Senator Rob Hogg: (319) 538-2247
Representative Lisa Heddens: (515)292-1748
For Immediate Release: February 27, 2013
(DES MOINES) House and Senate Democrats today focused attention on legislation that will empower and protect Iowa seniors. Two key bills are Senate File 2168, the reform of powers of attorney, and Senate File 2239, which would implements recommendations from the Elder Abuse Task Force.
Powers of Attorney Reform: The financial exploitation of seniors is the most common type of elder abuse. Victims of elder financial abuse include an estimated one-sixth of adults over age 64, according to AARP Iowa. Some of this abuse occurs when family members and close friends, persons who have been given power of attorney, abuse those powers for their own financial gain.
“When seniors know they are, or may be, losing the ability to handle their own finances, they often formally give that power to others through a grant of “powers of attorney,” said State Senator Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids. “Unfortunately, there are multiple reports of misconduct and theft by persons given this trust. Democratic and Republican legislators are working together to tighten the law, reduce the abuse, and make it easier to challenge those who abuse the responsibility.”
Compared to current law, the Iowa Uniform Power of Attorney Act (Senate File 2168) provides a comprehensive, detailed description of the powers and responsibilities of persons granted powers of attorney. The legislation sets standards and expands the number of people who can enforce those standards.
Fighting Senior Abuse: Iowa is one of the few states without specific elder abuse laws. Currently, Iowa has dependent adult abuse laws but leaves those seniors who are not dependent, but may still be taken advantage of, without specific protection. House File 2106 and companion bill Senate File 2239 would create a new law to fight elder abuse, defined as the abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of an older individual.
“Between 2007 and 2011, an Iowa Elder Abuse Initiative active in 22 counties received almost 12,000 referrals of potential elder abuse. Of these, 44 percent concerned financial exploitation,” said Representative Lisa Heddens of Ames. “House and Senate legislators are working on a comprehensive response to this problem.”
Here are a few of the key highlights of the legislation:
- The establishment of an Elder Abuse Resource and Referral Program in local communities
- New criminal penalties to stop others from taking financial advantage of vulnerable seniors
- Create new protective orders for victims of elder abuse
- Updated training to help Iowans recognize elder abuse
- Removes confidentiality restrictions allowing the Attorney General’s Office access to dependent adult abuse and elder abuse information
- End -