Relates to dementia care navigators and coordinators

S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          1782

                               2025-2026 Regular Sessions

                                    I N  S E N A T E

                                    January 13, 2025
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by Sens. HINCHEY, ROLISON -- read twice and ordered printed,
          and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Aging

        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

          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  226  to
     2  read as follows:
     3    § 226. DEMENTIA CARE. 1. AS USED IN THIS SECTION:
     4    (A) "AREA AGENCY" MEANS THE LOCAL AGENCY THAT THE STATE OFFICE FOR THE
     5  AGING  DESIGNATES  IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEDERAL OLDER AMERICANS ACT OF
     6  1965 TO ADMINISTER THE DELIVERY OF A COMPREHENSIVE AND COORDINATED  PLAN
     7  OF  SOCIAL  AND  OTHER SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES FOR SENIORS IN A PLANNING
     8  AND SERVICE AREA.
     9    (B) "DEMENTIA CARE NAVIGATOR" MEANS A PROGRAM WHICH  PROVIDES  SUPPORT
    10  FOR CAREGIVERS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DEMENTIA, INCLUDING PROVIDING ASSIST-
    11  ANCE WITH CARE PLANNING AND REFERRAL TO SUPPORT GROUPS.
    12    2.  THE  STATE  OFFICE  FOR  THE AGING SHALL ESTABLISH THE POSITION OF
    13  DEMENTIA CARE COORDINATOR. THE DEMENTIA CARE  COORDINATOR  SHALL  MANAGE
    14  THE WORK OF DEMENTIA CARE NAVIGATORS EMPLOYED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
    15    3.  (A)  EACH  AREA  AGENCY SHALL EMPLOY A DEMENTIA CARE NAVIGATOR. AN
    16  AREA AGENCY MAY DESIGNATE A DEMENTIA CARE NAVIGATOR FROM EXISTING  STAFF
    17  OR HIRE AN INDIVIDUAL TO BE THE DEMENTIA CARE NAVIGATOR.
    18    (B) A DEMENTIA CARE NAVIGATOR SHALL:
    19    (1)  PROVIDE  COGNITIVE SCREENING AND PROGRAMS THAT ENGAGE INDIVIDUALS
    20  WITH DEMENTIA IN REGULAR EXERCISE AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES;
    21    (2) PROVIDE SUPPORT  FOR  CAREGIVERS  OF  INDIVIDUALS  WITH  DEMENTIA,
    22  INCLUDING  PROVIDING  ASSISTANCE  WITH  CARE  PLANNING  AND  REFERRAL TO
    23  SUPPORT GROUPS;

         EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD05410-01-5
        S. 1782                             2

     1    (3) PROVIDE COMMUNITY SUPPORT  BY  ASSISTING  IN  THE  DEVELOPMENT  OF
     2  DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY  COMMUNITIES  IN ORDER TO INCREASE CIVIC AWARENESS AND
     3  DEMENTIA-CAPABLE EMERGENCY RESPONSE;
     4    (4) CONSULT WITH AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO AREA AGENCY STAFF
     5  WHO INTERACT WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH:
     6    (I) A DEMENTIA DIAGNOSES; OR
     7    (II) COGNITIVE CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH DEMENTIA; AND
     8    (5)  ESTABLISH RELATIONSHIPS WITH HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND FACILITATE
     9  CONTACT BETWEEN HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND:
    10    (I) INDIVIDUALS WITH DEMENTIA;
    11    (II) CAREGIVERS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DEMENTIA; AND
    12    (6) PROVIDE ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE SERVICE GENERALLY RELATED TO  DEMEN-
    13  TIA OR DEMENTIA CARE.
    14    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.