tation date from July 1, 2010, to July 1,
2011. At press time, however, the bill
had not been presented to the governor.
The situation on background screen-
ing is similar. A bill requiring all staff
with direct contact to residents to have
level-two background screening also
had not made it to the governor’s desk
by mid-May. A further bill that would
eliminate the separate license for lim-
ited nursing services included a con-
troversial abortion amendment; thus,
it too had not yet been presented to the
governor.
In Iowa, for instance, the 2010 legislative session ended without passage
of a bill aimed at informed choice for
Iowa’s seniors. However, ALFA’s efforts
in the state have made an impact. Work
performed by ALFA’s Iowa lobbyist
greatly strengthened ALFA’s brand in
the eyes of the local trade associations
and lawmakers, establishing a solid basis for a future coalition.
Building Blocks
A legislative season of mixed results
can be seen as an overall win for advocates of assisted living.
Some states saw clear victories. In
others where economic concerns stymied progress, ALFA developed important relationships and gained allies
to set the stage for further work. And in
those states where the nursing home industry played its most aggressive hand,
launching smear campaigns, distorting
truth, and pressuring lawmakers in a
game of political hardball, short-term
gains will work against them in the
long run.
Assisted living’s resident-centered
approach to bringing comfort and dignity to seniors ultimately will prove the
more palatable proposition for lawmakers looking to serve the needs of their
constituents, including seniors and
their families. ❏
Adam Stone is a contributing writer to
Assisted Living Executive. Reach him at
astone@alfa.org.
who’s who
Contact information for members in this article.
› Judy m. hackler, jhackler@valainfo.org
› Pat Lange, patl@falamail.org
tap ALfA’s Online
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