III 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 265 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 19, 2017 Ms. Collins (for herself and Mr. Casey ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating September 22, 2017, as National Falls Prevention Awareness Day to raise awareness and encourage the prevention of falls among older adults.

Whereas individuals who are 65 years of age or older (referred to in this preamble as older adults ) 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 46,200,000 in 2014 to 82,300,000 in 2040; Whereas more than 1 of 4 older adults in the United States falls each year; Whereas falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults; Whereas, in 2014, approximately 2,800,000 older adults were treated in hospital emergency departments for fall-related injuries and more than 812,000 of those older adults were subsequently hospitalized; Whereas, in 2014, more than 27,000 older adults died from injuries related to unintentional falls and the death rates from falls of older adults in the United States have risen sharply in the last decade; Whereas, in 2015, the total direct medical cost of fall-related injuries for older adults, adjusted for inflation, was $31,000,000,000; Whereas, if the rate of increase in falls is not slowed, the annual cost of fall injuries will reach $67,700,000,000 by 2020; 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 fall prevention education: Now, therefore, be it