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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced last week that a historic $15 million investment and groundbreaking policy changes are included in the FY 2020 Enacted Budget to address local unmet needs for community-based services for older New Yorkers. The funding will enable older New Yorkers to remain living independently in their homes and communities of choice and support the nation's first policies to increase access to aging network services for middle income families.

"Every New Yorker - no matter their age - deserves the best shot at a healthy and happy life, and we doubled down on that commitment in this year's budget," Cuomo said. "This funding will support critical services like home delivered meals and case management that will have a tremendous impact on both older adults and caregivers, and continue to position New York as a leader supporting older adults live independent and engaged lives in their communities."

The budget significantly invests in New York State Office for the Aging's aging network services, which will help older adults remain independent, support family and friends in their caregiving roles, and delay future Medicaid costs by intervening with less intensive services earlier. Highlights include:

• $15 million recurring investment targeted to counties that report local unmet needs such as personal care, home delivered meals, case management, home modifications and other services. This targeted investment will immediately help serve thousands of at-risk older adults who have been assessed and are in need of services
• Authorizing NYSOFA to develop a private pay market to increase the ability of the aging services network to serve more individuals of all income levels and to ensure consumers can access a professional, objective network of providers whose only goal is to help older adults remain independent
• Increasing the state's commitment to the NY Connects system reform, providing additional resources to county offices for the aging and independent living center partners to help individuals of all ages access long-term services and supports
• Providing funding to expand statewide efforts to provide evidence-based interventions to address the devastating impact of chronic conditions, such as chronic disease self-management, diabetes self-management, and fall prevention programs, among others
• Providing resources to further invest in the training, education, and state certification of aging network staff to assure that New York's network of aging services professionals has the most up-to-date knowledge and skills

Heastie said, "The Assembly Majority is committed to protecting the health, safety and independence of older New Yorkers. Our aging population is an integral part of our communities and has helped shape the neighborhoods in which they live. This budget addresses many unmet needs and ensures that older adults and their caregivers have access to the supportive services they need to age with dignity."

NYSOFA promotes and administers programs and services for New Yorkers 60 years of age and older. It provides leadership and direction to an integrated, coordinated network of 59 county-based area agencies on aging and more than 1,200 public and private organizations that serve and help empower older adults and their families. NYSOFA and its partners served almost 700,000 older adults last year.

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