Legislation
SECTION 2005
Legislative intent
Public Health (PBH) CHAPTER 45, ARTICLE 20-A
§ 2005. Legislative intent. 1. The legislature finds that Alzheimer's
disease and related dementing illnesses which destroy certain vital
cells in the brain, currently affect more than four hundred thousand New
Yorkers. Although these diseases are not limited to the elderly, medical
researchers have projected that Alzheimer's disease and related diseases
of the brain will show a significant increase in numbers to coincide
with the growth in the population of the elderly. Because of the
inability of persons with Alzheimer's and related dementias to live in
safety or undertake even the simplest tasks of daily living without
cueing, assistance and/or supervision, this population requires a high
level of care throughout the moderate and advanced stages of the
disease. The reconfiguration of the health care delivery system
currently underway necessitates special recognition of this patient
population which often, while sometimes otherwise physically healthy,
demands this high level of care because of their cognitive impairment
and other dementia symptoms.
2. In response to the needs of New York state's Alzheimer's community,
and stemming from within this community, a statewide network of
not-for-profit corporations have been established, dedicated
specifically to responding at the local level to the needs of this
community. This network provides important support and educational
services to caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease. Eighty
percent of all Alzheimer's care is provided at home and/or in the
community, and is delivered by family caregivers. By supporting family
caregivers and informal supports at home and in the community, costly
institutionalization can be significantly delayed or avoided altogether.
This results in a more effective utilization of resources. It is the
intent of the legislature to encourage and foster such home and
community-based assistance through this existing network of
not-for-profit corporations. It is further important in this time of
changing resources and resource allocation, to encourage this network to
work closely with the department to ensure that the Alzheimer's
community is appropriately educated and included with respect to all
available health care options.
disease and related dementing illnesses which destroy certain vital
cells in the brain, currently affect more than four hundred thousand New
Yorkers. Although these diseases are not limited to the elderly, medical
researchers have projected that Alzheimer's disease and related diseases
of the brain will show a significant increase in numbers to coincide
with the growth in the population of the elderly. Because of the
inability of persons with Alzheimer's and related dementias to live in
safety or undertake even the simplest tasks of daily living without
cueing, assistance and/or supervision, this population requires a high
level of care throughout the moderate and advanced stages of the
disease. The reconfiguration of the health care delivery system
currently underway necessitates special recognition of this patient
population which often, while sometimes otherwise physically healthy,
demands this high level of care because of their cognitive impairment
and other dementia symptoms.
2. In response to the needs of New York state's Alzheimer's community,
and stemming from within this community, a statewide network of
not-for-profit corporations have been established, dedicated
specifically to responding at the local level to the needs of this
community. This network provides important support and educational
services to caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease. Eighty
percent of all Alzheimer's care is provided at home and/or in the
community, and is delivered by family caregivers. By supporting family
caregivers and informal supports at home and in the community, costly
institutionalization can be significantly delayed or avoided altogether.
This results in a more effective utilization of resources. It is the
intent of the legislature to encourage and foster such home and
community-based assistance through this existing network of
not-for-profit corporations. It is further important in this time of
changing resources and resource allocation, to encourage this network to
work closely with the department to ensure that the Alzheimer's
community is appropriately educated and included with respect to all
available health care options.