Marking the beginning of Older Americans Month in the state, the New York State Office for the Aging today released statistics estimating that there are approximately 13,300 older residents serving as volunteers contributing more than 931,000 hours of their time in Albany County The announcement was made by NYSOFA Director Michael Burgess as he applauded County Executive Michael Breslin, Department of Social Services Commissioner Vince Colonno, Office for the Aging Director Ralph Scarano and the dedicated community members of the Albany County Long Term Care Council today for their leadership on aging issues. Burgess noted that county leaders have shown an understanding of the demographic changes in Albany County and have brought community members together to plan a "livable community" strategy which allows older adults to remain independent with community supports.
Director Burgess joined County Executive Breslin at a meeting of the Albany County Long Term Care Council/NY Connects to highlight the tremendous work members have been involved with that encompasses the Council's primary charge of charting the future of long term care. The Council has identified focus areas including completion of a home care needs assessment tool, developing a housing with supportive services model and applying for a NYSOFA Community Empowerment grant.
Director Burgess noted there are over 1800 older adults volunteering in formal state and federally funded programs including:
"The growth of the older population in New York State provides great opportunities as well as challenges", said Michael Burgess. "Older persons are a tremendous community resource who devote their time through volunteerism and civic engagement to help their peers, work with children, help deliver meals and many other activities that make their communities better. What Albany County is doing to assist people in need of services - to help them remain independent, save county and state dollars, and maintain or improve their health status, is a model that deserves recognition and should be shared with other counties for replication."
Albany County Executive Mike Breslin said, "Planning for the future of long term care in Albany County is a top priority. We have been listening to the needs and wishes of our community and as a result shifting the focus of long term care to home and community based services. We continue to expand these and are now assisting more than 1,250 individuals in their homes. I am confident our efforts are dramatically improving the quality of life of significant numbers of our older citizens; honoring our County's core values of independence, dignity and choice; and saving taxpayer dollars."
Communities across the state, such as New York City, Westchester, Rockland, Monroe and Broome Counties have been undertaking planning are implementing strategies that assess their communities to maximize the "social capital" of older volunteers and to gain a better understanding of how the community can serve their older population today and into the future. This community assessment can include:
The New York State Office for the Aging, through its Community Empowerment Initiative is working with communities across the state to develop plans that allow older adults to live independently. NYSOFA is supporting the movement for livable communities by awarding grants to help facilitate local action.
"Under the leadership of County executive Breslin, Albany County is taking seriously the challenge of an increasing older population and has developed a multi-year plan to enhance the ability of older adults to live independently, with dignity, in the community, Burgess added.
