235B.1 - DEPENDENT ADULT ABUSE SERVICES.
235B.1 DEPENDENT ADULT ABUSE SERVICES.
The department shall establish and operate a dependent adult abuse
services program. The program shall emphasize the reporting and
evaluation of cases of abuse of a dependent adult who is unable to
protect the adult's own interests or unable to perform activities
necessary to meet essential human needs. The program shall include
but is not limited to:
1. The establishment of local or regional multidisciplinary teams
to assist in assessing the needs of, formulating and monitoring a
treatment plan for, and coordinating services to victims of dependent
adult abuse. The membership of a team shall include individuals who
possess knowledge and skills related to the diagnosis, assessment,
and disposition of dependent adult abuse cases and who are
professionals practicing in the disciplines of medicine, public
health, mental health, social work, law, law enforcement, or other
disciplines relative to dependent adults. Members of a team shall
include but are not limited to persons representing the area agencies
on aging, county attorneys, health care providers, and other persons
involved in advocating or providing services to dependent adults.
2. Provisions for information sharing and case consultation among
service providers, care providers, and victims of dependent adult
abuse.
3. Procedures for referral of cases among service providers,
including the referral of victims of dependent adult abuse residing
in licensed health care facilities.
4. a. The establishment of a dependent adult protective
advisory council. The advisory council shall do all of the
following:
(1) Advise the director of human services, the director of elder
affairs, the director of inspections and appeals, the director of
public health, the director of the department of corrections, and the
director of human rights regarding dependent adult abuse.
(2) Evaluate state law and rules and make recommendations to the
general assembly and to executive branch departments regarding laws
and rules concerning dependent adults.
(3) Receive and review recommendations and complaints from the
public, health care facilities, and health care programs concerning
the dependent adult abuse services program.
b. (1) The advisory council shall consist of twelve members.
Six members shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the
governor. Four of the members appointed shall be appointed on the
basis of knowledge and skill related to expertise in the area of
dependent adult abuse including professionals practicing in the
disciplines of medicine, public health, mental health, long-term
care, social work, law, and law enforcement. Two of the members
appointed shall be members of the general public with an interest in
the area of dependent adult abuse and two of the members appointed
shall be members of the Iowa caregivers association. In addition,
the membership of the council shall include the director or the
director's designee of the department of human services, the
department on aging, the Iowa department of public health, and the
department of inspections and appeals.
(2) The members of the advisory council shall be appointed to
terms of four years beginning May 1. Appointments shall comply with
sections 69.16 and 69.16A. Vacancies shall be filled in the same
manner as the original appointment.
(3) Members shall receive actual expenses incurred while serving
in their official capacity.
(4) The advisory council shall select a chairperson, annually,
from its membership. Section History: Recent Form
83 Acts, ch 96, § 159, 160; 83 Acts, ch 153, § 4; 84 Acts, ch
1178, § 3; 85 Acts, ch 180, §1; 87 Acts, ch 182, § 2--8; 88 Acts, ch
1238, §2; 89 Acts, ch 24, §2, 3; 90 Acts, ch 1204, § 52; 90 Acts, ch
1271, § 1509; 91 Acts, ch 231, §1; 96 Acts, ch 1130, §1; 2004 Acts,
ch 1116, §16; 2008 Acts, ch 1093, § 1, 2; 2009 Acts, ch 23, § 50
Referred to in § 231.56A, 235A.13, 235B.16A, 235E.5