Massachusetts Senate OKs bill to help those with Alzheimer's

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Senate has approved a bill aimed at assisting individuals with Alzheimer's and dementia and their families.

The bill was approved unanimously by the Senate on Thursday. It now heads back to the Massachusetts House.

The goal of the bill is to help with the diagnosis, treatment, and care for individuals with Alzheimer's. Backers said the bill focuses on providing essential information to patients and their families about understanding an Alzheimer's diagnosis and creating a care plan.

The bill also helps patients access the medical and non-medical treatments advocates say are critically important to living with the disease.

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Advocates say there are more than 130,000 people in Massachusetts with Alzheimer's disease helped by 337,000 family caregivers. Nearly 150,000 people are projected to have the disease by 2025 in Massachusetts.

Associated Press