One fall can change a life forever.
Physical therapists see it all the time. A grandfather misses the bottom step of the front porch while hurrying after a grandchild. A woman living alone slips on a small piece of ice that fell unnoticed on the kitchen floor. A senior gets tangled in an extension cord running across the living room. In an instant, an ordinary day becomes an ambulance ride, a hospital stay, surgery, rehabilitation, or the loss of independence.
For older Americans and their families, falls are not minor accidents. They are life-changing events. Every year, tens of millions of falls occur among Americans aged 65 and older. Nearly 1 million older adults are hospitalized annually because of fall-related injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and hip fractures. For too many seniors, a fall is the moment that changes where they live, how they move, and how much freedom they have in their daily lives.
RETIREMENT NEST EGGS ARE IN JEOPARDY. SAFER ACT IS THE ANSWER
That means nearly every family, church, neighborhood, workplace, and community has someone who is at risk. Whether it is a parent, grandparent, neighbor, veteran, retired teacher, or family friend, fall prevention is not an abstract health policy debate. It is about protecting the people who helped build our communities.
That is why Sen. Jim Justice (R-WV), working with his counterparts in the House, led by Reps. Carol Miller (R-WV) and Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) introduced the Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly Act, or SAFE Act, and deserve national attention for their impactful bipartisan effort. The issue of falls is especially personal for them, as seniors make up about one-fifth of their state’s population.
The SAFE Act offers a practical, compassionate solution to a serious and growing problem. It would allow seniors on Medicare to receive a no-cost falls risk assessment from a physical therapist or occupational therapist as part of their annual wellness visit. That may sound simple, but it could make a meaningful difference in the lives of millions of older Americans.
Physical and occupational therapists are trained to identify the mobility issues, balance problems, strength limitations, and environmental risks that can lead to falls. We can help seniors and their families understand what changes can reduce the risk of injury, from improving leg strength and balance to removing hazards in the home. We can develop patient-centered plans that help older adults move more confidently, stay active, and preserve their independence.
This is exactly the kind of preventive healthcare that Medicare should encourage.
Too often, our healthcare system waits until after the accident happens. We pay for the ambulance, the emergency room, the hospital bed, the surgery, the medication, the nursing home stay, and the long road of rehabilitation. But by then, the damage has already been done. A fall may have already robbed a senior of confidence, mobility, or the ability to live independently.
Prevention is not only better medicine. It is also a better policy.
The SAFE Act recognizes that helping seniors avoid injuries is just as important as treating them after they occur. It also reflects a broader truth that families across the country understand: Aging with dignity requires more than reacting to crises. It requires giving older adults the tools, support, and professional guidance they need before a preventable injury changes everything.
I was proud to work with Justice and his bipartisan colleagues in the House on this legislation because I know this issue is personal to him. His public service has long reflected a deep connection to West Virginia’s — and America’s — seniors, families, and communities. Just as importantly, he understands that healthcare should not only be about responding after an accident or injury. It should also be about helping people stay healthy, mobile, and active for as long as possible.
As a physical therapist, I have seen what happens when older adults receive the right support early. I have seen patients regain confidence, improve their strength, reduce their fear of falling, and return to the daily activities that give their lives meaning. I have also seen the heartbreak that follows when a preventable fall leads to permanent consequences.
We can do better. We should do better.
CONGRESS SHOULD RALLY BEHIND THE PLAN ACT
Looking back on Older Americans Month, we should recommit ourselves to helping seniors live safely, independently, and with dignity. The SAFE Act is a commonsense step toward that goal. It is good healthcare, good fiscal policy, and, most importantly, the right thing to do for the older Americans who deserve our care, respect, and protection.
Justice, Miller, and numerous other members of Congress deserve credit for championing this effort, and Congress should move quickly to advance it. For millions of seniors and the families who love them, preventing the next fall could mean preserving a lifetime of independence.
Nikesh Patel, PT, DPT, is executive director of the Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation and the national director of clinical services and regulatory affairs at U.S. Physical Therapy.