ATLANTA – Today Governor Sonny Perdue signed House Bill 457. This bill expands the current protections for aged and disabled adults to include individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. It also provides protections for any disabled adult who resides in a nursing home, intermediate care home, personal care home, or community living arrangement.
House Bill 457 introduced during the 2009 legislative session by Representative Allen Peake (R- Macon). “Alzheimer’s and dementia patients are at tremendous risk for exploitation due to the nature of their illness,” said Rep. Peake. “House Bill 457 takes common sense steps to protect Alzheimer’s and dementia patients from individuals who may attempt to take advantage of these illnesses for unscrupulous personal profit. The over 200,000 Georgians that have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease can now feel a little safer.”
Specifically this legislation 1) expands the definition of disabled adult to include those individuals with dementia or a related cognitive impairment; 2) maintains current protections (criminal penalties for those who exploit or abuse) to disabled adults who reside in a long-term care facility; 3) provides criminal penalties for those who exploit or abuse any disabled adults who reside in a nursing home; an 4) maintains current penalties, except as provided under Title 16. Any person violating this subsection shall be guilty of a felony, and upon conviction, shall be punished by imprisonment 1-5 years.
This legislation has enjoyed the support of district attorneys, the Alzheimer’s Association, and Nursing Home Association.
“The Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia Chapter would like to thank Representative Allen Peake for his insight into the needs of Georgians with Alzheimer’s disease, and his hard work getting House Bill 457 to become Georgia law. There are 200,000 Georgians living with Alzheimer’s disease and they are vulnerable. Under the new law, these individuals will be protected from exploitation. Representative Peake’s leadership and compassion is greatly appreciated by the Georgia Chapter and the individuals and families we serve,” said Leslie Anderson, President/CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia Chapter.
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Representative Allen Peake represents the citizens of District 137, which includes portions of Bibb County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2006, is a deputy whip and currently serves on the Banks & Banking, Children & Youth, Education, Health & Human Services, and Ways & Means Committees.