Bill > S2466

This bill mandates that designated local agencies provide training to protective services caseworkers on recognizing the signs and symptoms of cognitive impairments, such as Alzheimer's disease, and understanding how these impairments affect their work in screening, investigating, and planning services for individuals. Additionally, the commissioner of elder affairs, along with the secretaries of labor and workforce development and education, will conduct a comprehensive assessment and report on the state's direct-care workforce, which provides essential long-term services and supports to the increasing number of elderly and disabled residents. This report will analyze current workforce data, identify areas for improvement, evaluate the infrastructure for delivering these services efficiently and with quality, and propose strategies for strengthening training and credentialing, enhancing consumer support as employers, and improving the connection between consumers and workers, including the potential expansion of a directory for personal care attendants.