Several states are putting forward rules and programs to help people with dementia and the people who care for them.
Delaware lawmakers passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 205, which tells the state’s Division of Public Health that it needs to make a plan for how it will run a public health program to educate people about Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. The politicians must see the plan by November 1 and think about how to help underserved areas and teach healthcare workers.
New Mexico lawmakers passed HB 2, a budget bill that included a new job in the state’s Aging and Long-Term Services Department for someone with dementia. With this new job, someone will help put New Mexico’s Alzheimer’s plan into action and start new programs that will help people with dementia and their families.
HB 2 added $5.5 million (8.5%) to the state’s Aging and Long-Term Services Department’s general fund income. Of this amount, $4 million was set aside to help network providers charge older people more, and $400,000 was set aside to improve the complaint system.
Additionally, two more states have taken steps to improve help for first responders who work with dementia patients.
When SB 3139 was passed in Hawaii, it created a new type of police cop called a crisis intervention officer. These officers will be taught and given the right credentials to recognize and talk to people with dementia and other people who are in trouble. The new law also sets up a crisis intervention and relief services program in the Department of Health to help people who are in crisis get the help they need without being sent straight to the criminal justice system.
In Wyoming, the Department of Family Services changed the training that adult protective services workers need to include new information on how to spot and talk to people who have dementia.