AARP Iowa is applauding state senators Kevin Kinney (D) of Oxford and Jeff Reichman (R) of Montrose for their  work on a bill to combat elder abuse in Iowa.

Kinney and Reichman are both members of the judiciary committee that developed Senate File 522 that passed unanimously on the senate floor last week. Kinney says the bill would make elder abuse a crime for the first time in Iowa, “If you neglect an older Iowan that you are responsible for caring for and because of that neglect causes death, you are able to be charged under the homicide section of the code.”

AARP Iowa State Director Brad Anderson says, “This legislation has been discussed for years, so we are pleased to see the Iowa Senate act and pass a bill with broad, bipartisan support for protecting Iowa seniors from elder abuse.” Anderson added AARP Iowa now looks forward to working with the Iowa House to pass these elder abuse protections.”

AARP Iowa states elder abuse, like many forms of domestic abuse, affects thousands of older Iowans. Abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, neglect, or involve financial exploitation, the most prevalent form of elder abuse.