Advocacy Opportunities  
Key Policy Issues  

Policy Issues Important to Families Living With Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementia Disorders   

There are a wide variety of state programs and policies that impact families living with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.  The California Council – with the help of our local volunteer advocates – seeks to have our families’ voices heard on all of them.  The Council sponsors legislation as well as monitors the more than 5000 bills introduced each legislative session, the State budget, and regulations developed by State agencies to implement new laws. 

The following are programs and services important to our families.  The Council’s advocacy efforts protect existing funding levels, seek funding increases, and improve policies for these programs:

• Alzheimer’s Day Care Resource Centers (ADCRC)

• Adult Day Health Care (ADHC)and Adult Day Care

• In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)

• Multi-Purpose Senior Services Program (MSSP)

• Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)

• Linkages

• Alzheimer’s Disease Program

• Alzheimer’s Research Centers of California (ARCC)

• Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE)/Assisted Living

• Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)

• Caregiver Resource Centers

• Ombudsmen Program

• Hospice

• Adult Protective Services

• Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP)

Other issues of concern include:

• Implementation of the Olmstead decision

• Medi-Cal eligibility and reimbursement for providers

• Alzheimer’s research funding

• Nursing home and assisted living staff: training, adequate wages, appropriate staffing ratios

• Access to medications for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and accompanying symptoms

• Patient rights to seek legal remedy

• Driving safety

• Monitoring by the state of nursing homes and assisted living

• Health care planning decisions/advanced directives/conservatorships

• Access to mental health services

• Elder abuse

• Consent to participate in research projects