An Act to improve care and prepare for the new era of Alzheimer’s and dementia
Take action
Record your position on this measure.
Create an account to record your position, submit testimony, or contact your legislator.
Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill aims to improve care and prepare Massachusetts for the growing challenges of Alzheimer’s and dementia. It establishes a public awareness campaign to educate healthcare providers and the public about early detection, treatment, and risk reduction. The bill also creates a Director of Dementia Care and Coordination to coordinate services and ensure access for individuals living with dementia and their families, while incorporating data collection and analysis to inform public health programs. Finally, it mandates training programs for various professionals, including law enforcement and healthcare staff, to improve their understanding and response to individuals with dementia.
Key provisions
- Develops a public awareness campaign on brain health, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia.
- Establishes a Director of Dementia Care and Coordination within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.
- Includes the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Healthy Aging Program module in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey.
- Requires the Massachusetts State Health Assessment to include data on racial and ethnic disparities related to dementia.
- Mandates dementia care coordination services for members of Senior Care Options (SCO) and One Care plans.
- Creates training programs for law enforcement, EMS personnel, and healthcare professionals on interacting with individuals with dementia.
- Requires acute care hospitals to implement policies ensuring family members or caregivers are contacted prior to patient discharge.
Bill text
Read the latest version inline or switch to a previous version.
Text extraction is in progress. View the official source.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
1 on record
Primary sponsor
Joint Committee on Aging and Independence
Arguments
Reasons offered for and against this legislation.
Arguments in favor
No arguments in favor have been submitted.
Submit yoursArguments opposed
No arguments opposed have been submitted.
Submit yours