The Department shall: subject to subsection (b) of this section, oversee and train the staff of long–term care and dementia care navigation programs under this subtitle; and disseminate best practices and collect interaction data to ensure statewide program integrity. The work of the long–term care and dementia care navigation programs under this subtitle shall be guided by the recommendations of: the State Plan on Aging; and the Virginia I. Jones Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Council under Title 13, Subtitle 32 of the Health – General Article. On or before October 1, 2024, and each October 1 thereafter, the Department shall submit a report to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, the Senate Finance Committee, and the House Health and Government Operations Committee, on the services provided under this subtitle. The report required under this subsection shall include: the number of direct contacts each long–term care and dementia care navigation program has with State residents; and the result of each direct contact, including: the percentage of individuals referred to service providers; the number of cognitive screenings conducted; the number of outreach events conducted; and the number of State residents contacted through outreach events. The Department shall publish the report required under this subsection on the Department’s website.

Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, each area agency shall develop a long–term care and dementia care navigation program that consists of new or existing services. An area agency may staff the program from existing resources or hire an individual for the program. Subject to the limitation of the funding provided to each area agency under § 10–1303 of this subtitle, each area agency shall implement the program developed under paragraph (1) of this subsection. Subject to subsection (c) of this section, the duties of the long–term care and dementia care navigation program include: providing information and referrals to long–term care and chronic disease services; providing cognitive screening for individuals concerned with their cognition; providing programs that engage individuals who demonstrate symptoms of dementia that interfere with activities of daily living, regular exercise, and social activities; providing support for caregivers of individuals who demonstrate symptoms of dementia that interfere with activities of daily living; consulting with and providing technical assistance to area agency staff who interact with individuals with: dementia diagnoses; or cognitive changes that may be associated with dementia; and establishing relationships with health care providers to facilitate contact between health care providers and: individuals who demonstrate symptoms of dementia that interfere with activities of daily living; and caregivers of individuals who demonstrate symptoms of dementia that interfere with activities of daily living. The services provided under subsection (b) of this section shall be provided along with the services described in §§ 10–307 and 10–309 of this title.

For fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $2,400,000 to manage the long–term care and dementia care navigation programs statewide and to fund the programs locally. The funds appropriated under this section shall be distributed proportionally to each area agency based on a formula determined by the Department that considers the number of individuals who will likely need long–term care or dementia care services in each jurisdiction.