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Health & Fitness

Legislators Emphasize Importance of Falls Prevention

BOSTON – In recognition of Falls Prevention Month, Senate President Pro Tempore Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, and Sen. Patricia Jehlen, D-Somerville, Chair of the Elder Affairs Committee, together achieved passage of a Senate resolution underscoring the importance of falls prevention.

“As the number one cause of preventable death in Massachusetts, it is critical that we recognize the huge risk that falls present to health and safety, particularly that of our aging population,” stated Sen. Moore. “Furthermore, as the population continues to age, preventing falls will save precious health care dollars. I applaud the many hardworking groups who engage in falls prevention, especially the members of the Massachusetts Falls Prevention Coalition.”

 

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“As most of us know from our own experience or from friends and family, falling is one of the most dangerous things that can happen to older people. But falls are not inevitable,” said Sen. Jehlen. “Preventing falls can save lives and money. The work of the many individuals aiming to improve falls prevention will benefit the entire Commonwealth.”

 

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While considered a risk of the natural aging process, falls among older adults are startlingly commonplace, dangerous and costly. Each year, more than a third of adults ages 65 and older fall, and 40 percent of those who do will end up in a nursing home.

 

In response to this growing health and safety concern, Sen. Moore and Sen. Jehlen have long supported and advocated for efforts to prevent falls among populations that are at greatest risk. In 2010, Sen. Moore, then-Senate Chair of the Health Care Financing Committee, with the support of Sen. Jehlen, successfully fought to include a provision in a health care cost containment bill, now Chapter 288 of the Acts of 2010, that established an official commission on falls prevention.

 

With the Massachusetts Falls Prevention Coalition now assembled, advocates ranging from the health care to the elder affairs communities are now tracking statistics related to falls prevention, measuring the social impact of falls, and educating populations at risk of methods to prevent injury or even death. The group is supported by the Massachusetts Falls Prevention Coalition, a group founded in 2006 that is comprised of more than 75 organizations that promote legislation regarding falls prevention, disseminate research finding, conduct educational programs, and work on quality improvement initiatives.

 

Despite all of these efforts, both senators caution that the number of accidents related to falls will likely rise as the population ages, underscoring the importance of prevention.

 

In the Commonwealth, falls are the leading cause of injuries, ranging from traumatic brain injuries, broken hips, loss of independence, and injury deaths for people 65 years and older. In 2010, total acute care hospital charges associated with older adult fall‐related injuries totaled approximately $630 million. Moreover, the lifetime medical and work loss cost of the fall injuries among Massachusetts older adults that were sustained in 2010 is estimated to be over $8.5 billion.

 

To learn more about falls prevention in Massachusetts, visit www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/community-health/dvip/injury-prevention/falls.html.

 

To access information about the Massachusetts Falls Prevention Coalition, visit www.maseniorcarefoundation.org/Initiatives/Falls_Prevention/Massachusetts_Falls_Prevention_Coalition.aspx.

 

For more information about Sen. Moore’s health care efforts, visit www.senatormoore.com, or follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/senatormoore.


For more information about Sen. Jehlen visit www.patjehlen.org or follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SenPatJehlen.

 

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