Support the Keeping Seniors Safe From Falls Act of 2006

On June 14, 2006, Representatives Ralph M. Hall (R-4th TX) and Frank Pallone (D-6th NJ) introduced H.R. 5608, the Keeping Seniors Safe from Falls Act of 2006, in the House of Representatives.

The bill addresses the growing public health problem of falls and fall-related injuries among older adults and focuses on preventing the 12,900 senior deaths and 1.8 million senior emergency room visits that occur each year.

The primary objectives of the Keeping Seniors Safe from Falls Act of 2006 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.

Please show your support for this important legislation by sending a letter to your Representative in Congress. A sample letter is attached. If you have questions or need more information, please contact Patricia H. Adkins at 202-330-4905 or patricia.adkins@homesafetycouncil.org, or Amgad Naguib at 703-741-7506 or anaguib@golinharris.com

SAMPLE Letter of Support (Please remember to customize using your letterhead and inserting your Representative and their address. Your Representative can be found by looking on www.house.gov)