Keeping Seniors Safe From Falls Act of 2006

The Keeping Seniors Safe From Falls Act of 2006 (H.R. 5608) was introduced in the House of Representatives on June 14, 2006 by Reps. Ralph Hall (R-TX) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ). The bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Facts about falls among the elderly, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Falls are the leading cause of injury deaths among individuals who are over 65 years of age.
• In 2003, falls among older adults accounted for 12,900 deaths, 1.8 million emergency department visits, and 421,000 hospitalizations.
• Hospital admissions for hip fractures among the elderly have increased from 231,000 in 1988 to 338,000 in 1999.
• Annually, more than 64,000 individuals who are over 65 years of age sustain a traumatic brain injury as a result of a fall.
• The total medical cost of all fall injuries for people 65 and older was calculated in 1994 to be $27.3 billion (in 2004 dollars). By 2020, the cost is expected to reach $43.8 billion annually.

Background: H.R. 5608 is similar to the Keeping Our Seniors Safe From Falls Act (S. 1217), which was passed by the Senate during the 108th Congress. Sens. Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) reintroduced the bill as S. 1531 in the 109th Congress. It is pending committee action.

Purpose of bill: H.R. 5608 directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to expand and intensify programs with respect to research and related activities concerning elder falls. It offers a national approach to reducing falls among older adults, which focuses on the daily life of senior citizens in residential, institutional, and community settings.

Objectives: The bill’s primary objectives include:

• Developing effective public education strategies in a national initiative to reduce falls among older adults in order to educate older adults, family members, health professionals, caregivers, and others;
• Overseeing and supporting demonstration and research projects to be carried out by qualified organizations, institutions, or consortia of qualified organizations and institutions.
• Intensifying services and conducting research to determine the most effective approaches to preventing and treating falls among older adults.
• Evaluating the effect of falls on health care costs, the potential for reducing falls, and the most effective strategies for reducing health care costs associated with falls.

Funding: A total of $35 million in annual funding is requested for each fiscal year 2007 through 2010.