III 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 633 

Designating September 23, 2010, 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 21, 2010 

Mr. KOHL (for himself, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mr. CASEY, Mr. FEINGOLD, and Mr. 

LEMIEUX) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 

agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating September 23, 2010, 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 injury, death, and hospital admissions for traumatic injuries among older 

adults; 


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Whereas, in 2008, approximately 2,100,000 older adults were 

treated in hospital emergency departments for fall-related 

injuries, and more than 500,000 were subsequently hospitalized; 

Whereas, in 2007, over 18,400 older adults died from injuries 

related to unintentional falls; 

Whereas the total cost of fall-related injuries for older adults 

is $80,900,000,000, including more than 

$19,000,000,000 in direct medical costs; 

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

the annual cost under the Medicare program will reach 

$32,400,000,000 by 2020; 

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 research indicates that fall prevention programs for 

high-risk older adults have a net-cost savings of almost 

$9 in benefits to society for each $1 invested; 

Whereas the Falls Free Coalition Advocacy Work Group and 

its numerous national and State supporting organizations 

should be commended for their efforts to raise awareness 

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

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates September 23, 2010, as ‘‘Na3 tional Falls Prevention Awareness Day’’; 


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1 (2) commends the Falls Free Coalition Advo2 cacy Work Group and the 31 State falls coalitions 

3 for their efforts to work together to increase edu4 cation and awareness about the prevention of falls 

5 among older adults; 

6 (3) encourages businesses, individuals, Federal, 

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

9 to promote the awareness of falls in an effort to re10 duce the incidence of falls among older adults in the 

11 United States; 

12 (4) urges the Centers for Disease Control and 

13 Prevention to continue developing and evaluating 

14 strategies to prevent falls among older adults that 

15 will translate into effective fall prevention interven16 tions, including community-based programs; 

17 (5) encourages State health departments, which 

18 provide significant leadership in reducing injuries 

19 and injury-related health care costs by collaborating 

20 with colleagues and a variety of organizations and 

21 individuals, to reduce falls among older adults; and 

22 (6) recognizes proven, cost-effective falls pre23 vention programs and policies and encourages exVerDate Mar 15 2010 21:55 Sep 22, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR633.ATS SR633

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1 perts in the field to share their best practices so that 

2 their success can be replicated by others. 

Æ 


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