Bill > SB2698

This bill extends the operating period of the Mississippi Dementia Care Program from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2029, while maintaining its core purpose of providing respite care services to informal caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia. The program, named the "Jimmy Kaigler Alzheimer's Support Act," will continue to be administered by the Department of Human Services and will serve up to 60 enrollees, focusing on families who cannot afford respite care without jeopardizing their basic needs. Eligibility requires that the care recipient be 60 years or older, homebound, and at risk of requiring assisted living or nursing facility care without support. The program relies on federal funding and does not create an entitlement to services. The Department of Human Services must submit annual reports to the Legislature detailing program spending, administrative costs, number of individuals served, participant income ranges, and the program's effectiveness. The bill acknowledges the challenges families face in caring for loved ones with dementia, including the lack of Medicare coverage for long-term care and the high cost of long-term care insurance, and aims to help families keep their loved ones at home by providing temporary relief through respite care services.

Health and Social Services

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/SB/SB2698.xml