Sponsors (8)
The bill would expand evidence-based, community-focused fall-prevention services that can materially reduce senior injuries and some health spending and bolster local emergency capacity, but funding is limited and temporary and includes eligibility and administrative rules that may leave many communities, homeowners, and local responders under-resourced or excluded.
Older adults (seniors/retirees) are more likely to receive home safety modifications and fall-prevention services, reducing fall risk and related injuries.
Fewer fall injuries could reduce emergency visits and associated Medicare and out-of-pocket medical spending for seniors and beneficiaries.
Fire departments and community paramedicine programs gain staffing, equipment, and program funding, expanding local prevention capacity and integrating fall prevention into emergency response.
Federal funding is small, time-limited, and phased down (and authorized amounts start very low), risking that programs will lack sustained financing after the federal support ends and limiting how many communities can be served.
Some small municipalities (those with recent budget reductions below a set threshold) are ineligible, potentially excluding needy or under-resourced communities, including tribal areas.
Implementing widespread home modifications and prevention programs could impose direct costs on homeowners, local governments, or taxpayers who must share or cover expenses not fully funded by the grants.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes competitive FEMA grants to fire departments for three-year home-safety and fall-prevention programs for adults 65+, covering specified activities and declining federal cost shares.
Official title: To authorize grants to fire departments to conduct activities with the goals of reducing falls among older adults and reducing response time when responding to in-home emergencies, and for other purposes.
Introduced September 26, 2025 by Lois Frankel · Last progress September 26, 2025
Provides FEMA grants to fire departments to run three-year programs that prevent falls and improve home safety for adults 65+. Grants may cover up to 75% of costs in years 1–2 and 35% in year 3; funds may pay for home modifications, smoke detector installation, community paramedicine staffing and training, medication review, referrals, and related equipment and technical assistance. Applications must be approved by FEMA, include sustainability plans, and meet limits to avoid supplanting local funds.