Bill Proposed by Rep. Plummer Aims to Help Those With Dementia

Ohio Reps. Phil Plummer (R) and Thomas West (D) have proposed state legislation to improve care requirements for people with dementia from police officers and medical service personnel, reports WDTN-TV Channel 2 . Under the bill, such professionals would receive training on how to identify and interact with those with dementia. Training would include at least two hours of instruction with satisfactory completion of basic training at an approved center. This training would concentrate on: identifying people with dementia, including psychiatric and behavioral signs; respectful and effective communication with individuals with dementia and caregivers; methods to address the behavioral symptoms of dementia, including substitutes for physical restraint; identifying and reporting abuse, neglect, and exploitation of persons with dementia to the office of attorney general; procedures for contacting caregivers when someone with dementia is found wandering or during an emergency or crisis; local resources available for people with dementia; and local and national agencies that assist police with finding missing and wandering individuals with dementia and returning them to caregivers. The Alzheimer's Association in Dayton praises the bill.