What's happening
This bill establishes an Alzheimer's disease outreach and education program to promote awareness, early identification, and resource access in New York.
Why it matters
Focuses on Early Detection and Support. By mandating outreach to both medical and non-medical professionals, this program directly targets earlier identification of dementia, which can lead to better patient outcomes and more timely access to support services.
Centralizes and Expands Resources. The bill creates a centralized clearinghouse for information, support, and resources—including caregiver support groups, respite, and care management—which could make it much easier for families and caregivers to navigate the complexities of Alzheimer’s and dementia care.
Prioritizes Accessibility and Inclusivity. The program requires educational materials to be culturally and linguistically appropriate, and mandates free or low-cost public access, ensuring diverse communities and non-English speakers are not left behind.
Promotes Community and Professional Involvement. By establishing advisory councils with representatives from healthcare, senior services, advocacy groups, and patient communities, the program is designed to stay responsive to real-world needs and to continually update best practices.
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Who cares
Office for the Aging and Department of Health
The office would establish the outreach and education program in consultation with the health commissioner, and both agencies would post program materials online.
Physicians, nurses and social services personnel
The program would provide education and training resources aimed at earlier identification of dementia and connecting older New Yorkers with community support services.
People with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia and their caregivers
The program would offer information on caregiver support groups, respite and care management, with materials tailored to the languages and cultures of communities served.
Health care providers
The director could ask the health commissioner to require providers to make program materials available to patients where appropriate.
Headline styles
Alzheimer's Outreach and Education
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
21 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to aging
- Referred to aging
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Alzheimer’s Outreach and Education
In Senate Committee · Aging · Sponsor Rachel May
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1430
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 15, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. SIMON, ENGLEBRIGHT, JAFFEE, GOTTFRIED, MONTESANO, RA, GALEF, MOSLEY, CAHILL, TITUS, LAVINE, OTIS, BLAKE, BARRETT, DiPIE- TRO, PALMESANO, ORTIZ, COLTON, D'URSO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ABBATE, CARROLL, CRESPO, DINOWITZ, GARBARINO, HYNDMAN, LUPARDO, McDONOUGH, RICHARDSON, WALKER -- 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 Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The elder law is amended by adding a new section 225 to read as follows:
§ 225. Alzheimer's disease outreach and education program. 1. The office, in consultation with the commissioner of health, is hereby authorized and directed to establish an Alzheimer's disease outreach and education program ("the program") for medical and non-medical professionals, including physicians, nurses, and social services personnel who work with older New Yorkers and their families, and for consumers, caregivers and other individuals and organizations working with or on behalf of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. The purpose of the program shall be to:
(a) promote earlier identification of dementia in health care facilities including but not limited to hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and assisted living facilities;
(b) provide information and assistance on where to find community support services, including caregiver support groups and services, respite, care management and to serve as a clearinghouse for related information; and
(c) promote public awareness of and access to resources and information concerning Alzheimer's disease and any other dementia related
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01507-01-9
A. 1430 2
matters that the commissioner and director of the office for the aging deem appropriate.
2. The program shall include but shall not be limited to any of the following elements:
(a) educational and informational materials in print, audio, visual, electronic or other media;
(b) training curriculum including best practices for institutions of higher learning and for ongoing in-service training;
(c) public service announcements and advertisements; and
(d) establishment of toll-free telephone hotlines and electronic services to provide information.
3. The office shall produce, make available to others for reproduction, or contract with others to develop materials mentioned in this section as the director deems appropriate. These materials shall be made available to the public free of charge as appropriate or for a fee under certain circumstances. The director may request the commissioner of health to require any health care provider to make these materials available to patients where appropriate and encourage non-medical professionals to make them available to the clients they serve.
4. In exercising any of his or her powers under this section, the director shall consult with appropriate health care professionals and providers, senior service providers, organizations representing persons with dementia or cognitive impairments, consumers and patients or organizations representing them.
5. The director shall ensure that all information and materials produced under this section are maintained and updated to reflect best practice recommendations and are culturally and linguistically appropriate for the communities served by the Alzheimer's disease outreach and education program. The office shall post electronic copies of outreach material, including best practices, on its website. The department of health shall post the same information on its website.
6. The director may appoint advisory councils relating to various matters under this section. All such councils shall include representation of health care professionals, providers, senior service providers, organizations representing persons with dementia or cognitive impairments, consumers, patients and other appropriate interests. The members of the councils shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in performance of their duties.
7. In addition to state funds appropriated under this section, the director may accept grants from public or private sources. The director, in administering this section, shall seek to coordinate programs and activities under this section with other public and private programs, and may undertake joint or cooperative programs with other public or private entities.
8. The director may make rules and regulations necessary and appropriate for implementation of this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.