New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) is one of twelve states recently awarded a Lifespan Respite Program grant from the U.S. Administration on Aging. The federal grant will be used to develop and enhance coordinated, accessible, community-based respite care programs for caregivers (family, friends and neighbors) regardless of age.
Respite services provide temporary relief to caregivers who are caring for their loved one of any age with special needs in their home and community. Respite is an important service that enables persons of all ages to remain independent and avoid costly and often inappropriate institutionalization by providing assistance to the caregiver [to] allowing them to take a break from the demands of caregiving and to take care of their own needs.
NYSOFA Director Michael Burgess said, “Although New York State currently offers a myriad of respite services to caregivers across the age span, this initiative will build a system to identify, coordinate, and publicize respite services and assist caregivers in gaining access to services to meet their needs.” The ultimate goal of these activities is the reduction of family caregiver strain to help support individuals remaining in their communities.
The Lifespan Respite Care Program will enable New York coordinate existing respite services, identify service gaps, create and monitor new respite services, provide opportunities to recruit, train, and support paid and volunteer respite providers, and raise public awareness about the need for and importance of respite services. NYSOFA will work with the Statewide Caregiving and Respite Coalition of New York (SCRCNY), Lifespan of Greater Rochester Inc., Monroe County Office for the Aging and Adult Services, and NY Connects: Choices for Long Term Care, a county-based program administered by NYSOFA that offers objective information and assistance to individuals and families about their long-term care options. A New York Lifespan Respite Advisory Group will be formed to include caregivers and representatives of key caregiver and respite groups throughout New York State to help guide the work conducted through this grant.
New York State has approximately 2.2 million caregivers, ranking third in the nation in the number of informal caregivers (family, friends and neighbors.) Caregiver arrangements exist in approximately 734,000 households, or one in ten of all New York State households. Informal caregivers are estimated to provide 80 percent of all long-term care in the United States. New York caregivers are providing over 2 billion hours of direct care, support, and assistance to family members with significant needs, and AARP has reported that this voluntary assistance reduces public spending for long-term care supports and services and has an estimated annual economic value of $25 billion in New York State.
The partners in the Lifespan Respite initiative described the importance of the work that will take place as a result of receiving the grant. Ann Marie Cook, President/CEO of Lifespan of Greater Rochester Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to providing information, guidance and services for older adults and caregivers, said, "Without family caregivers, our long-term care system would crumble. They are the supporting arches that form the bridge between care in the community and care in skilled nursing homes. They need the support this initiative will provide."
“At Caregiver Town Hall meetings that were held across the state, caregivers identified respite as a significant need. When a caregiver has a short-term break from providing such care, it is more likely that a person with a disability can remain at home and maintain their independence in the community, rather than enter a nursing home or other institutional setting.” Director Burgess explained. “NY Connects, a program that provides comprehensive and objective information and assistance to persons of all ages regarding their long-term care needs and a partner in the Lifespan Respite initiative, will use the knowledge gained from the initiative to provide information and assistance to caregivers across the lifespan who need respite services.”
Joanne Macklin, Executive Director of SCRCNY stated, “With over 350 coalition members representing cross-disability, cross-generational, caregiving and respite services across New York State, SCRCNY will be instrumental in helping to better coordinate these critical services. We stand ready to assist caregivers across New York to understand and gain access to the respite services that can help support them in their essential role of caring for their loved ones in the community.”
Corinda Crossdale, Director of the Monroe County Office for the Aging and Adult Services said, “We are very pleased to be part of this statewide initiative. We have direct experience in providing needed respite services to caregivers who may be stressed by the daily support they are providing. Educating the public about available respite services and better coordinating those services is an important, statewide need.”
Cynthia Fountain, Chair of the New York State Family Caregiver Council (FCC), said “As a grandparent caring for grandchildren and an advocate for others, I believe that it is vitally important to increase access to respite services across the lifespan. This grant will help meet one of the FCC recommendations - to identify support for the more than 140,000 grandparents caring for grandchildren in New York State. I am very pleased that NYSOFA has received this grant.”
"Caregiving impacts all generations of a family," stated Lois Aronstein, AARP NY State Director. "Supportive services for respite care are essential to both caregivers, many of whom have other familial and work obligations, and their loved ones who are receiving care. This program will provide a holistic approach that will mean easier access to information and services needed to provide family members with the best care."
Work will begin in October to identify potential members for a NY Lifespan Respite advisory group from key respite stakeholders across age and disability groups, and from diverse backgrounds. Activities will include developing an inventory of current respite programs in New York, identifying current and needed training, raising public awareness of caregiver issues and the need for respite.
For more information about this project, contact Reza Mizbani or by calling 518-474-7181
