Senate Passes Bill to Help Support Alzheimer's and Dementia Patients and Their Caregivers

The New York State Senate today passed legislation to help assist and support individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The bill (S3968), sponsored by Senator Sue Serino (R-C-I, Hyde Park), Chair of the Senate Committee on Aging, would create a dementia and Alzheimer’s disease program database to help coordinate resources available to patients and caregivers.

Senator Serino said, “Living with Alzheimer’s and dementia — and caring for family members that are suffering from the debilitating symptoms — is challenging enough without the added stress of trying to track down critical resources. Information is power and as the Aging Chair, my goal is to empower New York seniors. Increasing access to important information is one of the real ways we can do that and I am proud to sponsor a bill that has the potential to improve the quality of life for seniors and their families.”  

There are many programs across the state that are designed to assist and support individuals with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Innovative ideas are implemented at the local level, but it can be difficult for groups in other areas of the state to find out about them. 

This bill would create a program database on the State Office for the Aging website with up-to-date information on program, methodologies, and services provided statewide for persons suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's disease. This would help facilitate the sharing of information about innovative and successful programs that could be replicated in other areas of the state.

As part of the 2015-16 state budget, the Senate approved $50 million in funding for services to support people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia – comprised of $25 million this year and another $25 million next year. 

The bill has been sent to the Assembly.