Join O.I.L., let voice be heard

The 2014 session of the Older Iowans Legislature (O.I.L.) was held Sept. 29-30 in the House Chamber at the Iowa Capitol. The delegates heard addresses by Gov. Terry Branstad and Sen. Jack Hatch. A list of 17 bills were debated and voted on in the O.I.L. session.

A top O.I.L. bill is one for an act to expand the (long needed) Iowa Senior Abuse Law that was passed by the Iowa State Legislature during the last session. Other top O.I.L. bills are an act to house sex offenders and combative residents in appropriate settings, capable of providing a safe environment to all concerned; an act to establish a legislative long-term care commission; an act to eliminate the institutional bias of Iowa's long-term care system and bring Iowa into full compliance with the Supreme Court 1999 Olmstead decision; an act to improve access to mental health treatment for older Iowans; and an act for an increase in funding the programs of the Iowa Department of Aging, including the long-term care ombudsman and substitute decision-makers programs.

O.I.L. is a non-partisan voice for older Iowans, so get involved and let your voice be heard.

Shirley Geadelmann

Clarence