February 13, 2023

REP. BOLINSKY, AGING COMMITTEE HIGHLIGHTS LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

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AGING COMMITTEE HIGHLIGHTS LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

HARTFORD – The Aging Committee held a press conference to discuss their legislative priorities for the 2023 legislative session. State Representative Jane Garibay (D-Windsor, Windsor Locks), the House Chair of the committee, was joined by several members, including the Ranking House member Mitch Bolinsky (R-Newtown), as well as other aging advocates.

The Aging Committee highlighted the following pieces of legislation:

HB 5780, Increases access to hearing screening tests and hearing aids for the elderly.
HB 5779, A study concerning criminal penalties for elder abuse, abandonment and financial exploitation.
SB 930, Requires nursing home facilities to notify the State Ombudsman of a proposed transfer or discharge of a resident
SB 931, Increases the number of persons eligible for the Alzheimer’s disease respite care program.
An Act Concerning Nursing Home Staffing
An Act Concerning Nursing Home Transparency

“The work we do in the Aging Committee is so very important to the well-being of our state’s growing senior community. From facilitating Aging-in-Place initiatives to putting guardrails on the quality of care provided in the state’s Nursing Homes and Assisted Living facilities, there are no shortage of common-sense standards for care that need immediate attention,” said Rep. Bolinsky. I’m also passionate about the role of our state’s community nonprofit agencies as providers of essential safety-net services and including them in our short and long-term planning, so they have the resources to rise to the challenges of a population that’s increasingly choosing to stay in their homes. Wrap-around services like Senior Nutrition programs require more than just regulations, they require the support necessary to carry out their missions of caring for many Seniors, one at a time. We must recognize that many essential services have shifted away from congregant care settings to local and in-home settings. In this setting, our community nonprofits are best at providing this kind of care in the most efficient, accountable and affordable ways. As a state, we must make good on our commitments and develop tools, and the culture to assist them in their missions.”

“The goal of the Aging Committee is to ensure that our elderly population is protected from abuse and mistreatment. I have worked alongside my colleagues and developed legislation that will serve as safeguards against these awful transgressions. Senior citizens deserve to spend their twilight years in as much comfort as possible, and this legislation will help tremendously,” said Rep. Garibay.

“This legislative session, we are ensuring our aging population is getting the care they need,” said Sen. Hochadel. “It is my privilege to serve as Co-Chair on the Aging Committee as we continue to make healthcare a priority for our seniors. There have been too many horror stories of our elderly residents not receiving the proper care they need and this session I am dedicated to makes sure our state provides safety and quality care to all seniors.”