Meeting Public Comments

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SSB 1082

A bill for an act relating to older individuals and dependent adults and creating certain criminal offenses and civil actions, and providing penalties. (See SF 522.)

Agenda

Subcommittee members: Garrett-CH, Kinney, Reichman

Date: Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Time: 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Location: RM 111

Comments Submitted:

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02-22-2021

Laura Moreland []

As an advocate with the Alzheimers Association I would ask that you move this bill onto the Senate floor for passage. My father suffered with Alzheimers for almost 10 years before he passed away and had to be cared for by family and professional caregivers for much of that time. We were fortunate to have good relationships with all those people but I know it is especially easy to take advantage of the elderly. Those with Alzheimers or other dementias are even more susceptible due to cognitive decline or impairment so they need to be protected. This is why I respectfully ask you to get this bill passed into law in order to have criminal and civil recourse and punishments for the commonly overlooked problem of elder abuse. Thank you.

02-23-2021

Robyn Mills [Alzheimer's Association]

The Alzheimer's Association strongly supports passage of SSB 1082, which enhances penalties, both civil and criminal for those commit elder abuse against our most vulnerable citizen. Elder abuse is one of the most under=recognized and underreported social problems in the US, including in Iowa. Those with Alzheimer's and other dementias are at a particularly heightened risk of abuse, with 62 percent of those with dementia reporting psychological abuse and more than one quarter of those reporting physical abuse. Iowa's current law is too narrow and does not take into account the many different types of abuse that can occur: physical, sexual, emotional, neglect and financial exploitation. Under Iowa's current dependent adult abuse law, dependent adults must live in a group home or longterm care facility and the abuser is narrowly defined as a caregiver. This leaves out many instances of potential abuse and has led to only about 5 percent of the abuse claims reported actually being litigated. SSB 1082 would protect all older Iowans from all forms of abuse in all situations. We strongly ask the Subcommitte to support this important bill.