235B.16A - DEPENDENT ADULTS -- DEPENDENCY ASSESSMENTS -- INTERAGENCY TRAINING.

        235B.16A  DEPENDENT ADULTS -- DEPENDENCY ASSESSMENTS
      -- INTERAGENCY TRAINING.
         1.  The dependent adult protective advisory council established
      pursuant to section 235B.1 shall recommend a uniform assessment
      instrument and process for adoption and use by the department of
      human services and other agencies involved with assessing a dependent
      adult's degree of dependency and determining whether dependent adult
      abuse has occurred.  However, this section shall not apply to
      dependent adult abuse assessments and determinations made under
      chapter 235E.
         2.  The instrument and process design under subsection 1 shall
      address but is not limited to all of the following:
         a.  Evaluation of conformity with applicable federal law and
      regulations on the part of the persons employing, housing, or
      providing services to the dependent adult.
         b.  Provision for the final step in the dependency assessment
      of a dependent adult to be a formal assessment of the existence of
      risk to the health or safety of the individual or of the degree of
      the individual's impairment in ability under the definition of
      dependent adult in section 235B.2.
         c.  If the assessment under paragraph "b" determines that
      a risk to the health or safety of the individual exists or the
      individual has a significant impairment in ability, and the
      individual being assessed agrees, provision for a case manager to be
      assigned to assist in preparing and implementing a safety plan which
      includes protective services for the individual.
         d.  If the assessment under paragraph "b" determines that
      a risk to the health or safety of the individual exists or the
      individual has a significant impairment in ability, the individual
      being assessed does not agree to the safety plan provisions under
      paragraph "c" or accept other services, and the options available
      under sections 235B.17, 235B.18, and 235B.19 are not utilized,
      provision for the department of human services to maintain periodic
      contact with the individual in accordance with rules adopted for this
      purpose.  The purpose of the contact is to assess any increased risk
      or impairment and to monitor the individual's goals, feelings, and
      concerns so that the department can intervene when necessary or offer
      services and other support to maintain or sustain the individual's
      safety and independence when the individual is ready to agree to a
      safety plan or accept services.
         3.  The department of human services and other agencies involved
      with assessing a dependent adult's degree of dependency and whether
      dependent adult abuse has occurred shall adopt rules and take other
      steps necessary to implement the uniform assessment instrument and
      process addressed by this section on or before July 1, 2010.
         4.  The department of human services shall cooperate with the
      departments of elder affairs, inspections and appeals, public health,
      public safety, and workforce development, the civil rights
      commission, and other state and local agencies performing inspections
      or otherwise visiting residential settings where dependent adults
      live, to regularly provide training to the appropriate staff in the
      agencies concerning each agency's procedures involving dependent
      adults, and to build awareness concerning dependent adults and
      reporting of dependent adult abuse.  
         Section History: Recent Form
         2009 Acts, ch 136, §9
         Referred to in § 235E.4