THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

23

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

ESTABLISHING A Hawaii state Fall Prevention Task force to develop a statewide approach to reducing falls among older adults.

 

 


     WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that too many of our seniors suffer devastating and many times deadly injuries due to falls; and

 

     WHEREAS, one third of our kupuna fall each year; and

 

     WHEREAS, every five hours a senior is injured so severely by a fall that the senior must be hospitalized, often never returning home; and

 

     WHEREAS, in Hawaii, on average, emergency room, hospitalization, rehabilitation and long-term care costs directly related to senior falls total $92 million dollars per year, which equals $252,000 per day; and

 

     WHEREAS, the physical and emotional cost to our families is incalculable; and

 

     WHEREAS, falls are preventable and are not inevitable due to aging; and

 

     WHEREAS, balance screening, medication reviews, and vision examinations are just some of the programs that can help determine those seniors who are at risk of falling; and

 

WHEREAS, a variety of evidence-based best practice programs can prevent falls, especially when incorporated with tai chi or other exercise programs; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, that a Hawaii State Fall Prevention Task Force (Task Force) is established to develop a statewide approach to reduce falls among older adults by investigating and examining the immediate and long-term dangers of fall injuries on our senior population, examining the fiscal impact of senior falls on our medical system and health care costs, and recommending appropriate interventions and prevention programs to reduce falls and health care costs associated with falls; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii State Fall Prevention Task Force consist of five members appointed by the Governor, five members appointed by the President of the Senate, five members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and six additional members, who are leaders in their industry or directors of their departments, or their designees, and who shall collaborate with and support the work of the Task Force as requested.  These additional six members are to include:

 

     (1)  The Medical Director or Corporate Executive Officer of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation;

 

     (2)  The Dean of Geriatric Medicine of the John A. Burns School of Medicine;

 

     (3)  A representative of the Fall Prevention Consortium;

 

     (4)  The Director of Health or the Director's designee;

 

     (5)  The Director of the Executive Office on Aging or the Director's designee; and

 

     (6)  The Director of the Elderly Affairs Division of the City and County of Honolulu or the Director's designee; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, for administrative purposes, the Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau is directed to designate a convener from among the membership of the Hawaii State Fall Prevention Task Force; the Hawaii State Fall Prevention Task Force shall be convened before August 15, 2010, whether or not all membership appointments have been made at that time; the Hawaii State Fall Prevention Task Force shall be convened at a place chosen by the designated convener; and the Legislative Reference Bureau shall provide administrative support; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, the Hawaii State Fall Prevention Task Force may fill any vacancies that may exist as of August 15, 2010; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that as part of its review, the Hawaii State Fall Prevention Task Force is requested to:

 

     (1)  Investigate the most effective means to enhance public awareness that falls are preventable;

 

     (2)  Review the potential for increasing the availability and accessibility of fall prevention programs statewide for caregivers and the elderly on how to prevent falls and effectively use community resources; and

 

     (3)  Investigate the best way to expand the role of medical and health care professionals in screening, educating, and referring elderly to fall prevention programs; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii State Fall Prevention Task Force is requested to collaborate with interested stakeholders, including health care facilities, community coalitions, government agencies, and organizations concerned with protecting our kupuna and preventing falls; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members of the Hawaii State Fall Prevention Task Force have a background in elderly services, geriatric medicine, geriatric pharmacology, business, insurance, health care, long-term care, hospital administration, risk management, or public policy development, or be an advocate for or consumer of elderly care services; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members of the Hawaii State Fall Prevention Task Force be appointed as soon as practicable, but by no later than July 1, 2010; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii State Fall Prevention Task Force submit an interim report to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2011, describing the progress made in the review of fall prevention data and impact of senior falls on the State's medical system and health care costs; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii State Fall Prevention Task Force submit a final report, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2012; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Medical Director of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, the Dean of Geriatric Medicine of the John A. Burns School of Medicine, the Fall Prevention Consortium, the Director of Health, the Director of the Executive Office on Aging, and the Director of the Elderly Affairs Division of the City and County of Honolulu.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Fall Prevention Task Force