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

                                 4984--A

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                             April 27, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  FOLEY  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance -- recommitted  to
  the  Committee  on Finance in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 --
  committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as  amended  and
  recommitted to said committee

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
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

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD07113-03-0

              

S. 4984--A                          2

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.