls prevention 


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1 coalitions in 42 States and the District of Columbia, 

2 for their efforts to work together to increase edu3 cation and awareness about preventing falls among 

4 adults who are age 65 or older (referred to in this 

5 resolution as ‘‘older adults’’); 

6 (4) encourages businesses, individuals, Federal, 

7 State, and local governments, the public health com8 munity, and health care providers to work together 

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

10 incidence of falls among older adults in the United 

11 States; 

12 (5) urges the Centers for Disease Control and 

13 Prevention to continue developing and evaluating 

14 interventions to prevent falls among older adults 

15 that will translate into effective community-based 

16 falls prevention programs; 

17 (6) urges the Administration for Community 

18 Living, the Centers for Disease Control and Preven19 tion, and their partners to continue to promote evi20 dence-based programs and services in communities 

21 across the United States to reduce the number of 

22 older adults at risk of falling; 

23 (7) encourages State health departments and 

24 State Units on Aging, which provide significant lead25 ership in reducing injuries and related health care 


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1 costs, to collaborate with organizations and individ2 uals to reduce falls among older adults in the United 

3 States; and 

4 (8) encourages experts in the field of falls pre5 vention to share best practices so that others can 

6 replicate their success. 

Æ 


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