Miller Leads Study on Transparency in Memory Care Facilities

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, hosted an interim study in the House Health Services and Long-Term Care Committee to examine reporting requirements and consumer protection in memory care facilities.

Miller said the purpose of the study was to consider long-term care options for people with cognitive impairments and review their reporting requirements to ensure consumers have the necessary information to make well-informed decisions for their loved ones.

“Approximately 100 Oklahomans turn 65 years old every day, and by 2030, seniors will outnumber children for the first time in our state history,” Miller said. “More and more Oklahomans will need memory care facilities in the next decade, but we must ensure that there are measures in place to verify that a facility is memory care capable and can provide quality care for our aging Oklahomans.”

Currently under the Alzheimer’s Disease Special Care Disclosure Act, when a facility promotes itself as providing special care to patients with Alzheimer’s, dementia or other forms of cognitive impairment, a disclosure form is required. The form functions as a resource to detail the services provided and how the services meet the needs of residents with forms of cognitive impairment.

However, Miller said one issue is that there is currently no way to enforce what is considered memory care.

Miller filed House Bill 3757 in the 2020 session to address this issue. The legislation passed the House unanimously prior to the legislative session being interrupted by COVID-19 in mid-March, but Miller said she plans to refile the legislation this year.