NY Elder L § 206 (2021)
2021 New York Laws ELD - Elder Article 2 - Programs for the Elderly Title 1 - State Office for the Aging 206 - Informal Caregiver Training.

§  206.  Informal  caregiver  training.  1.  The  director  is  hereby authorized and directed, to  the  extent  appropriations  are  available therefor,  to  develop,  establish  and  operate  training and technical assistance programs, including  caregiver  resource  centers,  caregiver networks,   and   other  support  activities,  for  informal  caregivers throughout the state for the purposes of assisting such  caregivers  and improving  the  quality  of care provided to frail and disabled persons. The director shall also make available and encourage the utilization  of such  training programs in consultation with the commissioner of health, the commissioner of the office of  children  and  family  services,  the commissioner  of  mental  health, and the commissioner of the office for people with developmental disabilities.   2. Definitions. For  the  purposes  of  this  section:  (a)  "Informal caregiver"  shall  mean  the  family  member or other natural person who normally provides the daily care or supervision of a frail  or  disabled person,  or any family member or other natural person who contributes to and is involved in the caretaking responsibilities  for  such  frail  or disabled  person.  Such  informal caregiver may, but need not, reside in the same household as the frail or disabled person.  (b) "Frail or disabled person" shall mean any person who is unable  to attend  to  his  or  her  daily  needs without the assistance or regular supervision  of  an  informal  caregiver  due  to  mental  or   physical impairment.  Such  definition  shall  not exclude persons under eighteen years of age who suffer from mental or physical impairment.  (c) "Program" shall mean the program of  informal  caregiver  training and technical assistance established by this section.  (d)  "Caregiver  resource center" shall mean a project funded pursuant to this  section  which  provides  services  and  activities  which  are responsive  to  the needs and contracts of informal caregivers in regard to their caregiving responsibilities.  (e) "Caregiver networks" shall mean local  coalitions  which  develop, coordinate,   and  implement  action  plans  to  identify  and  mobilize resources to address the unmet needs of frail and disabled  persons  and their caregivers.   3.  (a)  The  duties  of  the  director pursuant to this section shall include, but not be limited to:  (1) developing and make available or approve a curriculum for informal caregiver training which considers and is easily adapted to an array  of personal  needs  and  disabilities, and which is sensitive to ethnic and community characteristics;  (2)  providing  technical  assistance  and  training  to   appropriate organizations  and  groups,  including  caregiver  resource  centers and caregiver  networks,  which,  in  turn,  shall  provide   training   and assistance to informal caregivers; and  (3)   providing   grants  to  appropriate  organizations  and  groups, including caregiver resource centers and caregiver networks, to  develop and make available approved curricula for informal caregiver training as well as disseminate information regarding the curriculum.  (4)  develop  guidelines  for local area agencies on aging in order to provide the following:  (i) information and assistance regarding gaining access  to  available services to assist informal caregivers;  (ii)    resource   referrals   for   informal   caregivers   regarding decision-making on behalf of the individual receiving care; and  (iii) counseling referrals for informal caregivers.  (b) Training and  technical  assistance  shall  include,  but  not  be limited to:  (1)  knowledge  of  major  health  problems  and  diseases, mental and physical disabilities, and the aging process;  (2) practical skills required in providing personal care and support;  (3)  stress  awareness  and  methods  of dealing with stress caused by providing care;  (4) financial management; and  (5) identification and utilization of available  resources,  including benefits, entitlements, and other programs and assistance.   4. The director shall:  (a)  Promulgate  any  rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.  (b) On or before the first day of January every other year,  submit  a report  to  the  governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly, which shall include, but not be limited to:  (1) a financial report of the program's operation;  (2) a profile of persons or groups receiving  training  and  technical assistance pursuant to this section; and  (3)  an  analysis  of  the  program's  success  in  assisting informal caregivers and improving the quality of care provided by such persons.