AARP endorses bipartisan legislation designed to prevent a long-standing and prevalent problem among Americans 65 and older: falls.

More than 14 million adults aged 65 and older – or 1 in 4 – report falling each year, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These falls result in approximately nine million injuries, three million emergency room visits, and one million hospitalizations per year.

These falls can be fatal: they are the leading cause of injury death among adults aged 65 and older, according to CDC data. In 2023, more than 40,000 older people will die from falls. Additionally, the death rate from falls increased by 41% between 2012 and 2021. Preliminary data shows that this upward trend has continued since then.

“While falls among older adults are common, costly and dangerous, they are also preventable,” Bill Sweeney, AARP senior vice president for government affairs, wrote in an Oct. 31 letter endorsing the legislation.

The Stand Strong Falls Prevention Act, introduced in September by U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Mike Rounds (R.S.D.), would establish a National Falls Prevention Advisory Committee comprised of representatives from federal and government, health care providers, researchers, caregivers, housing assistance experts, disability service providers and others.

The committee would develop a national falls prevention plan to evaluate current falls prevention initiatives and recommend new policies and programs to address the problem. The committee would also commission studies on the most common household accidents and cost-effective ways to prevent them.

A proposal for reimbursement for home renovations

The proposed law would also establish a pilot program to test Medicare coverage or reimbursement for home modifications, which the federal insurance program does not currently offer. For example, the pilot project can assess whether reimbursement for grab bars or stair rails reduces the number of falls in households.

“We all know the saying ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,’ and preventative care is a win-win for Maine patients, families and taxpayers,” co-sponsor King said in a September statement.

Maine leads the nation with the highest proportion of adults 65 and older and ranks eighth nationally per capita in deaths from falls.

“A fall in a shower or bathtub can result in a hospital stay and medical bills of thousands of dollars,” King added, “whereas an investment in a grab bar would cost a few hundred dollars. “

AARP’s endorsement is one of many ways we are fighting to help older Americans age safely at home. In September, we approved another bipartisan bill to better protect older veterans from falls. More generally, this year we supported a series of legislative proposals in favor of aging in place.

Read our full letter to the king and the rooks. Also check out our Smart Guide to Aging in Place and our Home Care page for tips on how to make your home safer and more comfortable as you age. ​