WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today released the September episode of his “Inside Maine” podcast, in which he shared his thinking with guests on prevention methods to keep older Maine people and Americans ‘Stand Strong’ throughout their golden years and avoid injuries from falls. During the podcast, he spoke with Florida Representative Congresswoman Lois Frankel and Peggy Haynes, a consultant for MaineHealth and previously served as its Senior Director of Healthy Aging.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), falls are the leading cause of injury for adults ages 65 years and older. In 2021, there were 325 deaths in Maine attributed to older adult falls and Maine ranked 8th highest in the nation per capita on the rate of deaths due to falls. Earlier this week, Senator King introduced legislation that would encourage proactive home modifications and increase access to preventive screenings for older Americans to keep them healthy and thriving – and avoid costly injuries; Representative Frankel plans to introduce House companions of this legislation in the near future.

“We all know the saying that ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,’ so preventative care is a win-win for patients, family support systems, Medicare beneficiaries, and taxpayers,” said Senator King, a founding member of the Congressional Task Force on Falls Prevention. “As we work to support our older Maine neighbors, we must ensure that they have all the necessary support to continue ‘Standing Strong’ throughout their golden years. With the help of reduced-cost tools like grab bars, and expanded access to telemedicine, older Maine people will be able to avoid preventable injuries. It’s the difference between spending a few hundred dollars on household items and spending thousands recovering from an avoidable injury. Thanks to my colleague, Representative Frankel, and Peggy Haynes, for working with me to support our community’s most vulnerable members.”

Congresswoman Lois Frankel has spent her life delivering positive change to her community as a civic leader, state legislator, mayor, and now Member of the United States House of Representatives, serving on behalf of Florida’s 22nd district. She currently sits on the House Appropriations Committee where she serves on the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies and the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs subcommittees. Margaret “Peggy” Haynes, MPA, BA, is a consultant for MaineHealth and previously served as Senior Director for MaineHealth’s Partnership for Healthy Aging (PFHA) and Elder Care Services. Ms. Haynes has over forty years of leadership experience working with older adults in programs designed enhance their ability to live independently in the community. Under her leadership of MaineHealth's Partnership for Healthy Aging (PFHA), the organization has received national recognition for efforts in health promotion and collaboration between health care and community organizations, and has led the successful translation and national dissemination of A Matter of Balance to a Lay Leader model.

Senator King remains committed to supporting Maine’s seniors. This podcast follows Senator King’s Thursday introduction of the initial components of his ‘Stand Strong’ legislative package. This package includes the reintroduction of the Preventative Home Visits Act as well as the reintroduction of the WELL Seniors Act. These bills will expand Medicare benefits to provide home modifications to prevent falls, make telehealth services more accessible, and include more comprehensive screenings during Medicare Annual Wellness Visits. This package is accompanied by the creation of the Congressional Task Force on Falls Prevention, co-founded by Senator King and Congresswoman Frankel.

Fall prevention interventions can be as simple as installing a grab bar or signing up for an exercise class that improves balance; and the cost-effectiveness is clear-cut. Hospitalizations are expensive, and the cost to Medicare and other payers to replace a hip can be tens of thousands of dollars. In terms of direct medical expenditures, falls cost our healthcare system $50 billion annually, with 76% of that borne by Medicare and Medicaid. The CDC estimates that the 2014 total direct cost of treating non-fatal falls in Maine was $255 million. However, direct costs do not account for the long-term effects of these injuries, such as disability, dependence on others, lost time from work and household duties, and reduced quality of life.

The "Inside Maine" podcast airs on the last Saturday of the month and aims to keep Mainers informed about issues, how they affect life in the state, and how they factor into Senator King’s work. 

To listen to the September edition of Senator King’s podcast, click here, or find it on Apple Podcasts.

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