Relates to dementia care; establishes a dementia care coordinator in the state office for the aging to manage the work of dementia care navigators; requires each area agency to employ a dementia care navigator; sets forth the duties of the dementia care coordinator and dementia care navigators.
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8445
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 16, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SEAWRIGHT -- read once and referred 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:
Section 1. The elder law is amended by adding a new section 226 to
read as follows:
§ 226. DEMENTIA CARE. 1. AS USED IN THIS SECTION:
(A) "AREA AGENCY" MEANS THE LOCAL AGENCY THAT THE STATE OFFICE FOR THE
AGING DESIGNATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEDERAL OLDER AMERICANS ACT OF
1965 TO ADMINISTER THE DELIVERY OF A COMPREHENSIVE AND COORDINATED PLAN
OF SOCIAL AND OTHER SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES FOR SENIORS IN A PLANNING
AND SERVICE AREA.
(B) "DEMENTIA CARE NAVIGATOR" MEANS A PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES SUPPORT
FOR CAREGIVERS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DEMENTIA, INCLUDING PROVIDING ASSIST-
ANCE WITH CARE PLANNING AND REFERRAL TO SUPPORT GROUPS.
2. THE STATE OFFICE FOR THE AGING SHALL ESTABLISH THE POSITION OF
DEMENTIA CARE COORDINATOR. THE DEMENTIA CARE COORDINATOR SHALL MANAGE
THE WORK OF DEMENTIA CARE NAVIGATORS EMPLOYED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
3. (A) EACH AREA AGENCY SHALL EMPLOY A DEMENTIA CARE NAVIGATOR. AN
AREA AGENCY MAY DESIGNATE A DEMENTIA CARE NAVIGATOR FROM EXISTING STAFF
OR HIRE AN INDIVIDUAL TO BE THE DEMENTIA CARE NAVIGATOR.
(B) A DEMENTIA CARE NAVIGATOR SHALL:
(1) PROVIDE COGNITIVE SCREENING AND PROGRAMS THAT ENGAGE INDIVIDUALS
WITH DEMENTIA IN REGULAR EXERCISE AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES;
(2) PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR CAREGIVERS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DEMENTIA,
INCLUDING PROVIDING ASSISTANCE WITH CARE PLANNING AND REFERRAL TO
SUPPORT GROUPS;
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05410-01-5
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