SAMPLE Support Letter for S. 1531

DATE

The Honorable (YOUR SENATOR) U.S. Senate ADDRESS

Dear Senator (LAST NAME):

I am writing you to request that you co-sponsor S. 1531, the “Keeping Seniors Safe From Falls Act of 2005,” introduced by Senator Michael Enzi (R-WY), and Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and supported by the Falls Free Coalition Public Policy Workgroup made up of the National Council on the Aging, the Home Safety Council and The National Safety Council.

Falls among older Americans is a tragic, yet in many instances avoidable, situation. Falls are the leading cause of injury deaths among individuals who are over 65 years of age. Annually, more than 80,000 individuals who are over 65 years of age sustain a traumatic brain injury as a result of a fall. In 2000 the total cost of all senior fall injuries was estimated at more than $19.5 billion. A national approach to reducing falls, which focuses on the daily life of older adults in residential, institutional, and community settings, is desperately needed.

S. 1531 creates a national public education campaign for older adults, their families, and health care providers about how to prevent falls. It expands research and provides demonstration projects to develop better ways to prevent falls and to improve the treatment and rehabilitation of older falls victims. The legislation also requires an evaluation of the effect of falls on Medicare and Medicaid, to look at potentially reducing costs by expanding coverage to include fall-related services.

The bill was passed by the U.S. Senate in the 108th Congress and will receive consideration toward the end of the first session of the 109th Congress. I urge you to support this important legislation and cosponsor S. 1531, the “Keeping Seniors Safe From Falls Act of 2005.”

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME TITLE