Senate File 2008 - Introduced
SENATE FILE 2008
BY ZAUN
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to dementia service specialists, and providing
2 an appropriation.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 231.33A Area agencies on aging ——
2 dementia service specialists.
3 1. Each area agency on aging shall provide for the position
4 of a dementia service specialist in an effort to increase
5 access and connections to local supports and services for
6 persons living with dementia, their families, and caregivers;
7 and to increase awareness about dementia within the network of
8 area agency on aging providers as well as in communities and
9 businesses throughout the state. In addition, the department
10 shall provide for the position of a dementia-friendly
11 state coordinator to provide statewide coordination of
12 dementia-friendly initiatives and dementia service specialists.
13 2. The duties of a dementia service specialist shall include
14 but are not limited to all of the following:
15 a. Supporting people living with dementia, their families,
16 and caregivers including through provision of dementia-specific
17 information and referrals and community memory screenings.
18 b. Building dementia-capable area agencies on aging through
19 staff trainings, resources, and support.
20 c. Promoting dementia-friendly communities by serving
21 as a supporter for dementia-friendly initiatives, presenting
22 dementia-friendly sessions and trainings to consumers and
23 businesses, and serving as a resource for dementia-friendly
24 community action teams.
25 d. Providing technical assistance for internal and external
26 program planning to enhance relevance and improve access for
27 people living with dementia including through support groups,
28 evidence-based programs, meal sites, and home-delivered meal
29 programs.
30 Sec. 2. DEMENTIA SERVICE SPECIALISTS —— STATE COORDINATOR
31 —— APPROPRIATION. There is appropriated from the general fund
32 of the state to the department of health and human services for
33 the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024, and ending June 30,
34 2025, the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary,
35 to be used for the purposes designated:
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1 .................................................. $ 750,000
2 The funds appropriated in this section shall be used by the
3 area agencies on aging to provide a dementia service specialist
4 in each of the area agencies on aging and to provide for a state
5 dementia service specialist coordinator within the department
6 of health and human services as provided in section 231.33A,
7 as enacted in this Act.
8 EXPLANATION
9 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
10 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
11 This bill relates to dementia service specialists.
12 The bill requires each area agency on aging to provide for
13 the position of a dementia service specialist to increase
14 access and connections to local supports and services for
15 persons living with dementia, their families, and caregivers;
16 and to increase awareness about dementia within the network
17 of area agency on aging providers and in communities and
18 businesses throughout the state. The bill also requires the
19 department of health and human services (HHS) to provide for
20 the position of a dementia-friendly state coordinator to
21 provide statewide coordination of dementia-friendly initiatives
22 and dementia service specialists.
23 The bill provides that, at a minimum, the duties of a
24 dementia service specialist shall include: supporting
25 people living with dementia, their families, and caregivers
26 including through provision of dementia-specific information
27 and referrals and community memory screenings; building
28 dementia-capable area agencies on aging through staff
29 trainings, resources, and support; promoting dementia-friendly
30 communities by serving as a supporter for dementia-friendly
31 initiatives, presenting dementia-friendly sessions and
32 trainings to consumers and businesses, and serving as a
33 resource for dementia-friendly community action teams; and
34 providing technical assistance for internal and external
35 program planning to enhance relevance and improve access for
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1 people living with dementia including through support groups,
2 evidence-based programs, meal sites, and home-delivered meal
3 programs.
4 The bill appropriates funding from the general fund of the
5 state to HHS for FY 2024-2025 to be used by the area agencies
6 on aging to provide a dementia service specialist in each of
7 the area agencies on aging and to provide for a state dementia
8 service specialist coordinator within HHS.
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