Designating the week of September 18 through September 24, 2022, as "National Fall Prevention Awareness Week" to raise awareness about, and encourage the prevention of, falls among older adults.

Bill: 117-hconres-107
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-21]
Introduced: 2022-09-20
Policy area: Health
Latest action: action_date: 2022-09-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2022-09-20
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This concurrent resolution supports the designation of National Fall Prevention Awareness Week.</p>

tv_txt: IV 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H. CON. RES. 107 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 20, 2022 Ms. Lois Frankel of Florida (for herself, Mr. Bilirakis , Mr. Morelle , Mrs. Axne , Mr. Evans , Ms. Dean , Ms. Matsui , Ms. Kaptur , Ms. Wasserman Schultz , Ms. Schakowsky , Mr. Deutch , Ms. Norton , Mr. Cole , Mr. Bera , Ms. Castor of Florida , Mr. Suozzi , Mrs. Dingell , Mr. Cleaver , Mr. Soto , Ms. Newman , and Ms. Roybal-Allard ) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Designating the week of September 18 through September 24, 2022, as National Fall Prevention Awareness Week to raise awareness about, and encourage the prevention of, falls among older adults.

Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 36,000,000 older adults above age 65 fall each year; Whereas approximately 3,000,000 older adults visit emergency rooms for falls each year; Whereas falls among older adults cause 34,000 largely preventable deaths annually; Whereas more than 1 out of 4 older adults in the United States falls each year; Whereas falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among adults aged 65 and older each year; Whereas falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries among adults aged 65 and older; Whereas beyond the loss of life and independence, the CDC reports that the total direct medical cost of fall-related injuries for older adults is approximately $50,000,000,000 annually, including approximately $29,000,000,000 paid by Medicare, approximately $9,000,000,000 paid by Medicaid, and approximately $12,000,000,000 paid by private and out-of-pocket payors; Whereas if the rate of increase in falls is not slowed, the annual cost of fall injuries will surpass $101,000,000,000 by 2030; Whereas many falls could be prevented by addressing modifiable biological, behavioral, and environmental risk factors; and Whereas evidence-based programs reduce falls by utilizing cost-effective strategies, such as exercise programs to improve balance and strength, medication management, vision improvement, reduction of home hazards, and falls prevention education: Now, therefore, be it

That Congress— (1) supports the designation of National Fall Prevention Awareness Week ; (2) recognizes that there are proven, cost-effective falls prevention programs and policies; (3) supports the work of Federal, State, and local governments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Administration for Community Living, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, other Federal agencies, local community-based organizations, the public health community, health care providers, businesses, and individuals working collaboratively to address risk factors that contribute to falls among older adults in the United States; and (4) encourages continued efforts to reduce and prevent falls and supports Federal investments in fall prevention programs.