Home Safety Council Praises Senators for Introducing the Keeping Seniors Safe from Falls Act of 2005

On July 28, 2005, Senators Michael Enzi (R-WY) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) introduced the Keeping Seniors Safe from Falls Act of 2005, a bill to address the growing public health problem of falls and fall-related injuries among older adults.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics say that one out of every three Americans over age 65 falls every year. Among those who fall, 20 to 30 percent suffer moderate to severe injuries that reduce mobility, independence, and increase the risk of premature death. In 2002 more than 12,000 seniors died and approximately 1.6 million seniors visited an emergency department as a result of a fall.

The bill, S.1531, would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to oversee and support national and local education campaigns focusing on reducing falls among older adults and preventing repeat falls. It also calls for research in areas such as identifying older adults at high risk for falling; designing, implementing and evaluating the most effective fall prevention interventions; improving diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitation of older adults who have fallen; tailoring effective strategies to specific populations; and eliminating barriers to adopting proven fall prevention strategies. In addition, the bill supports demonstration and research projects to improve the science behind preventing falls. Most importantly, the bill authorizes the appropriation of $25 million for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2009 in order to carry out its provisions.

The Home Safety Council is a member of the Falls Free Coalition, a coalition of more than 55 health and safety organizations formed earlier this year to advance the 36 strategies proposed in a new initiative entitled Falls Free: Promoting a National Falls Prevention Action Plan. We are especially pleased to see many of the recommendations from the action plan have been incorporated into this important piece of legislation, and believe it represents the best approach to reducing injurious and fatal falls among older adults.

In addition to Senators Enzi and Mikulski, the following Senators are original co-sponsors of the legislation: Max Baucus (D-MO), Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Patty Murray (D-WA).

The Home Safety Council expresses its sincere gratitude to this bipartisan group of Senators for their commitment and leadership in advancing solutions that address the risk of fall-related injuries for older adults. We urge the Senate to pass this important legislation to help older Americans.

To find out how you can support this important legislation, contact Patricia H. Adkins at 202-349-1100 or Amgad Naguib at 703-741-7506.