The Problem

More than half of the estimated 16.5 million living veterans are over age 65. According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of injury and death among adults 65 and older — accounting for 41,000 deaths, 3.6 million emergency department visits, and approximately $80 billion in annual medical costs. Veterans face elevated fall risk due to service-connected musculoskeletal injuries, neurological conditions, polypharmacy, and mobility impairments. VA currently lacks a dedicated, centralized office to coordinate falls prevention across its health care system.

• AFSA's retired membership is squarely in the highest-risk demographic for falls.
• A fall can mean a fractured hip, a TBI, loss of independence, and the beginning of a rapid health decline. Improving prevention better for the overall health of the veteran and will be much more cost-effective.
• VA has existing occupational therapy and safety programs, but no central office to develop standards, monitor outcomes, and coordinate across VISNs and hundreds of facilities.

What H.R. 3183 Does

• Establishes an Office of Falls Prevention within the Veterans Health Administration, led by a Chief Officer of Falls Prevention reporting to the Under Secretary for Health.
• Requires that veterans in VA nursing homes who have fallen or are at fall risk receive a licensed physical or occupational therapy assessment and fall prevention services during their stay.
• Mandates annual falls risk assessments by licensed therapists for all veterans receiving extended care services.
• Requires biennial safe patient handling training for all VA providers, with access to appropriate mobility technology in every care setting.
• Directs a national public education campaign for at-risk veterans, their families, and caregivers.
• Creates a pilot program to provide home improvements and structural alterations for fall prevention for eligible veterans.
• Establishes a joint VA/National Institute on Aging expert panel to develop evidence-based falls prevention recommendations specifically for veterans.

Why AFSA Supports This Bill

• A large portion of AFSA's retired membership is directly in the age range most vulnerable to falls. This bill protects them.
• The home modification pilot is especially significant: many veteran members want to age in place but face structural barriers that make that dangerous. This pilot addresses that directly.
• Bipartisan co-sponsorship (Budzinski-D, Lois Frankel-D, Kiggans-R, Bergman-R, Bilirakis-R) — this bill has real cross-party momentum.
• The nursing home assessment requirement is concrete and enforceable. It mandates clinical action for at-risk veterans in VA care settings.
• Research coordination with the National Institute on Aging ensures veteran-specific evidence, not just generic geriatric guidelines.