BILL NUMBER: S1782
SPONSOR: HINCHEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the elder law, in relation to dementia care and to
establishing the position of dementia care coordinator in the state
office for the aging to manage the work of dementia care navigators and
requiring each area agency to employ a dementia care navigator
 
PURPOSE:
To require each area agency on aging to employ a dementia care navigator
and establish a dementia care coordinator position in the New York State
Office of the Aging to manage the work of the navigators.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one establishes the position of dementia care coordinator and
outlines the coordinator's responsibility to manage the dementia care
navigators. Section one also outlines the responsibilities that these
navigators will have These responsibilities shall include:
1. Provide screening and programs that engage individuals with dementia
in regular exercise and social activities.
2. Provide support for caregivers of individuals with dementia.
3. Assisting in the development of dementia-friendly communities.
4. Provide technical assistance to area agency staff to certain individ-
uals.
5. Establish relationships with health care providers and individuals
with dementia.
6. Provide any other appropriate services.
Section two states the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's, the most
common type of dementia. This number is expected to increase to 14
million people by 2050, the majority of whom will be cared for at home
by family members. In 2021, 59% of New York State caregivers had chronic
health conditions, 24.7% of caregivers were diagnosed with depression,
and 12% were in poor physical health themselves. Family caregivers deal
with tasks such as behavior changes and medications, plan and implement
care transitions, and help make difficult financial and legal decisions.
As it currently stands, handling these tasks can be incredibly daunting
for caregivers, and specialized government resources available to them
are often limited, if they even exist. Innovative strategies are needed
to expand the workforce supporting people with dementia and their care-
givers. Care navigation is particularly suitable for dementia due to the
limited capacity of primary care providers and specialists to manage
complex needs in all cases. The experience of dementia is unique for
each family and changes over the course of the disease's progression.
Care navigators will improve care and support in a meaningful way for
people with dementia and their caregivers.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023 - S.7243 (referred to Aging) / No same-as
2024 - S.7243 (referred to Finance) / A.10246 (referred to Aging)
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.