AN ACT appropriating funds to the department of health and human services, division of aging and adult services, for expansion of the project caregiver alternatives to running on empty (project c.a.r.e.) program.

Whereas, the Alzheimer's Association projects that by 2025 an estimated 210,000 North Carolinians (age 65 and older) will have Alzheimer's disease, which represents a 16.7% increase from 180,000 persons in 2020; and

Whereas, Medicaid costs are projected to increase 22.2% during this five‑year period for persons with Alzheimer's disease; and

Whereas, in North Carolina, much of the care provided for individuals with Alzheimer's is by an estimated 479,000 unpaid caregivers with the cost of care valued at approximately $7.15 billion in 2019; and

Whereas, the costs of health care and long‑term care services for individuals living with dementia are substantially higher than for those without dementia, which adds a financial burden to the physical, emotional, and social challenges families encounter in providing care to loved ones with dementia; and

Whereas, Project C.A.R.E. provides caregivers of individuals living with dementia care consultation services, including dementia specific information, caregiver assessments and individualized care plans, caregiver education, and connections to community‑based services and resources; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Aging and Adult Services, the sum of five hundred seventy‑five thousand dollars ($575,000) in recurring funds for the 2021‑2022 fiscal year and the sum of five hundred seventy‑five thousand dollars ($575,000) in recurring funds for the 2022‑2023 fiscal year to expand the Project Caregiver Alternatives to Running on Empty Program (Project C.A.R.E.), which provides support to individuals with dementia and their caregivers. It is the intent of the General Assembly to increase by ten percent (10%) each fiscal year the amount of recurring funds appropriated to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Aging and Adult Services, for allocation to Project C.A.R.E.

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2021.