S 8888: Creates the family essential program within the office for the aging to provide for advocacy, collaborative and education infrastructure for essential family caregivers within nursing homes and other long term care communities.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 8888  IN SENATE January 13, 2026 ___________ Introduced by Sen. CLEARE -- 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 implementing the family essential program to create an advocacy, collaborative and an educa- tion infrastructure for essential family caregivers within nursing homes and other long term care communities The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Article 2 of the elder law is amended by adding a new title 2 2 to read as follows: 3 TITLE 2 4 FAMILY ESSENTIAL PROGRAM 5 Section 230. Family essential program. 6 § 230. Family essential program. 1. There is hereby created within the 7 office a family essential program whose function and purpose shall be an 8 advocacy, collaborative and education infrastructure for essential fami- 9 ly caregivers in nursing homes and other long term care communities. 10 2. The family essential program shall set forth standards and prac- 11 tices designed to assist nursing homes and long term care community 12 stakeholders and providers by implementing varying advocacy structures 13 including, but not limited to: (a) monthly meetings with family essen- 14 tial care visitors and the resident representative in nursing homes and 15 long term care facilities; (b) making readily available materials and 16 care guides regarding statewide long term care services and support 17 systems; and (c) education sessions and modules that will support the 18 essential family care visitor to assist a resident in a nursing home or 19 long term care community to achieve person-centered care, dignity and 20 comfort and to maintain them at their highest level of functioning. 21 3. The family essential program shall provide for: 22 (a) monthly meetings within each nursing home and long term care 23 community to elicit feedback regarding care improvements to impact qual- 24 ity care. Information and data from meetings shall be provided to the 25 department of health; EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD14096-02-5 
 S. 8888 2 1 (b) monthly attendance at varying regional and individual facilities 2 to make accessible statewide resources and collaborative community care 3 tools; 4 (c) providing self-paced training modules for the essential care visi- 5 tor to learn best practices on how to collaborate best with facilities 6 to help contribute to residents being maintained at their highest level 7 of functioning during their stay; and 8 (d) coordination of advocacy and education with the office and other 9 relevant stakeholders. 10 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall 11 have become a law.