Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson, M.D., said this week he will make prevention of senior falls one of the top priorities of his new program, “The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Healthy Homes.”
Galson’s “Call to Action” seeks to outline ways in which Americans can improve the safety and healthiness of their homes. Preventing falls will be a top focus of this program, Galson told reporters at his press conference. Among the suggestions outlined by the program were installation of grab bars in showers and preparation of a fire escape plan. The Surgeon General’s “Call to Action” is part of a larger program—The Healthy Homes Initiative—being pushed by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Falls in the home are the leading cause of injury and death among senior citizens. They represent the single biggest reason for skilled nursing facility admissions. More information about the “Call to Action” can be found at www.surgeongeneral.gov.
