Church-based respite care programs in Tennessee that provide a break for caregivers of dementia patients are pushing for a legislative change to expand their services.
A bill sponsored by State Rep. William Slater (R-Gallatin) would allow these groups to host up to 20 participants and operate up to four days a week. The legislation has already passed unanimously in the Tennessee Senate and is expected to receive a final vote in the Tennessee House as early as this Thursday.
Currently, state law strictly limits how many participants these programs can host and how often they can meet. McClain Maiolo, who founded Faithful Friends in Clarksville, said the limitations restrict how many families they can help…