S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3885--A
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 28, 2009
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT, MILLMAN, FIELDS, DESTITO, PHEFFER,
MARKEY, ALFANO, BALL, DINOWITZ -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ALES-
SI, ARROYO, BARRA, BENEDETTO, CAHILL, COLTON, CUSICK, HYER-SPENCER,
JAFFEE, McENENY, PEOPLES-STOKES, PERRY, RAMOS, REILLY, ROBINSON,
SCHIMMINGER, SCHROEDER, SPANO, WEISENBERG -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Aging -- recommitted to the Committee on Aging in
accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill
amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
tee
AN ACT making an appropriation to the department of health relating to
helping individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia
maintain their independence, remain at home and to support their care-
givers
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature finds that
Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative disease that usually begins gradu-
ally, causing a person to forget recent events or familiar tasks. It is
the most common form of dementia. How rapidly it advances varies from
person to person, but the brain disease eventually causes confusion,
personality and behavioral changes, and impaired judgment. Communication
becomes difficult as the affected person struggles to find words, finish
thoughts or follow directions. Eventually, people with Alzheimer's
disease become unable to care for themselves.
In 1996, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
published an article called "A family intervention to delay nursing home
placement with patients with Alzheimer's disease". In this and subse-
quent documents, the study's author, M. Mittleman of the Siberstein
Aging and Dementia Research Center at the New York University Medical
School, points out that with the use of a protocol similar to the array
of services available through a combination of the Alzheimer's disease
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07113-04-0
A. 3885--A 2
Assistance Centers and the Alzheimer's Disease Community Service
Program, they were able to demonstrate that people in the treatment
group were able to achieve a median length of stay at home of 521 days
longer than the control group. In other words, they were able to delay
nursing home placement by 521 days.
In 2004, an updated study was released confirming the 1996 study show-
ing that caregiver interventions and supports had a significant impact
in delaying nursing home placements and decreased the symptoms of
depression over a three year period. Troublesome behavior is a signif-
icant predictor of nursing home placement.
Therefore, the legislature hereby finds that supporting community
based interventions to provide essential respite care, caregiver support
and training, information and referral and other family support as well
as helping to provide diagnosis, assessments and treatment through the
Alzheimer's disease Assistance Centers and the Alzheimer's Disease
Community Service Program, will help save the state money by delaying
nursing home placements and will improve the quality of care and the
quality of life for persons with Alzheimer's disease and related demen-
tia and their caregivers.
S 2. The sum of seven million dollars ($7,000,000), or so much thereof
as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the department of health
out of any moneys in the state treasury in the general fund to the cred-
it of the state purposes account, not otherwise appropriated, and made
immediately available as follows:
a. three million dollars ($3,000,000) for services and expenses of the
Alzheimer's disease Assistance Centers for the period April 1, 2010
through March 31, 2011;
b. three million dollars ($3,000,000) for services and expenses of the
Alzheimer's Disease Community Service Program for the period April 1,
2010 through March 31, 2011; and
c. one million dollars ($1,000,000) for services and expenses of the
Alzheimer's Community Assistance Program for the period April 1, 2010
through March 31, 2011.
Such moneys shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the comp-
troller on vouchers certified or approved by the commissioner of health
in the manner prescribed by law.
S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.