S. 5466 — FASTER Act

This section states findings that falls among adults age 65 and over cause 38,000 deaths and 3,000,000 emergency department visits annually, account for over $80,000,000,000 in medical expenses, and result in more than 95 percent of hip fractures and most traumatic brain injuries, with over 70 percent occurring in the home.

This section establishes a competitive grant program under which the Administrator of FEMA awards three-year grants directly to career, combination, and volunteer fire departments to implement fall prevention and home safety programs for older adults. Federal cost shares are limited to 75 percent in the first two years and 35 percent in the third year. Allowable uses include lock boxes for emergency access, salaries for community paramedicine personnel, smoke detector installation, minor home modifications to reduce fall risks, medication reconciliation, and referrals to community resources.