CS/CS/HB 493 2025
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to memory care; amending s. 429.177, 2
F.S.; defining the term "memory care services"; 3
requiring memory care providers to follow specified 4
standards of operation in providing memory care 5
services; providing requirements for resident 6
contracts; providing requirements for memory care 7
facilities; prohibiting certain facilities from 8
advertising, representing, or holding themselves out 9
as memory care providers unless such facilities meet 10
specified criteria; repealing s. 429.178, F.S., 11
relating to special care for persons with Alzheimer's 12
disease, dementia, or other memory disorders; creating 13
s. 430.71, F.S.; providing purpose and legislative 14
intent for the Florida Alzheimer's Center of 15
Excellence; providing definitions; providing duties of 16
the center; providing eligibility requirements for 17
services; providing effective dates. 18
19
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 20
21
Section 1. Effective January 1, 2026, section 429.177, 22
Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 23
429.177 Patients with Alzheimer's disease , dementia, or 24
other memory related disorders; certain disclosures ; minimum 25
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
standards.— 26
(1) "Memory care services" means spe cialized or focused 27
care and services designed to address health or behavioral 28
issues resulting from Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or other 29
memory disorders. 30
(2)(a) A facility that advertises itself as a memory care 31
provider or otherwise claims that the facility provides memory 32
care services, including, but not limited to, services for 33
residents with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or other memory 34
disorders, must meet all of the following standards of operation 35
for such services: 36
1. Develop and implemen t policies and procedures 37
addressing all of the following: 38
a. Admittance criteria. 39
b. Care and services necessary to address the needs of 40
persons admitted for memory care services. 41
2. Activities specifically designed and offered for 42
persons admitted for memory care services. 43
3. Maintenance of a current and accurate log of residents 44
admitted as receiving memory care services. 45
(b) The standards in paragraph (a) apply to any unit 46
designated for the provision of memory care services or to a 47
facility that provides memory care services to any resident 48
admitted and requiring such services. 49
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
(3) In addition to the requirements of s. 429.24, resident 50
contracts must specify all memory care services to be provided 51
and any related costs should those costs exc eed standard room 52
and board. 53
(4) In addition to the requirements of s. 429.26(7), for 54
persons residing in a memory care facility, the facility shall: 55
(a) Notify a licensed physician when a resident has a 56
change of condition specific to increased or more severe 57
dementia, or other memory disorder to ensure that appropriate 58
care is provided to the resident. The notification must occur 59
within 30 days after the acknowledgement of such changes in 60
condition by facility staff. 61
(b) If a change in the reside nt's condition is determined 62
to exist, notify the resident's representative or designee and 63
assist in making appointments for the necessary care and 64
services for treatment of the change in condition. 65
(c) If the resident does not have a representative or 66
designee, or if the resident's representative or designee cannot 67
be located or is unresponsive, arrange with the appropriate 68
health care provider for the necessary care and services for 69
treatment of the change in condition. 70
(5)(a) The memory care facilit y, or if a memory care 71
provider has a specific unit designated for memory care 72
services, must have at least one staff member present to provide 73
care and services at all times. The staff member shall: 74
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1. Stay awake at all times. 75
2. Meet any training req uired as defined by statute or 76
rule for assisted living facilities, including the training and 77
continuing education requirements of s. 430.5025. 78
3. Be certified in first aid and cardiopulmonary 79
resuscitation. 80
(b) A staff member administering medication or providing 81
assistance with the self -administration of medication may not be 82
considered as the sole staff member toward the staffing 83
requirement while engaged in these tasks. 84
(6) A facility licensed under this part which claims that 85
it provides special care for persons who have Alzheimer's 86
disease, dementia, or other memory related disorders must 87
disclose in its advertisements or in a separate document those 88
services that distinguish the care as being especially 89
applicable to, or suitable for, such pers ons. The facility must 90
give a copy of all such advertisements or a copy of the document 91
to each person who requests information about programs and 92
services for persons with Alzheimer's disease , dementia, or 93
other memory related disorders offered by the fac ility and must 94
maintain a copy of all such advertisements and documents in its 95
records. The agency shall examine all such advertisements and 96
documents in the facility's records as part of the license 97
renewal procedure. 98
Section 2. Effective January 1, 2 026, section 429.178, 99
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Florida Statutes, is repealed. 100
Section 3. Section 430.71, Florida Statutes, is created to 101
read: 102
430.71 Florida Alzheimer's Center of Excellence. — 103
(1) PURPOSE AND INTENT. —The purpose of this section is to 104
assist and support persons with Alzheimer's disease or related 105
forms of dementia and their caregivers by connecting them with 106
resources in their communities to address two primary goals: 107
(a) To allow residents of this state living with 108
Alzheimer's disease or related forms of dementia to age in 109
place. 110
(b) To empower family caregivers to improve their own 111
well-being. 112
(2) DEFINITIONS.-As used in this section, the term: 113
(a) "Center" means the Florida Alzheimer's Center for 114
Excellence. 115
(b) "Department" means the Departme nt of Elderly Affairs. 116
(3) POWERS AND DUTIES. - 117
(a) There is created within the department the Florida 118
Alzheimer's Center of Excellence, which shall assist in 119
improving the quality of care for persons living with 120
Alzheimer's disease or related forms of dementia and improved 121
quality of life for family caregivers. The center may contract 122
for services necessary to implement this section. The center 123
shall: 124
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1. Conduct caregiver assessments to measure caregiver 125
burden. 126
2. Create personalized plans that gui de caregivers to 127
community resources, empowering them with the skills, education, 128
support, and planning necessary for effective caregiving, 129
including addressing any medical, emotional, social, legal or 130
financial challenges experienced by the person with Al zheimer's 131
disease or a related form of dementia. 132
3. Educate and assist caregivers with strategies for 133
caregiving for someone with Alzheimer's disease or a related 134
form of dementia and provide guidance on all aspects of home -135
based care, including home saf ety, physical and mental health, 136
legal and financial preparedness, communication skills, and 137
hands-on care techniques. 138
4. Provide online educational resources for caregivers. 139
5. Track outcomes, including, but not limited to, 140
decreased hospitalizations, reduced emergency department visits, 141
reduction in falls, and reduction in caregiver burnout. 142
6. By December 1 of each year, submit a report to the 143
Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the 144
House of Representatives. The report must ad dress the number of 145
families served, the types of services provided, and the 146
outcomes achieved. 147
(b) The center shall work with the Area Agencies on Aging; 148
the Alzheimer's Disease Advisory Committee established under s. 149
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
430.501; the Alzheimer's Disease In itiative established under 150
ss. 430.501-430.504; the state-funded memory disorder clinics 151
established under s. 430.502; the department's Dementia Care and 152
Cure Initiative task forces; universities; hospitals; and other 153
available community resources to ensur e full use of the state's 154
infrastructure. 155
(4) ELIGIBILITY FOR SERVICES. — 156
(a) To qualify for assistance from the center, an 157
individual or caregiver must meet all of the following criteria: 158
1. At least one person in the household is a caregiver for 159
a person diagnosed with, or suspected to have, Alzheimer's 160
disease or a related form of dementia. 161
2. The caregiver or the person diagnosed with, or 162
suspected to have, Alzheimer's disease or a related form of 163
dementia, is a resident of this state. 164
3. The person seeking assistance has the goal of providing 165
in-home care for the person diagnosed with, or suspected to 166
have, Alzheimer's disease or a related form of dementia. 167
(b) If the person seeking assistance meets the criteria in 168
paragraph (a), the center may provide assistance to the 169
caregiving family, subject to the availability of funds and 170
resources. 171
Section 4. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this 172
act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 173