Sponsors (8)
Introduced September 26, 2025 by Lois Frankel · Last progress September 26, 2025
The bill funds home modifications and channels grants to fire departments and community paramedicine to reduce senior falls and related health costs, but limited, time‑limited federal funding plus eligibility and coordination constraints and local cost/training burdens may restrict how many communities benefit and whether programs endure.
Seniors (65+) receive home-safety modifications and fall-prevention services, reducing fall risk, injuries, and related emergency visits which can lower Medicare and out-of-pocket health spending.
Fire departments and community paramedicine programs get funding, staffing, and equipment and are formally engaged in prevention activities, strengthening local emergency response capacity and expanding community-based fall-prevention services.
Competitive, peer-reviewed grants encourage evidence-based programs and more accountable use of federal funds for fall prevention.
Federal funding is limited and time‑limited (capped and phased down), and the authorized amounts start small, which risks leaving programs underfunded or unable to continue after three years and limits how many communities can be served.
Expanding fire department duties to include fall-prevention work could divert EMS resources, require new training, and impose operational burdens on local departments.
Implementing widespread home modifications and prevention programs could impose direct costs on homeowners, local taxpayers, or require new local spending.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Creates a FEMA grant program funding three-year fire-department-led home-safety and fall-prevention programs for older adults, with specified allowable costs and cost-share rules.
Creates a FEMA grant program that funds three-year local fire-department programs to reduce falls among adults 65 and older by improving home safety, installing detectors, conducting medication reviews, and supporting community paramedicine. Grants may cover up to 75% of program costs in years 1 and 2 and 35% in year 3, require an approved application and sustainability plan, and include technical assistance from FEMA.