SENATE MEMORIAL 34

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2012

INTRODUCED BY

Dede Feldman

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE SECRETARY OF AGING AND LONG-TERM SERVICES TO CONVENE A NEW MEXICO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE TASK FORCE.

     WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, fatal disease of the brain that destroys mental and physical functions; and

     WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is not a part of the normal aging process; and

     WHEREAS, there is no known cure for Alzheimer's disease; and

     WHEREAS, every sixty-nine seconds, someone in America develops Alzheimer's disease; and

     WHEREAS, an estimated five million four hundred thousand Americans now live with Alzheimer's disease; and

     WHEREAS, it has been estimated that by mid-century, someone will develop Alzheimer's disease every thirty-three seconds; and

     WHEREAS, data indicate that Hispanics are about one and one-half times as likely to have Alzheimer's disease or other dementia as older non-Hispanic whites; and

     WHEREAS, by the fall of 2011, thirty states and the District of Columbia had developed or were in the process of developing state plans in response to the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease; and

     WHEREAS, between 2010 and 2025, New Mexico is projected to experience a fifty-nine percent growth rate of people with this devastating disease; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico will soon have forty thousand residents diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary of aging and long-term services be requested to convene a New Mexico Alzheimer's disease task force to assess the impact of and make policy recommendations regarding Alzheimer's disease in the state; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be composed of the following members:

          A. the secretary of health or the secretary's designee;

          B. the secretary of veterans' services or the secretary's designee;

          C. the secretary of human services or the secretary's designee;

          D. the secretary of Indian affairs or the secretary's designee;

          E. one individual living with Alzheimer's disease, appointed by the governor;

          F. one individual who serves as a caregiver to an individual living with Alzheimer's disease, appointed by the governor;

          G. one representative of the nursing facility industry, appointed by the New Mexico health care association;

          H. one representative of the assisted living industry, appointed by the assisted living services organization;

          I. one representative of the adult day care services industry, appointed by the New Mexico association of adult day care;

          J. one representative of the hospice and home health care industry, appointed by the New Mexico association for home and hospice care;

          K. one representative of the medical care provider community, appointed by the director of the university of New Mexico geriatric education center;

          L. one individual who engages in research related to Alzheimer's disease, appointed by the Alzheimer's association;

          M. one representative of AARP, appointed by AARP;

          N. one representative of the department of health's office of primary care and rural health, appointed by the director of the office of primary care and rural health;

          O. one representative of the developmental disabilities planning council, appointed by the developmental disabilities planning council;

          P. one representative of the Alzheimer's association, appointed by the Alzheimer's association;

          Q. the director of the medical assistance division of the human services department or the director's designee;

          R. one representative from each of the four area agencies on aging, appointed by the bureau chief of the senior services bureau of the aging and long-term services department;

          S. one representative of the program for all-inclusive care for the elderly in New Mexico, appointed by total community care of New Mexico; and

          T. one representative representing law enforcement, appointed by the secretary of public safety; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force include an examination of the following matters in its assessments and recommendations:

          A. trends and needs among the population of individuals living with Alzheimer's disease in the state, including the changing population living with dementia; the state's role in long-term care; family caregiver support; and the available assistance to individuals living with Alzheimer's disease and with developmental disabilities;

          B. the type, cost and availability of services for individuals living with dementia;

          C. dementia-specific training requirements for those working with individuals living with dementia;

          D. the quality care measures for providers who deliver services to individuals living with Alzheimer's disease;

          E. the capacity of public safety and law enforcement to respond to individuals living with Alzheimer's disease;

          F. the availability of home- and community-based resources for individuals living with Alzheimer's disease;

          G. the availability of respite care to assist family members who are caring for individuals living with Alzheimer's disease;

          H. an inventory of long-term care dementia care units;

          I. the adequacy and appropriateness of geriatric-psychiatric units for persons living with behavior disorders associated with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia;

          J. assisted living options for individuals living with dementia;

          K. state support of Alzheimer's disease research through New Mexico universities and other resources; and

          L. state policies or resources that are needed, including directions for the provision of clear and coordinated services and supports to individuals and families living with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, as well as strategies to address any identified gaps in services; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of aging and long-term services or the secretary's designee be requested to convene the task force by April 30, 2012; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the aging and long-term services department be requested to provide the facilities and administrative support that are necessary for the task force's work; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to hold public meetings and use technology, such as webcasting, to gather feedback and recommendations from individuals and families affected by Alzheimer's disease and the general public; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the task force be requested to serve without compensation, except any per diem or expense reimbursement to which they are individually entitled as members of their respective constituent organizations; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to submit by November 1, 2013 a report of its findings and date-specific recommendations to the governor and to the legislative health and human services committee; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to each official or organization being requested to serve on or select a member of the task force and to the chair and vice chair of the legislative health and human services committee.

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