AARP Backs Bill to Prevent Falls Among Older Veterans

AARP is endorsing bipartisan legislation that would protect older veterans from dangerous falls — the leading cause of injuries for people 65 and older.

 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 14 million adults 65 and older — 1 in 4 — report falling every year. Research shows that veterans are at higher risk because of physical disabilities and other chronic health conditions.

 The consequences can be severe or even deadly. Falls among older adults caused more than 38,000 deaths in 2021, according to the CDC.

 “While falls among older adults are common and costly, they are also preventable,” Bill Sweeney, AARP senior vice president for government affairs, wrote in a Sept. 20 letter endorsing the SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act.

Preventing falls requires coordination among health care providers and screening for risk, yet there is no single authority that leads fall prevention efforts at the Department of Veterans Affairs, according to the bill’s sponsors.

The legislation would change that by creating an Office of Falls Prevention and a falls prevention coordinator role at the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill also calls for a national public education campaign and more veterans-specific research on preventing falls, among other measures.

Additionally, it would:

• Provide fall risk assessment and fall prevention services for certain veterans
• Improve patient handling and transfer techniques for injured or paralyzed veterans
• Create a pilot program to incorporate falls prevention programs for veterans receiving federal grants for home modifications

The legislation is a “win-win for patients, family support systems, VA beneficiaries and taxpayers,” U.S. Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) said in a news release. King sponsored the bill with Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S. Dakota).

U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.), one of five lawmakers who sponsored a companion bill in the House, said it “will help drastically enhance the health and quality of life for those at risk of falls while reducing the need for costly recovery programs.” In a news release, the sponsors cited CDC figures showing about $50 billion is spent every year on medical costs related to fall injuries.

Other House sponsors include Reps. Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.), Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), Lois Frankel (D-Fla.) and Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.).

The endorsement is one of several ways AARP is fighting for veterans in Congress. Last week, an AARP veterans’ expert testified before the U.S. House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs calling for more federal support for veterans’ family caregivers. We’ve previously backed measures to help veterans age at home, where most older adults want to be, as well as bills that would expand long-term care options for veterans and boost mental health support for their caregivers.

Read our letters to House and Senate lawmakers. Visit our Veterans Resources Hub for information about VA benefits, caregiving, fraud and more.