IA SF547

Each area agency on aging in Iowa must establish a dementia service specialist position to increase access to local supports for persons with dementia, their families, and caregivers, and to raise dementia awareness among providers, communities, and businesses

Dementia service specialists will support families through education and outreach, provide referrals to support groups and respite care, conduct cognitive screenings, train first responders and public safety agencies on crisis situations involving dementia patients, and promote dementia-friendly community initiatives

The Department of Health and Human Services must create a dementia services coordinator position to provide statewide coordination of dementia initiatives, oversee the specialist program, implement the Alzheimer's disease and related dementias state plan, and evaluate state-funded dementia services

Appropriates $750,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2025-2026 to fund dementia service specialists in each area agency on aging and the dementia services coordinator position within the department