Iowa Senate passes bill on aggressive patients

Lawmakers unanimously passed a measure Tuesday that would create a committee to study the need for a specialized long-term care facility for sexually aggressive or combative people.

Bill sponsor Sen. Liz Mathis, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says nursing homes and residential care facilities are reluctant to accept geriatric people with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease or sexually aggressive and combative behaviors.

The committee would be led by the departments of human services and inspections and appeals. It would be comprised of stakeholders in public health and safety, mental health, corrections and the AARP.

The bill now moves to the House for review.