HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – Children, Families, Health and Human Services Interim Committee called their online meeting to order Monday, May 11.
During the meeting the committee discussed seniors and long-term care. Montana Chapter and Alzheimer’s Association Public Policy Director Hanna VanHoose stated that nationwide Alzheimer’s disease is increasing significantly.
Vanhoose said, “The majority of seniors in care facilities have some type of cognitive impairment.”
Because of this VanHoose said it’s important to have dementia specific training for direct care workers in Montana.
RiverStone Health Vice President Barbara Schneeman whose mother and father were both diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease said,”until you are personally impacted by the disease that ailment is something that happens to other people.”
Schneeman continued that the states should provide funding and incentives for this training because “as Montanans age it is imperative that we have a dementia capable workforce.”
Regarding COVID-19, the committee discussed the need to figure out a way to support seniors in their current rural community instead of making them move elsewhere for facility based care. On the same note, the committee stated that because of the way COVID-19 spreads, facilities will need to start approaching things differently and try to have programs developed to help seniors stay in their own homes.
Associate State Director of Advocacy and Outreach Mike Batista said the needs for health care providers have become more broad because of COVID-19 and have caused “a lot of hours, a lot of staff, and quite frankly, a lot of financial burden on the facilities.”
The committee will review and decide what path to take at their next meeting in June.
