Preventing Falls, Preserving Independence: Technology, Community Programs, and Innovation in Senior Safety
Wednesday 20 May, 3:30 – 5:30 PM (ET)
Hart Senate Office Building, Room 216
Watch here
The US Senate Special Committee on Aging will be holding hearings on this issue next week, with a focus on the public health and financial risks posed by falls among older Americans and the overall issue of senior safety. The committee will discuss how Congress, Federal agencies, and the private sector can work together to reduce fall rates, cut unnecessary Medicare spending, and help seniors live safely and independently at home. The hearing will review evidence-based programs and best practices, where technology fits into prevention and early intervention, and where Congress can support models such as CMMI’s Medicare LEAD program*, which will be succeeding the ACO REACH program after the latter concludes at the end of 2026.
The special committee will be hearing testimony from Christine Didion, MSW, Director of Programs, Area Agency on Aging Pasco-Pinellas, in St. Petersburg, FL; Laura Mitchell, co-Founder & CEO of GrandCare Systems in San Marcos, CA and West Bend, WI; and Martha Petteys, Director of Grand Management and Health Strategies, Alliance of New York State YMCAs, in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Those of us who have worked in the field know that senior falls more often than not point to other health and safety issues. Having the data to proactively assess fall risk and to help prevent those falls before they happen is a key factor for maintaining healthy and independent living.
Laura Mitchell of GrandCare, one of the earliest pioneers in tech-based telehealth, health monitoring, and socialization for senior care, reached out to this Editor. She will be presenting how technology utilizing data-driven information can be integrated into support, with accessible housing, services, and sensor-based technologies. “Why wait for the fall? There are available and affordable assistive technologies that can help us identify factors and red flag symptoms to protect and empower our aging population.” (Editor’s note: I worked as head marketer for Living Independently Group/QuietCare Systems, partly a GrandCare competitor in senior housing, in 2006–and GrandCare in its first iteration was contemporary with us. Remarkably, and against the odds, they still exist and under the same owners, which is a lot more than I can say for QuietCare!)
This special committee is focused on discussion and debate on matters relating to older Americans. While it doesn’t directly craft legislation, it makes recommendations to the Senate on legislation–especially important as budgets are being worked on for FY 2027. GrandCare release
*More on the LEAD program in a CMS three-page summary. Unlike REACH, it is a long term (10 year) plan for providers who’ve never participated in program ACOs, current ACO REACH participants, and providers serving High Needs and dually eligible Medicare beneficiaries.
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