III 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 553 

Designating September 22, 2012, 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 12, 2012 

Mr. KOHL (for himself, Ms. MIKULSKI, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. ENZI, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, and Mr. CASEY) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating September 22, 2012, 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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•SRES 553 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, according to the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention, in 2008, more than 20,000 older adults died 

from injuries related to unintentional falls; 

Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention, the total cost of fall-related injuries for older 

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

$28,300,000,000 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 

$59,600,000,000 by 2020; and 

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: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates September 22, 2012, as ‘‘Na3 tional Falls Prevention Awareness Day’’; 

4 (2) commends the Falls Free Coalition and the 

5 falls prevention coalitions in 43 States and the Dis6 trict of Columbia for their efforts to work together 

7 to increase education and awareness about the pre8 vention of falls among older adults; 


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•SRES 553 ATS 

1 (3) encourages businesses, individuals, Federal, 

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

4 to promote the awareness of falls in an effort to re5 duce the incidence of falls among older adults in the 

6 United States; 

7 (4) urges the Centers for Disease Control and 

8 Prevention to continue developing and evaluating 

9 strategies to prevent falls among older adults that 

10 will translate into effective fall prevention interven11 tions, including community-based programs; 

12 (5) encourages State health departments, which 

13 provide significant leadership in reducing injuries 

14 and injury-related health care costs by collaborating 

15 with colleagues and a variety of organizations and 

16 individuals, to reduce falls among older adults; and 

17 (6) recognizes proven, cost-effective falls pre18 vention programs and policies and encourages ex19 perts in the field to share their best practices so that 

20 their success can be replicated by others. 

Æ 


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