Public Policy Issues Important to Families Living with Alzheimer’s Disease and their families
There are a wide variety of state programs and policies that impact families living with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. The California Council – with the help of our local volunteer advocates – seeks to have our families’ voices heard on all of them. The Council sponsors legislation as well as monitors the more than 5000 bills introduced each legislative session, the State budget, and regulations developed by State agencies to implement new laws.
The following are programs and services important to our families. The Council’s advocacy efforts protect existing funding levels, seek funding increases, and improve policies for these programs:
- Medi-Cal – it is estimated 20% of those living with Alzheimer’s are dependent on Medi-Cal to receive their health care and pay for nursing home care
- California Alzheimer’s Disease Centers (CADCs) – California’s 10 diagnostic and treatment centers, located at medical schools, are a resource for families and physicians to accurately diagnose dementia; they also provide dementia training for medical and nursing students and licensed health professionals
- Alzheimer’s Day Care Resource Centers (ADCRC) – a model adult day care program unique to California that enables people in the middle and late stages of Alzheimer’s to avoid nursing home placement
- Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) and Adult Day Care
- Caregiver Resource Centers
- In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)
- Tax check-off fund – provides funding to California Alzheimer’s researchers
- Multi-Purpose Senior Services Program (MSSP)
- Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
- Integration of Long Term Care programs and services, including mental health services
- Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE)/Assisted Living – particularly state oversight to ensure compliance with licensing laws and regulations
- Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) – particularly state oversight to ensure compliance with licensing laws and regulations
- Long Term Care Ombudsman Program – including adequate funding and creation of an independent State Ombudsman Office
- Elder abuse – includes financial abuse and adequate funding for county Adult Protective Services
- Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP)
- Implementation of the US Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision
- Workforce – dementia training for all health and social service workers, including nursing home and assisted living staff, IHSS workers; and home health aides
- Access to medications for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and accompanying symptoms
- Legal – including adoption of the Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act, patient rights to seek legal remedy, health care and end-of-life planning, and driving
