Posted on October 16th, 2019 Armando
Trull, Media Relations Manager 202-709-2474 armando.trull@ncoa.org
Washington, DC (October 16, 2019) – At a hearing today of
the U.S. Senate Special Committee on
Aging, the National Council on Aging (NCOA) offered several
evidence-based solutions to stem the tide of older adult falls, which today
account for four older adult deaths every hour.
“We know the predictors for falls, we have tools to identify
those most at risk, and we have proven strategies to reduce risk and falls,”
said Kathleen Cameron, Senior
Director of NCOA’s Center for Healthy Aging.
“Yet, falls rates continue to escalate.”
Many factors contribute to falls, which is why NCOA presented a
range of multi-stakeholder solutions. Many of NCOA’s recommendations are
included in a new report from the Special Committee on Aging released at
today’s hearing. They include:
·
Organize a coordinated federal effort
to reduce falls, including a national public
awareness and action campaign and a cross-agency collaboration to develop the
infrastructure to make it easier for older adults to access and afford falls
reduction strategies.
·
Promote early identification of falls
risk factors and early intervention,
including recognizing falls as a medical condition; incentivizing health care
providers to use the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s STEADI falls risk and
assessment tool; further promoting evidence-based community falls prevention
programs; and focusing on two of the most modifiable risk factors—medications
and home safety.
·
Improve Medicare to prevent falls, including providing Medicare reimbursement for falls risk
screening, referral management, and evidence-based community programs;
expanding payment for the Welcome to Medicare and Annual Wellness Visits to
physical and occupational therapist; and developing Medicare falls prevention
billing codes.
“NCOA’s recommendations are the result of more than 12 years of
research and leadership on the front lines of falls prevention,” said Cameron.
“NCOA applauds the bipartisan work of Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Bob
Casey (D-PA) in championing our evidence-based solutions to this critical
health issue which impacts every single older adult in America.”
NCOA directs the National Falls Prevention Resource
Center, funded by U.S. Administration for Community Living, and it
leads the National Falls Free® Initiative,
which includes coalitions in 43 states. Every year, on the first day of fall,
NCOA sponsors Falls Prevention Awareness Day to
bring attention to the issue and proven solutions.
About NCOA
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is a trusted national
leader working to ensure that every person can age well. Since 1950, our
mission has not changed: Improve the lives of millions of older adults,
especially those who are struggling. NCOA empowers people with the best
solutions to improve their own health and economic security—and we strengthen
government programs that we all depend on as we age. Every year, millions of
people use our signature programs BenefitsCheckUp®, My Medicare Matters®, and
the Aging Mastery Program® to age well. By offering online tools and
collaborating with a nationwide network of partners, NCOA is working to improve
the lives of 40 million older adults by 2030. Learn more at ncoa.org and @NCOAging.
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