Sec. 161.351. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS

The legislature finds that:

(1) in 2008, 1.14 million older Texans were expected to sustain falls;

(2) the risk factors associated with falling increase with age;

(3) approximately 20 to 30 percent of older adults who fall suffer moderate to severe injuries, resulting in almost 80,000 hospitalizations annually and constituting 40 percent of all nursing home placements;

(4) according to the Centers for Disease Control of the United States Public Health Service, the total direct cost of all fall-related injuries in 2000 for people 65 years of age and older exceeded $19 billion nationwide; and

(5) research shows that a well-designed fall prevention program that includes risk factor assessments, a focused physical activity program, and improvement of the home environment can reduce the incidence of falls by 30 to 50 percent.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 95 , Sec. 1, eff. May 23, 2009. Redesignated from Human Resources Code, Section 161.151 by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 91 , Sec. 27.001(39), eff. September 1, 2011.