Advocates for the elderly said Thursday they are concerned the Georgia House has not yet voted on a bill to allow frail Georgians to stay in assisted living facilities instead of being forced into nursing homes.
The bill (SB 178) has widespread support, but House leadership hasn't yet authorized a vote. The measure would create a new assisted living designation in Georgia law for facilities with 25 beds or more. Under current law, assisted living facilities are licensed as personal care homes. Residents of such facilities can be forced into a nursing home if they can't take their own medications or aren't mobile enough to get around in an emergency.
The new law would allow assisted living facilities to provide more services than they have in the past, enabling residents to stay longer.
"Families are on hold right now to see what happens with this legislation," said Kathy Floyd, a lobbyist for the AARP. "If we have to wait another 12 months, those families will be in limbo or worse than that -- their family members will be forced into a nursing home."
Floyd said the AARP is asking its members to call House leaders and ask that the bill be given priority. It has been approved by the Senate.
John Meadows, chair of powerful House Rules Committee, said he is not holding up the bill, but is simply waiting for the right time to add it to the calendar for a full House vote.
“It’s an important bill,” Meadows said. “We’re trying to get it.”
House leaders, including Health and Human Services Committee Chairwoman Sharon Cooper, R-Marietta, have asked for the Senate bill to be added to the House calendar without luck for the past week. Sen. Johnny Grant, R-Milledgeville, the sponsor of the bill, has also shown up daily to ask for its consideration.
“This version has the support of the nursing home industry and the small personal care home providers,” Grant said. “There is no opposition.”
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