Existing law requires the Aging and Disability Services Division of the Department of Health and Human Services to establish and administer certain programs for the elderly, including: (1) a program to provide community-based services to enable a frail elderly person to avoid placement in a facility for long-term care; and (2) a program of all-inclusive care for the elderly, known as a PACE program. (NRS 427A.250, 427A.255)
Section 1 of this bill requires the Division to establish and administer a program for dementia care specialists in this State. Section 1 further provides that the program must have as its goals, without limitation: (1) to develop and provide certain crisis intervention services for persons with dementia and their families and caregivers; (2) to proactively support persons with dementia and their families and caregivers to ensure the highest quality of life possible and to enable persons with dementia to remain in their homes or with family and avoid placement in a facility; and (3) to assist persons with dementia and their families and caregivers with limited English proficiency by providing access to the program through, without limitation, translation and interpretation services. Within the limits of legislative appropriations and any other money available for this purpose, section 1 requires the Division to: (1) prepare requests for proposals for the provision of services by dementia care specialists employed by local governmental agencies or nonprofit organizations to carry out the program; and (2) partner or contract with an appropriate educational organization to provide training to dementia care specialists and evaluate the program.
Section 2 of this bill makes an appropriation to the Division for the program established pursuant to section 1.