BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Deval Patrick has signed legislation designed to improve the quality of care for patients suffering from dementia.
The legislation is intended to strengthen the quality of care for those with dementia by creating regulations to specify minimum safety and quality standards for dementia care units in long-term facilities.
The new law also requires specific dementia training for staff members working in long-term facilities and sets new guidelines to help prevent patients from wandering away.
State Rep. Alice Wolf, a Cambridge Democrat, said the bill will help improve the quality of life for the more than 120,000 people in the state with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia illnesses.
Patrick said the law he signed Monday will also help ease the burden of the family members of patients.
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