Governor Brown Signs Dementia Training Bill into Law

Governor Brown Signs Dementia Training Bill into Law!
Governor Brown heard from more than 1200 Alzheimer’s Association advocates who sent strong, personal letters urging him to sign Senate Bill 449 (Monning) into law. Thank you to all who responded to the call to action!

The bill increases dementia training for all Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) students preparing to work in nursing facilities, assisted living, home care and hospitals. SB 449 was the Association’s #1 public priority for the legislative session; credit for the bill’s passage belongs to Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel) and the powerful testimony of thousands of Californians including an advocate from Fresno who wrote “please provide training so that I may receive the care I need as I progress with Alzheimer’s.

California Medical Board Promotes Alzheimer’s Guideline
At the urging of the Alzheimer’s Association, the California Medical Board informed its 135,000 licensed physicians of the new 2017 Alzheimer’s Clinical Care Guideline. The guideline was released by the California Department of Public Health in March, and featured in the Medical Board’s summer newsletter. Read more here.

New Statewide Focus on Healthcare Workforce
California leaders are focusing resources on the needs of our healthcare workforce as the population ages and the availability of skilled labor diminishes.  A new commission was announced to look at education, training, career ladders and other opportunities to build the workforce of the future. The Alzheimer’s Association applauds this effort to bring attention and action to better serve the health and long-term care needs of individuals and families affected by dementia. Find out more here.

Alzheimer’s Association Presents at Field Hearing on Aging & LTC
Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) convened a special field hearing to bring attention to long-term care financing, a key component in a high performing delivery system for persons living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias, as well as family caregivers. Edie Yau, director of diversity and inclusion for the Northern California/Northern Nevada chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, was invited to present on the importance of including persons with dementia in planning efforts and addressing the high costs of in home and long-term care for families.