St. Charles, Missouri — Senator Chuck Gross, R-St. Charles, joined several of his colleagues in co-sponsoring the elderly protection bill filed by Senate Pro Tem Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau and which passed overwhelmingly by the General Assembly.

"This bill was the result of hard work both across the aisle and between the executive and legislative branches of government," said Senator Gross. "There was a strong desire among Republicans and Democrats alike to protect vulnerable senior citizens from abusive situations while recognizing the need to encourage a healthy and safe environment for our parents, grandparents and other loved ones to live in."

Senate Bill 556 means greater accountability for the care of our seniors in both nursing homes and by agencies providing services in private residences. Increased punishments for the abuse or neglect of the elderly and for concealing abuse or neglect, required investigations of alleged abuse within 24 hours of a hot-line call, and evaluations for in-home care were included in the measure. Also the public will be able to access online the surveys of home health agencies and long-term care facilities including any deficiencies found and the response and plan of correction on the state's Department of Health and Senior Services website.

"With new leadership on both sides of the Capitol, these reforms, which had languished for years, have finally been accomplished," said Senator Gross. "I was proud to co-sponsor this legislation, and I am looking forward to the Governor signing this bill into law."

Other legislation passed by the General Assembly this year and of interest to seniors includes changes to the Missouri senior prescription program that will keep lower priced generic drugs available under the plan, makes permanent the Family Care Safety Registry providing background information on care givers for employment purposes, and the Missouri Calcium Initiative which directs state agencies and institutions to give preference to high calcium food and beverages in their food programs to promote increased consumption of calcium and decrease diseases and injuries related to calcium deficiency.