Sec. 2. (a) The dementia strategic plan must include the following:

(1) Proposed state actions.

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

(2) Implementation steps.

(3) Recommendations to carry out the purposes of the plan.

     (b) The dementia strategic plan must do the following:

(1) Assess Indiana’s current and future status concerning dementia, including the following:

(A) Determine Indiana trends concerning the diagnosis of dementia, and the current and future economic cost on Indiana.

(B) Evaluate the services, resources, and care available to address the needs of individuals with dementia, and their families and caregivers.

(C) Identify methods to reduce the financial costs of dementia care while improving care and services in Indiana.

(2) Identify strategies to increase awareness of dementia, including the following:

(A) Educate health care providers:

(i) on the importance of early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia;

(ii) on the importance of an annual wellness visit for cognitive health; and

(iii) on Medicare having a billing code for individuals with cognitive impairment.

(B) Promote culturally appropriate public health campaigns to increase understanding and awareness of early warning symptoms of dementia, and the value of early detection and diagnosis.

(C) Incorporate messages on brain health, including how to reduce the risk of cognitive decline, in existing public health campaigns and in diverse community settings where there is a greater risk of developing dementia.

(3) Identify strategies to enhance Indiana’s dementia based workforce, including the following:

(A) Analyze dementia specific training requirements for paid professionals engaged in the care of individuals with dementia in institutions and home and community based settings.

(B) Increase the number of individuals pursuing careers in dementia care and geriatric occupations to meet future state needs.

(C) Enhance the capacity of adult protective services workers and law enforcement to properly respond to individuals with dementia.

(4) Identify strategies to increase access to home and community based services for individuals with dementia, including the following:

(A) Identify the type, cost, and variety of dementia services in Indiana.

(B) Assess capacity and access to adult day care, respite care, assisted living, and long term care services.

(C) Identify methods to expand Indiana’s health care system capacity to meet the growing number and needs of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

(5) Identify strategies to enhance the quality of care for individuals with dementia, including the following:

(A) Assess quality care measures for long term care facilities, assisted living facilities, and residential programs available to care for individuals with dementia.

(B) Uncover any existing gaps in dementia services and determine a plan to cover the gap in service.

(C) Identify methods to improve dementia services provided in home and community based settings.

(6) Recommend strategies to decrease health disparities concerning dementia in ethnic and racial populations in Indiana.

(7) Identify and increase state based support for Alzheimer’s disease research through Indiana universities and other resources.

(8) Identify needed state policies or actions to act upon findings under this section and implement the recommendations of the plan, setting forth a time frame for implementation.

As added by P.L.36-2021, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.9-2022, SEC.17.