New Study Underscores the Need for Falls Prevention

In the physical and occupational therapy community, we are well aware of the risk that falls pose for older individuals. Now, yet another study confirms that falls are a dangerous, and potentially deadly, risk to older individuals’ well-being.

A new study published in the JBMR Plus journal found that, among a database of nearly 100,000 Canadian patients, someone who falls and breaks a hip or spine is more likely to die than someone with breast cancer.

While this research focused on a Canadian population, we see similar data here in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, falls are the number one cause of injury-related death among Americans over the age of 65 and rates of falls continue to increase each year.

While these statistics are disturbing, policy changes offer the opportunity to curb this trend by preventing falls among older Americans. The Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act (H.R. 7618) is one piece of legislation that would allow us to take a step in the right direction.

The SAFE Act would provide Medicare beneficiaries who have fallen in the past year an annual fall risk assessment by a physical or occupational therapist at no cost to them. 

It is crucial that Members of Congress support this common sense, bipartisan legislation to protect older Americans – and you can help!

Send an email today urging your Member of Congress to support the SAFE Act.