House task force rolls out recommendations for Alzheimer’s care
Long-term-care facilities that offer services specifically
for people with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, could face new state
requirements for employee training and “respite care” for caregivers, such as
adult day care, should be more clearly defined in Ohio law.
Those two proposed changes to state law are the first
recommendations of the Ohio House of Representatives’ Task Force on Alzheimer’sand Dementia. The group of 15 elected officials, advocates and other interested
parties, led by Rep. Dorothy Pelanda, a Marysville Republican, released its
first report in mid-July after gathering testimony from about 30 people last
year.
The policy specifies several topics to be addressed,
including communication skills, pain assessment, medication management, family
dynamics, dealing with challenging behaviour and triggers of dementia symptoms.
Meanwhile, Ohio is the only state without a comprehensive
plan to address the growing problem — something that must change, said Vince
McGrail, executive director and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association’s central
Ohio chapter and a member of the House task force.
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