Who Is Behind the Push for PREVENTING Falls?

 

  • The United States Government

  • Both Houses of Congress introduced essentially the same bill in 2002: The Elderly Fall Prevention Act The bill notes:

    • Falls are the leading cause of injury deaths among people over 65.

    • 25% of elderly persons who sustain a hip fracture die within one year.

    • Hospital admissions for hip fractures among the elderly have increased from 231,000 admissions in 1988 to 332,000 in 1999. The number of hip fractures is expected to exceed 500,000 by 2040.

    • The cost to the Medicare and Medicaid programs and society as a whole from falls by elderly persons continues to climb much faster than inflation and population growth. Direct costs alone will exceed $32 billion in 2020.

  • OSHA OSHA has issued a statement of concern regarding falls in the workplace. They have indicated prevention of falls will become a major issue for them.

 
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