Establishes an Alzheimer's disease outreach and education program for medical and non-medical professionals to promote earlier identification of Alzheimer's and to provide information and other assistance in finding community support for caregivers.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9388
IN ASSEMBLY
February 29, 2016
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SIMON, ENGLEBRIGHT -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Aging
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 224 to
2 read as follows:
3 § 224. 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.
23 2. The program shall include but shall not be limited to any of the
24 following elements:
25 (a) educational and informational materials in print, audio, visual,
26 electronic or other media;
27 (b) training curriculum including best practices for institutions of
28 higher learning and for ongoing in-service training;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04570-01-5
A. 9388 2
1 (c) public service announcements and advertisements; and
2 (d) establishment of toll-free telephone hotlines and electronic
3 services to provide information.
4 3. The office shall produce, make available to others for reprod-
5 uction, or contract with others to develop materials mentioned in this
6 section as the director deems appropriate. These materials shall be made
7 available to the public free of charge as appropriate or for a fee under
8 certain circumstances. The director may request the commissioner of
9 health to require any health care provider to make these materials
10 available to patients where appropriate and encourage non-medical
11 professionals to make them available to the clients they serve.
12 4. In exercising any of his or her powers under this section, the
13 director shall consult with appropriate health care professionals and
14 providers, senior service providers, organizations representing persons
15 with dementia or cognitive impairments, consumers and patients or organ-
16 izations representing them.
17 5. The director shall ensure that all information and materials
18 produced under this section are maintained and updated to reflect best
19 practice recommendations and are culturally and linguistically appropri-
20 ate for the communities served by the Alzheimer's disease outreach and
21 education program. The office shall post electronic copies of outreach
22 material, including best practices, on its website. The department of
23 health shall post the same information on its website.
24 6. The director may appoint advisory councils relating to various
25 matters under this section. All such councils shall include represen-
26 tation of health care professionals, providers, senior service provid-
27 ers, organizations representing persons with dementia or cognitive
28 impairments, consumers, patients and other appropriate interests. The
29 members of the councils shall receive no compensation for their
30 services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
31 incurred in performance of their duties.
32 7. In addition to state funds appropriated under this section, the
33 director may accept grants from public or private sources. The director,
34 in administering this section, shall seek to coordinate programs and
35 activities under this section with other public and private programs,
36 and may undertake joint or cooperative programs with other public or
37 private entities.
38 8. The director may make rules and regulations necessary and appropri-
39 ate for implementation of this section.
40 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
