S 1782: Requires each designated agency to employ a dementia care navigator to provide support for caregivers of individuals with dementia and to assist individuals with dementia in accessing appropriate services; requires the state office for the aging to establish the position of dementia care coordinator.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 1782 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE January 13, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sens. HINCHEY, ROLISON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed 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: 1 Section 1. The elder law is amended by adding a new section 226 to 2 read as follows: 3 § 226. Dementia care. 1. As used in this section: 4 (a) "Area agency" means the local agency that the state office for the 5 aging designates in accordance with the federal Older Americans Act of 6 1965 to administer the delivery of a comprehensive and coordinated plan 7 of social and other services and activities for seniors in a planning 8 and service area. 9 (b) "Dementia care navigator" means a program which provides support 10 for caregivers of individuals with dementia, including providing assist- 11 ance with care planning and referral to support groups. 12 2. The state office for the aging shall establish the position of 13 dementia care coordinator. The dementia care coordinator shall manage 14 the work of dementia care navigators employed pursuant to this section. 15 3. (a) Each area agency shall employ a dementia care navigator. An 16 area agency may designate a dementia care navigator from existing staff 17 or hire an individual to be the dementia care navigator. 18 (b) A dementia care navigator shall: 19 (1) provide cognitive screening and programs that engage individuals 20 with dementia in regular exercise and social activities; 21 (2) provide support for caregivers of individuals with dementia, 22 including providing assistance with care planning and referral to 23 support groups; EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD05410-01-5 
 S. 1782 2 1 (3) provide community support by assisting in the development of 2 dementia-friendly communities in order to increase civic awareness and 3 dementia-capable emergency response; 4 (4) consult with and provide technical assistance to area agency staff 5 who interact with individuals with: 6 (i) a dementia diagnoses; or 7 (ii) cognitive changes associated with dementia; and 8 (5) establish relationships with health care providers and facilitate 9 contact between health care providers and: 10 (i) individuals with dementia; 11 (ii) caregivers of individuals with dementia; and 12 (6) provide any other appropriate service generally related to demen- 13 tia or dementia care. 14 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.