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Committee approves bill to require Alzheimer’s training for affiliated home care aides
Summary
The committee voted to pass SB 412 as amended to Appropriations, requiring affiliated home care aides to receive Alzheimer's and dementia care training. Supporters, including family caregivers and industry representatives, said the bill would create a consistent baseline of dementia caregiving skills for aides employed by home care organizations.
The Assembly Committee on Human Services voted to pass SB 412, as amended, to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, a measure that would add Alzheimer’s and dementia caregiving to the required training for affiliated home care aides.
Senator Monique Lamone presented the bill and said it would "better prepare affiliated home care aids to handle challenges with caregiving for an individual with Alzheimer's disease," citing an Alzheimer's Association estimate that "approximately 70 percent of people with dementia or cognitive impairment are living at home." The sponsor told the committee that about 120,000 affiliated home care aides are employed to provide nonmedical assistance to people living with dementia.
Family caregivers and industry groups testified in support. Heidi Bonnat, a volunteer advocate with the Alzheimer's Association, recounted caring for her late husband and described widely different experiences with hired aides: one aide "left him in soiled clothing the entire time" and said "he didn't tell me he had to use the restroom," while another aide was attentive and assisted compassionately. Bonnat said baseline training in dementia caregiving would have given her "greater peace of mind." Tony Gonzalez of the Home Care Association of America said many member agencies already train aides, but the bill would ensure a consistent baseline: "For those reasons, we strongly support the bill."
Andrew Mendoza of the Alzheimer's Association offered technical assistance. Additional supporters who identified themselves at the hearing included Monica Miller (Alzheimer's Los Angeles, Alzheimer's San Diego and Alzheimer's Orange County), David Feingert (AARP), and Dylan Elliott (California State Association of Psychiatrists).
Committee discussion was supportive. Assemblymember Calderon asked to be added as a coauthor and the sponsor accepted. The committee clerk called the roll and the motion to pass SB 412 as amended to the Assembly Appropriations Committee carried unanimously. The clerk recorded a final committee vote of 7-0 on the file item.
What the bill does and does not do: The bill, as described in the hearing, would require Alzheimer's and dementia care to be included in training for "affiliated home care aides" (defined in testimony as aides employed by home care organizations). The measure does not, in the committee hearing record, change licensing standards or funding levels; it requires training content as described in the bill text and accepted committee amendments.
Next steps: SB 412 was ordered to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for further consideration per the committee's vote.
