III 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 403 

Designating September 2021 as ‘‘National Healthy Aging Month’’ to raise 

awareness of and encourage healthy lifestyle behaviors and the prevention 

and management of chronic health conditions among older adults. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. KELLY, Mr. CASEY, Mr. 

BLUMENTHAL, Mr. WARNOCK, Mr. BRAUN, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. RUBIO, 

Mr. SCOTT of Florida, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, and Mr. BURR) submitted the 

following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating September 2021 as ‘‘National Healthy Aging 

Month’’ to raise awareness of and encourage healthy 

lifestyle behaviors and the prevention and management 

of chronic health conditions among older adults. 

Whereas individuals who are 65 years of age or 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 approximately 56,100,000 in 

2020 to an estimated 80,800,000 by 2040; 

Whereas 90 percent of the $3,800,000,000,000 in annual 

health care expenditures in the United States are for people with chronic physical and mental health conditions; 


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Whereas 80 percent of older adults have at least 1 chronic 

condition and nearly 70 percent of Medicare beneficiaries 

have 2 or more chronic conditions; 

Whereas more than 868,000 people in the United States die 

of heart disease or stroke every year, costing the health 

care system of the United States $214,000,000,000 per 

year and causing $138,000,000,000 in lost productivity 

on the job; 

Whereas, each year, more than 1,700,000 people in the 

United States are diagnosed with cancer and almost 

600,000 die from it, costing an estimated 

$174,000,000,000 in 2020; 

Whereas more than 34,200,000 people in the United States 

have diabetes and another 88,000,000 adults in the 

United States have prediabetes, putting them at risk for 

type 2 diabetes, both of which cost a total estimated 

$327,000,000,000 in medical costs for diagnosed diabetes 

and lost productivity in 2017; 

Whereas obesity affects 19 percent of children and 42 percent 

of adults, including older adults who have obesity rates 

exceeding 37.5 percent in males and 39.4 percent in females, costing the health care system $147,000,000,000 

per year; 

Whereas falls are the leading cause of injury, and injury-related death, among older adults and result in medical 

costs totaling $50,000,000,000 per year, 75 percent of 

which are paid by Medicare and Medicaid; 

Whereas approximately 20 percent of older adults experience 

some type of behavioral health concern, including anxiety, 

depression, bipolar disorder, cognitive impairment, and 


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substance use disorders, which are often factors in suicide among older adults; 

Whereas factors that influence healthy aging include— 

(1) improving diet and exercise; 

(2) managing risk factors for physical and behavioral health conditions, as well as falls; 

(3) keeping up with regular health screenings and 

preventative care; and 

(4) staying socially active; and 

Whereas, as of August 2021, nearly 11,000 senior centers 

serve 1,000,000 older adults aged 50 and older, helping 

them continue to be part of a community, exercise, and 

receive nutritious meals: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates September 2021 as ‘‘Healthy 

3 Aging Month’’; and 

4 (2) encourages the people of the United States 

5 to provide opportunities for older individuals to con6 tinue to flourish by— 

7 (A) emphasizing the importance of exer8 cise, nutrition, health promotion, disease pre9 vention, and social engagement; 

10 (B) encouraging the balance of mind, body, 

11 and spirit, as older individuals can share their 

12 wisdom, experience, and skills with younger 

13 generations; and 


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1 (C) recognizing that people in the United 

2 States are living longer and a healthy lifestyle 

3 will help enhance later life experiences. 

Æ 


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