Why New York Must Act:Collaborative Solutions to New York’s Caregiving Crisis

I’m so alone.

I need a break.

Who will care for her if I get sick?

I used to be a daughter- now I am a full time

caregiver.

Have I made the right

decisions?

Who will take care

of me?

We are going broke trying to

keep him at home.

It’s a full time job with no vacation or lunch

break.

HELP ME

I can’t miss work AGAIN.

FORMS, FORMS, &

MORE FORMS!

Where do I go for help?

I’m so confused.

The system is

such a mess!

I don’t know how

much longer I

can do this.

What if he falls

again?

Must sleep…...

• www.longtermscorecard.org• 2 AARP surveys: New York State and New

York City

Top line takeaway:New Yorkers place a high value on living at home with independence and dignity, but they face extreme challenges in making that aspiration a reality. The importance of family caregivers in achieving this goal is paramount, yet the support system in place for them is not adequate to help them meet those challenges.

Alzheimer's Association New York City Chapter ▪ BWICA Educational Fund,

Inc.

Coalition of New York State Alzheimer's Association Chapters ▪ PHI

New York State Association of Area Agencies on Aging

New York State Caregiving & Respite Coalition ▪ Continuing Care

Leadership Coalition

Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) ▪ Visiting Nurse Service of

New York (VNSNY)

Continuing Care Leadership Coalition

New York StateWide Senior Action Council, Inc.

• What challenges do caregivers face in caring for their loved ones? (for instance, workplace, personal, financial, lack of knowledge/skills)

• What trends are being seen?• Is NY doing enough to help caregivers address

these challenges?• What are potential solutions so caregivers have

the services and supports they need?

AmherstSyracuse

Oakdale

Brooklyn Heights

New York (4)

Elmira

Glens Falls

AlbanyRochester

Online Survey:Over 500 Responses

8 Policy Recommendations

• Establish a Community Care Navigator (CC Navigator) program by reinvigorating and enhancing the existing NY Connects program. CC Navigator will help caregivers and all New Yorkers develop a personal roadmap to direct them to the information, services, and supports they need. This plan would include aggressive outreach and public education campaigns to bring awareness of the new program.

• Provide adequate funding to SOFA for non-Medicaid-funded caregiver assistance programs that will help caregivers keep seniors living at home, thereby reducing Medicaid expenditures on institutional care.

• Provide training and skill-building for caregivers to help them cope with the various medical tasks and needs their elderly loved ones have. If the loved one is in a hospital or other rehabilitation facility, the training and skill-building should occur prior to discharge. All facilities should record the name of the family caregiver(s) upon admission and contact the person(s) prior to discharge to another facility or to home.

• Review paid and unpaid family leave policies to assist working caregivers and support businesses. A 2006 MetLife study found companies lose as much as $33.6 billion annually in worker productivity because of employees’ caregiving obligations. Examine successful approaches implemented in other states and determine their feasibility for New York State. Support workplace policies that prohibit discriminatory employment practices against working caregivers.

• Ensure access to competent legal assistance and pass legislation to protect vulnerable people from fraud and financial exploitation.

• Promote and increase a diverse range of affordable housing options that allow older adults to age in place and be part of an active community that embodies elements of walkability, universal and inclusive housing design features, and accessible transportation.

• Support volunteer models that build social networks using both peer-to-peer and intergenerational approaches.

• Promote changes in the work environment that encourage direct-care staff recruitment and retention.

• … and we can’t do this alone, either! If you or your organization is interesting in keeping in touch with the NYS Caregiving Advocates, please email me!

• LPalmer@aarp.org• 1st Thursday of every month at 3:00pm