04-R 307

2004 -- H 8611

Enacted 06/03/04

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING MAY 23 - MAY 29, 2004 AS "FALL PREVENTION AWARENESS WEEK"

IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Representative Peter T. Ginaitt

Date Introduced: June 03, 2004

     WHEREAS, Falls are a leading cause of injuries and their associated disabilities among

the state’s elderly population; and

     WHEREAS, The impact of falls causes significant reduction in a seniors quality of life

and major costs to the health care system; and

     WHEREAS, The incidence of falls increases with age and one-third of older adults ages

sixty-five years and older fall each year; and

     WHEREAS, Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury, deaths, the most

common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions of trauma with nine out of ten hip

fractures caused by falls; and

     WHEREAS, In 2000, 1.6 million seniors were treated in emergency departments for fall-

related injuries and 353,000 required hospitalization; and

     WHEREAS, In 1999, about 10,000 persons age sixty-five and older died from fall-related

injuries and more than sixty percent of persons who die from falls are age seventy-five years and

older; and

     WHEREAS, Persons with hip fractures are 5-20% more likely to die in the first year after

a fall, and following a fall, 15-25% of persons who were living at home, will still be in long-term

care facilities; and

     WHEREAS, Fractures are the 5th highest cause of hospitalizations among Rhode Island

women age 65 and over; and

     WHEREAS, The elderly population is projected to increase from 34.8 million to 77.2

million from 2000 to 2040 causing the number of fall-related injuries to significantly increase;

now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby proclaims May 23 to May 29, 2004 to be “Fall Prevention

Awareness Week” in the state of Rhode Island; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives hereby joins the members of the Long-

Term Care Coordinating Council under the Chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor Charles J.

Fogarty and the Rhode Island Fall Prevention Partnership in promoting awareness and

disseminating information regarding the high incidence and adverse impact of falls among the

elderly. We encourage the citizens of this state to learn, disseminate and encourage the best

possible practices intended to reduce the incidence of falls and their devastating consequences;

and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Chairman of the Long-Term Care

Coordinating Council and the Rhode Island Fall Prevention Partnership.

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LC03482

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