NY Connects: Choices for Long Term Care, the statewide initiative that provides access to information and assistance to those seeking long term care choices, is making a steady impact in various counties throughout the state.
Through the provision of information and assistance to individuals 60 and over, along with individuals of all ages with disabilities, their respective caregivers and health care professionals, NY Connects is making it easier for people to determine which services will best meet their growing needs. Consumers and providers from around the state have been commending the local counties' NY Connects staff for identifying long term care options that they did not know existed within their communities.
The following are examples of how NY Connects is affecting the lives of individuals around the state; Jefferson County received a call from a woman seeking services for her widowed mother, who lives alone in an extremely rural section. The NY Connects specialist was able to identify services in that area, such as the Expanded In-home Services for the Elderly Program (EISEP), Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) and Home Delivered Meals, all of which she was eligible to receive. The daughter expressed her gratitude after admitting that she didn't know where to turn to for help, particularly since she does not live in Jefferson County. The woman also expressed relief in knowing that her mother will be safe in her own home.
Essex County received feedback from a caregiver who was seeking services for her elderly mother. The caregiver extended her appreciation to the Essex NY Connects staff for finding resources that helped her mother get needed repairs to her mobile home and linking her to the Meals on Wheels program. These long term care services helped her remain in her community, while bringing peace of mind to her loved ones.
The Rockland County NY Connects Coordinator was invited to speak at a workshop on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) at the Helen Hayes Hospital. The coordinator assumed that she would be primarily addressing health professionals, but was pleasantly surprised to see many TBI consumers. She informed the audience about the NY Connects program and the many resources available to people with disabilities in Rockland County. The staff at Helen Hayes Hospital was so impressed with the presentation that they sent the coordinator a formal "thank-you" card and invited her back as a guest speaker.
Lewis County communicated that as a result of their NY Connects, Long Term Care Council, the county's health and human services agencies have forged partnerships that historically were not established. As a result, there has been increased collaboration between professionals across the long term care continuum. They reported that at their next Long Term Care Council meeting there will be an opportunity for cross-training its members, when a guest speaker will present on resources for the TBI community in Lewis County.
The number of counties providing information and assistance through the NY Connects initiative is increasing. As these numbers increase, more New Yorkers will be able to take advantage of the wealth of information and resources available to those seeking long term care choices. For more information about NY Connects in your county, please visit New YorkConnects
(www.nyconnects.org).
