New Bill Addresses Topic of Senior Dignity

You might have heard about a new bill working its way through the California state legislature that looks to punish caregivers and other employees of care homes and services that refuse to use transgendered pronouns with individuals that wish to be referred to as a certain way. This proposed law has come under a lot of scrutiny because of the fact that this issue is a huge hot topic in our society today. Known as SB 219, this bill will be a controversial topic in California and beyond if and when it is signed into effect.

 

The bill was introduced in February, passed the State Senate in May, and passed through the State Assembly on September 12th. It has not yet been signed into effect as a binding law, but experts believe that the Governor will sign it soon.

 

Senior care is an important part of an older individual’s life. They might be transgendered, or they might not be. Either way, all seniors have a right to fair and compassionate care. It is realistic to expect that seniors should not be abused in any way, and if they are, there are standards and procedures that protect them and punish the individual guilty of abuse. That goes for obvious things like physical and sexual abuse, but it also needs to be applied to neglect, emotional, financial, and other types of abuse. One of the legislature’s arguments is that incorrect addresses or uses of pronouns can fall under this category of abuse. Seniors are already a vulnerable population, and SB 219 is designed to add an extra layer of protection to keep them safe from intimidation.

 

All individuals deserve dignity and to be protected from abuse.

 

Whether or not the bill becomes a law will remain to be seen, but the purpose of the law is to help ensure that all individuals receiving institutionalized care are provided for on a personal level. You may not agree with this law, and may be surprised that there are no religious exemptions provided for in the bill as it now stands, but it cannot be argued that all individuals receiving care do not have a right to dignity. This law might be controversial, but it is another step forward when it comes to the rights of happiness and dignity that are such an important part of high quality senior care.

 

Some folks have argued that this law is unjust because homes and doctors that offer a religious service are also bound by this law. It comes down to a question of which right is more of an entitlement: the right to dignity or the right to express your religion. It is hard to say which side is most correct, but both have strong arguments. It will be interesting to see if any adjustments or disputes arise before this bill becomes a law. Either way, be assured that the right to high quality care is important. This bill still has some distance to travel, but the fact that these issues are being addressed to help better the care given to seniors is a big deal in the senior care community.

The post New Bill Addresses Topic of Senior Dignity appeared first on Paradise In-Home Care.