SB 1377, as introduced, Nguyen. Cognitively impaired adults: caregiver resource centers.
Existing law requires the Director of Health Care Services to, among other things, maintain or enter into contracts directly with nonprofit caregiver resource centers (CRCs) to provide direct services to caregivers of cognitively impaired adults, as defined, throughout the state. These services include, but are not limited to, specialized information, family consultation, respite care, short-term counseling, and support groups.
This bill would, each fiscal year, commencing with the 2016-17 fiscal year, appropriate an unspecified sum of money from the General Fund to the State Department of Health Care Services for allocation to CRCs for the purpose of providing those respite care services.
Vote: 2⁄3. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 4364.5 of the Welfare and Institutions
2Code is amended to read:
(a) The CRCs shall deliver services to and advocate
2for caregivers of cognitively impaired adults, as established in the
3CRC Operations Manual.
4(b) These services shall include, but not be limited to, all of the
5following:
6(1) Specialized information on chronic and disabling conditions
7and diseases, aging, caregiving issues, and community resources.
8(2) Family consultation. Professional staff shall work with
9families and caregivers to provide support, alleviate stress, examine
10options, and enable them to make decisions related to the care of
11cognitively impaired adults. Clinical staff shall provide an
12assessment of caregiver needs,
short- and long-term care planning,
13and ongoing consultation.
14(3) begin insert(A)end insertbegin insert end insert Respite care. The CRCs shall arrange respite services
15to relieve caregivers of the stress of constant care.
16(B) The sum of ____ dollars ($____) is hereby appropriated
17from the General Fund each fiscal year, commencing with the
182016-17 fiscal year, to the State Department of Health Care
19Services for allocation to CRCs for the purpose of providing respite
20care services.
21(4) Short-term counseling. The CRCs shall
provide up to six
22one-hour individual counseling sessions to caregivers seeking
23emotional support, skill development, and strategies to better cope
24with their caregiving situation.
25(5) Support groups. The CRCs shall offer support groups that
26enable caregivers to share experiences and ideas to ease the stress
27of their caregiving role.
28(6) Legal and financial consultation, including professional legal
29assistance or referrals to professional legal assistance, that can
30help caregivers with a variety of issues, including estate planning,
31trusts, wills, conservatorships, and durable powers of attorney.
32(7) Education and training. The CRCs shall organize and conduct
33education for groups of caregivers and community professionals
34on a variety of topics related to caregiving.
35(c) The amount of each of the services specified in subdivision
36(b) that are provided shall be determined by local needs and
37available resources.
P3 1(d) Persons receiving services pursuant to this chapter may be
2required to contribute to the cost of services depending upon their
3ability to pay, but not to exceed the actual cost thereof.
O
99