The legislature finds that:

1. (1) in 2008, 1.14 million older Texans were expected to sustain falls;
2. (2) the risk factors associated with falling increase with age;
3. (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 facility placements;
4. (4) according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 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. (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.

   Redesignated from Human Resources Code, Section 161.151 by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 91 (S.B. 1303), Sec. 27.001(39), eff. September 1, 2011.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 95 (H.B. 703), Sec. 1, eff. May 23, 2009.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 4.464, eff. April 2, 2015.