ElderWeb

Arkansas HB1635 has been enrolled as Act 1230, The Arkansas Assisted Living Act. This bill creates a new type of facility in the state, to be called assisted living facilities, for people who need nursing home care, but who do not require 24-hour nursing. The Department of Human Services is instructed to create a rules and regulations to license such facilities. The Department is also instructed to apply for a waiver of the Medicaid rules to allow residents who qualify for Medicaid to be covered in assisted living facilities, in addition to nursing homes. The bill also allows residential care facilities to convert to assisted living facilities.

The Arkansas Legislature will hold a "Silver Haired Legislative Session" on August 30. The Silver Haired Legislative Session (SHLS) is a mock legislature of senior delegates that has convened every two years since 1978. In 2000, it will take place on August 30 in the House Chamber at the State Capitol. The session is held with the permission of the Arkansas General Assembly and is sponsored by the Division of Aging and Adult Services and the Arkansas Area Agencies on Aging.

The legislation passed by the SHLS brings the issues and concerns of older Arkansans to the attention of the Arkansas General Assembly and to the public. Many of the bills proposed in the SHLS have become actual Arkansas law. Seniors participating in the SHLS learn about the legislative process and become more effective advocates for all older citizens.

Any resident of Arkansas who is 60 years of age or older, and is not an employee of the DHS Division of Aging and Adult Services or an Area Agency on Aging, may serve as an SHLS delegate. One candidate from each county will be elected to the Silver Haired Legislature, and three repeat delegates will be appointed by each Area Agency on Aging.