Governor Gavin Newsom passes AB 453 to improve medical emergency care for dementia patients
On July 16, 2019, California Governor Newsom signed AB 453, a legislative update by Assembly member Ed Chau that will require dementia-specific training for Medical First Responders (MFRs).
Emergency Medical Services Authority will now develop training programs focused on fostering effective communication between Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), and individuals with dementia,as well as their caregivers. With the newly forged commitment to delivering quality care to people with Alzheimer’s in the case of a medical emergency, we anticipate further progress towards a more dementia-friendly community in the future.
We at Alzheimer’s Orange County applaud Newsom’s initiative; our praise is shared by our fellow sister organizations in southern California, including Alzheimer’s Los Angeles and Alzheimer’s San Diego. With over 650,000 Californians now living with Alzheimer’s– and that number expecting to rise exponentially in the years to come– it is crucial for us to have legislation like AB 453 that will ensure quality care to Alzheimer’s families, as well as ensure that care is delivered with dignity and respect.
“We need to ensure that our medical first responders have not just a basic understanding of the disease, but the skills and knowledge to effectively communicate, handle situations appropriately, and connect families to appropriate community resources,” said our CEO, Jim McAleer.
We are looking forward to assisting Emergency Medical Services Authority in developing the dementia training that will be in compliance with AB 453. In the meantime, learn more about the current in-person and online training for law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMS that we have currently offer and that was developed through generous grant funding from the Administration for Community Living. If you would like to know more about the programs we offer for professionals, visit our website at https://www.alzoc.org/professionals/.
