NYSARA and its partners had a press conference and follow up legislator meetings on Tuesday February 11. NYSARA and its partners LiveOn NY, Lifespan, AARP, Association on Aging in New York, Statewide Senior Action Network and many other aging advocacy organizations rallied on the 4th floor of the NYS Capital for senior fairness.
The fact is that:
- seniors pay $72 billion per year in State and Local taxes (41% of state and local taxes)
- Older New Yorkers contribute $719 billion (43 percent) to the states GDP;
- Their spending supports almost 6 million jobs.
- They generate $482 billion in wages and salary,
- More than 4.1 million New Yorkers provide uncompensated care to someone else, most of which are older adults caring for older adults, with an economic value if paid for at the market rate of $39 billion.
- People over 60 are currently almost 25% of NYS population
With all the contributions that seniors make it is unfair that the NYS Office for the Aging’s budget is only .08% of the NYS budget NYSOFA provides services to seniors that allow them to survive and age at home in dignity. Meanwhile seniors fall short in affordable housing and services that enable them to age at home with dignity. These critical services have significant waiting lists to receive these services.
The Age Strong coalition is asking for Seniors to be a priority in New York State. Priorities are proven by fiscal commitment to older adults. The Governor provided $45 million to end service wait lists for community based aging services to ensure that older adults receive timely, essential care. The Age Strong Coalition is asking for an additional $44 million added to the proposed NYS budget for:
- $2 million to create a Resident Assistant Program in Affordable Senior Housing that ensures older adults can age safely with access to light touch, non medical services.
- $875,000 to fund elder abuse programs
- $15 million too support guardianship reform through Statewide initiatives of Non Profit guardians to insure that all New Yorkers who need a surrogate decision maker have access to qualified person centered care.
- $3 million investment in the Managed Care Consumer Assistance Program (MCCAP). This program assists the enrollment of New Yorkers into Medicare cost saving programs, reducing annual health care expenses by $7,300 per person saving New Yorkers an additional $7 million next year. The patients rights Hotline with $500,000 in new funding, will assist more patients statewide in asserting their health care rights. $1.5 million for legal services for the elderly will empower community agencies to provide free legal aid for housing, medical debt, credit and other pressing issues, ensuring older adults age with dignity and security.
- $12.5 million to increase the Long Term Care Ombudsman (LTCOP) Program to address the complaints of residents of long term care facilities. The program is severely underfunded. The program needs more professional staff to conduct weekly visits so all facilities can have regular ombudsman presence leading to improved quality of care.
It is CRITICAL that all NYSARA members contact their State Assembly member and State Senator by letter, e-mail, phone or in person to emphasize the Age Strong Message and that New York’s Seniors are important. Additionally we should lobby for tier 6 reform, maintenance of health benefits for retirees, increasing compensation for caregivers and safe staffing enforcement at hospitals and nursing homes.
If you would like to see a video of the Age Strong press conference where NYSARA President Barry Kaufmann is front and center go to our website at www.nystate.retiredamericans.org.
