New VA Office to Tackle Veteran Falls: SAFE STEPS Act Proposes Education, Home Fixes, and Better Care Standards

The SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act of 2025 is looking to get serious about preventing falls among our veterans. This bill proposes establishing a new Office of Falls Prevention right within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Central Office. The main goal here is to create a focused effort to reduce fall-related injuries by developing new care standards, boosting education, and promoting research specifically for veterans.

A Central Hub for Safer Steps

So, what's this new Office of Falls Prevention all about? Think of it as a dedicated command center, led by a Chief Officer, tasked with overseeing everything related to stopping falls before they happen. According to Section 2, this office will monitor current prevention activities across the VA, develop and enforce standards of care, and make sure resources are going where they're needed. A big piece of this is a national education campaign aimed at veterans who are at risk, their families, and the healthcare providers who care for them. The bill even allows for grants to local organizations to tailor these campaigns to their communities. They'll also be teaming up with the National Institute on Aging to push for research into what actually works for fall prevention, particularly for veterans with service-connected disabilities who will benefit from a joint expert panel developing specific recommendations.

Practical Changes for Home and Health Facilities

Beyond the new office, the bill mandates some tangible changes. Within 180 days of enactment, the VA Secretary will need to update policies on safe patient handling and mobility. This means biennial training for healthcare providers and ensuring VA medical facilities, especially emergency settings, have the right equipment to move patients safely. For veterans at home, Section 2 directs the Secretary to explore a pilot program for home improvements designed to prevent falls, building on existing programs like those under 38 U.S.C. 21 (Specially Adapted Housing) and 38 U.S.C. 1717(a)(2) (Home Improvements and Structural Alterations). If this pilot goes ahead, Congress will get a report on its effectiveness. Furthermore, under Section 3, VA nursing homes will be required until September 30, 2028, to provide falls risk assessments and prevention services by licensed physical or occupational therapists for at-risk veterans, as per 38 U.S.C. 1710A. This focus on assessment also gets woven into extended care services for veterans, amending 38 U.S.C. 1710B(a) to include annual falls risk assessments.

Keeping an Eye on Progress

To make sure these initiatives are making a difference, the Chief Officer of Falls Prevention will have to report back to Congress within two years (or one year after their appointment). This report will dig into how well VA's fall prevention efforts are working, including screening procedures and the use of home modification grants. The bill also expands the existing Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities to include the VA Secretary, ensuring broader collaboration. It's about creating a system that not only implements changes but also learns and adapts to better protect veterans from the serious consequences of falls.