Subdivision 1.Program goals.

It is a goal of all area agencies on aging and caregiver support programs to support family caregivers of persons with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who are living in the community by:

Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 256.9755

  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Minority: means with respect to an individual the period of time during which the individual is a minor. See Minnesota Statutes 645.451
  • Person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44
  • state: extends to and includes the District of Columbia and the several territories. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44

(1) promoting caregiver support programs that serve Minnesotans in their homes and communities;

(2) providing, within the limits of available funds, the caregiver support services that enable the family caregiver to access caregiver support programs in the most cost-effective and efficient manner; and

(3) providing information, education, and training to respite caregivers and volunteers about caring for, managing, and coping with care for a person with ALS.

Subd. 2.Authority.

The Minnesota Board on Aging shall allocate to area agencies on aging the state funds which are received under this section for the caregiver support program in a manner consistent with federal requirements. The board shall give priority to those areas where there is a high need of respite services as evidenced by the data provided by the board.

Subd. 3.Caregiver support services.

Funds allocated under this section to an area agency on aging for caregiver support services must be used in a manner consistent with the National Family Caregiver Support Program to reach family caregivers of persons with ALS, except that such funds may be used to provide services benefiting people under the age of 60 and their caregivers. The funds must be used to provide social, community-based services and activities that provide social interaction for participants. The funds may also be used to provide respite care.

Subd. 4.Report.

By January 15, 2025, and every other January 15 thereafter, the Minnesota Board on Aging shall submit a progress report about the caregiver support grants in this section to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees and divisions with jurisdiction over human services. The progress report must include metrics of the use of the grant program.