Relating to area agencies on aging, dementia service specialists, and a dementia services coordinator, and providing an appropriation

This bill relates to area agencies on aging, dementia service specialists, and a dementia services coordinator. The bill requires each area agency on aging to provide for the position of a dementia service specialist (specialist) to increase access and connections to local supports and services for persons living with dementia, their families, and caregivers, and to increase awareness about dementia within the network of area agency on aging providers and in communities and businesses throughout the state. The bill also requires the department of health and human services (HHS) to provide for the position of a dementia services coordinator (coordinator) to provide statewide coordination of dementia initiatives and specialists. The bill provides that, at a minimum, the duties of a specialist shall include providing support, providing referrals, conducting cognitive screenings, building dementia-capable area agencies on aging, promoting dementia-capable communities, and providing technical assistance as detailed in the bill. The bill provides the duties of a coordinator shall include coordinating dementia services throughout the state, coordinating the specialist program, coordinating the Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias state plan, evaluating state dementia services, identifying trainings, and performing other duties as may be required. The bill appropriates $750,000 from the general fund of the state to HHS for FY 2025-2026 to be used by the area agencies on aging to provide a specialist in each of the area agencies on aging and to provide for a coordinator within HHS.