Establishes an Alzheimer's disease outreach and education program for medical and non-medical professionals to promote earlier identification of dementia and to provide information and other assistance in finding community support for caregivers.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4412--A
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 4, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sens. MAY, BROUK, COONEY, HINCHEY -- read twice and
ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on
Aging -- recommitted to the Committee on Aging in accordance with
Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the elder law, in relation to establishing an
Alzheimer's disease outreach and education program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The elder law is amended by adding a new section 226 to
2 read as follows:
3 § 226. Alzheimer's disease outreach and education program. 1. The
4 office, in consultation with the commissioner of health, is hereby
5 authorized and directed to establish an Alzheimer's disease outreach and
6 education program ("the program") for medical and non-medical profes-
7 sionals, including physicians, nurses, and social services personnel who
8 work with older New Yorkers and their families, and for consumers, care-
9 givers and other individuals and organizations working with or on behalf
10 of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. The purpose of
11 the program shall be to:
12 (a) promote earlier identification of dementia in health care facili-
13 ties including but not limited to hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and
14 assisted living facilities;
15 (b) provide information and assistance on where to find community
16 support services, including caregiver support groups and services,
17 respite, care management and to serve as a clearinghouse for related
18 information; and
19 (c) promote public awareness of and access to resources and informa-
20 tion concerning Alzheimer's disease and any other dementia related
21 matters that the commissioner and director of the office for the aging
22 deem appropriate.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01033-02-2
S. 4412--A 2
1 2. The program shall include but shall not be limited to any of the
2 following elements:
3 (a) educational and informational materials in print, audio, visual,
4 electronic or other media;
5 (b) training curriculum including best practices for institutions of
6 higher learning and for ongoing in-service training;
7 (c) public service announcements and advertisements; and
8 (d) establishment of toll-free telephone hotlines and electronic
9 services to provide information.
10 3. The office shall produce, make available to others for reprod-
11 uction, or contract with others to develop materials mentioned in this
12 section as the director deems appropriate. These materials shall be made
13 available to the public free of charge as appropriate or for a fee under
14 certain circumstances. The director may request the commissioner of
15 health to require any health care provider to make these materials
16 available to patients where appropriate and encourage non-medical
17 professionals to make them available to the clients they serve.
18 4. In exercising any of his or her powers under this section, the
19 director shall consult with appropriate health care professionals and
20 providers, senior service providers, organizations representing persons
21 with dementia or cognitive impairments, consumers and patients or organ-
22 izations representing them.
23 5. The director shall ensure that all information and materials
24 produced under this section are maintained and updated to reflect best
25 practice recommendations and are culturally and linguistically appropri-
26 ate for the communities served by the Alzheimer's disease outreach and
27 education program. The office shall post electronic copies of outreach
28 material, including best practices, on its website. The department of
29 health shall post the same information on its website.
30 6. The director may appoint advisory councils relating to various
31 matters under this section. All such councils shall include represen-
32 tation of health care professionals, providers, senior service provid-
33 ers, organizations representing persons with dementia or cognitive
34 impairments, consumers, patients and other appropriate interests. The
35 members of the councils shall receive no compensation for their
36 services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
37 incurred in performance of their duties.
38 7. In addition to state funds appropriated under this section, the
39 director may accept grants from public or private sources. The director,
40 in administering this section, shall seek to coordinate programs and
41 activities under this section with other public and private programs,
42 and may undertake joint or cooperative programs with other public or
43 private entities.
44 8. The director may make rules and regulations necessary and appropri-
45 ate for implementation of this section.
46 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
