Day 11: Better tools for families facing Alzheimer’s (HB 393)
Alzheimer’s and dementia touch nearly every family in Kentucky eventually, whether it’s a parent, a grandparent, or a spouse. HB 393 doesn’t create a new program, it strengthens one we already have.
The bill adds a seat on the state’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Advisory Council specifically for an unpaid family caregiver, so the people actually caring for a loved one at home have a voice in shaping state policy, not just medical professionals and administrators. It also requires the Office of Dementia Services to report annually on what’s working and what isn’t, and directs the council to build a real, practical toolkit for healthcare providers on early detection and diagnosis, the first of what will now be a required year-long initiative each year tackling a piece of the state’s Alzheimer’s plan.
Early detection matters. The sooner a family knows what they’re dealing with, the more options they have for treatment, planning, and support. This bill is a small, steady step toward getting there.
Sponsored by Rep. Rebecca Raymer, HB 393 passed the House 95-0 and the Senate 38-0.
