NY.gov Portal State Agency Listing
New York State Banner
 



Find out about Empowering Communities
View Empowering
Communities Information

 



Testimony of
Michael J. Burgess, Director
New York State Office for the Aging


Conducted By
Senate Finance Committee
Assembly Ways & Means Committee
Joint Legislative Public Hearings on
2010-2011 Executive Budget Proposal
Human Services


Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Hearing Room C
Legislative Office Building
Empire State Plaza
Albany, New York

Director's Testimony in PDF format

Good Afternoon Senator Kruger, Senator Krueger, Assemblyman Farrell, the esteemed Chairs of the Legislative Aging Committees, Reverend Diaz and Mr. Dinowitz, distinguished members of the Senate and Assembly. My name is Michael Burgess and I am honored to serve Governor Paterson and the people of New York State as Director of the State Office for the Aging.

I am pleased to join my colleagues from sister agencies with which we work closely on joint initiatives such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), NY Connects, grandparent programs, adult protective services, and workforce issues as we serve older persons and their families.

These are difficult economic times across the country and here in New York State. Older New Yorkers, their families and their caregivers are feeling the impact of the economic downturn, as it affects their income (since this year there is no federal cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security recipients), their investments, and their standard of living. The impact on standard of living is particularly problematic for those who are already living close to poverty levels; many older New Yorkers rely on the services funded through the state, federal and local budgets for assistance with food, shelter, and tasks of daily living.

Counties continue to report escalating costs and diminishing revenue while needs are growing, in part due to the State’s changing demographics. From 2000 to 2015, all but four counties in New York will experience increases in the proportion of their residents who are over age sixty-five. Governor Paterson’s budget ensures that the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) will be able to preserve the local infrastructure of the service network for older adults and the home and community-based services they and their families need to support independent living. This is a network that has been very successful in leveraging local dollars, including significant contributions from the program participants themselves. The network of Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and community-based service providers is the first line of support when an older adult needs assistance following an illness or hospitalization. The network has proven to support, in a very cost-effective way, older adults living independently in their community of choice, while at the same time supporting non-paid, informal caregivers.

For more than forty years, NYSOFA has administered community service initiatives funded through the federal Older Americans Act. For over twenty years, NYSOFA has administered state-funded programs such as the Expanded In-home Services for the Elderly Program (EISEP) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). These general service programs are coordinated through fifty-nine local area agencies on aging and are the cornerstone of NYSOFA’s mission as a State Unit on Aging: creating cost-effective, comprehensive, person-centered services and essential supports for older New Yorkers.

New York is facing difficult economic times, which bring new challenges for maintaining services in all state agencies and opportunities for innovation. Our network has seized on the opportunities to be creative. Here are two examples that relate to the provision of meals and transportation:

There are certainly difficult decisions that must be made by state policymakers when facing a deficit of more than $8 billion for state fiscal year 2010-11. This is a budget of necessity, not of choice. Governor Paterson’s strong support for older New Yorkers and their families is reflected in the proposed budget; despite the projected deficit, community-based support services funded through NYSOFA have remained strong.

This budget proposal reflects Governor Paterson’s commitment to preserving core services and maintaining supportive services such as NORCs, caregiver supports and adult social day services. This budget proposal preserves the network of providers that serve older New Yorkers. It also enables NYSOFA’s continuing work to prevent and postpone institutionalization for long term care needs, and to enhance the quality of life for older community residents.

The Governor’s budget will allow the agency to continue to support the independence of older New Yorkers. It is important for all those involved with the aging network in our state to continue to work collaboratively with local agencies and the nonprofit sector in our common effort to improve the quality of life for older adults. The service providers that work with the offices for the aging are doing this every day. At the state level, it is NYSOFA’s role to support local partners and strengthen them as much as possible, while providing technical assistance and identifying grants and other alternative funding sources for new initiatives.

Across the state, many programs are available that maintain older adults’ independence and improve their quality of life. These include meals programs; the Expanded In-home Services for the Elderly Program; caregiver, respite and adult day services; transportation services; and economic security programs such as the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) program and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Access to objective information through resources such as the Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) and the state-wide Senior Citizens Help Line has helped hundreds of thousands of people. The NY Connects program is also helping older adults, people of all ages with disabilities and their families obtain and use information about long term care options and services.

The State Office for the Aging’s work to enhance the quality of life for older community residents is a combined responsibility of state, federal and local funding sources, as well as the many supportive philanthropies, agencies and individuals that contribute to supplement local services. For many years, federal funding for our agency’s core services was relatively flat, but with the investment of ARRA funds in meals (totaling $6,191,164) and in the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) (totaling $7,698,772), NYSOFA has been able to weather the recent economic storm. I am pleased to note that President Obama has included an increase in his proposed budget for senior meals programs and other services such as transportation and adult day care, and the President has a new initiative to support family caregivers. New York State would expect to receive an additional $6-7 million as a result of these federal budget proposals, if enacted.

SFY10-11 Executive Budget – NYSOFA Services
Specifically:

  1. Funding requested in the 2010-11 Executive Budget for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Community Services for the Elderly (CSE) and Expanded In-home Services for the Elderly Program (EISEP) remains at $82.7 million.
  2. The cost-of-living (COLA) appropriation for SNAP, CSE and EISEP remains at the same amount as for FY09-10, continuing to be funded at $14.7 million.
  3. The Congregate Services Initiative (CSI) is proposed to be eliminated, as was the Hospital Patient Rights Hotline and Advocacy Project. The State Office for the Aging recognizes the importance of congregate services as part of the Aging Services Network. Funding will continue to go to these settings through their meal programs, CSE and other initiatives.
  4. The remainder of NYSOFA's Local Assistance budget remains intact, with no reductions for the following programs:
  5. In addition, funding for NY Connects (included in the Department of Health's budget) is continued at the same level as appropriated in FY09-10.

Recognizing the Contributions of Volunteers
One of the reasons for the success of the AAAs and aging services provider network is the corps of highly valued yet often under-recognized volunteers. The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program volunteers work to protect the safety and the rights of older residents who receive care in residential health care facilities. I want to particularly applaud the efforts of LTCOP in the past year as it has been aggressive in assisting the bankruptcy courts to ensure that nursing home insolvency does not compromise the quality of care provided in financially troubled homes. We must not compromise on the importance of providing quality care in a dignified manner, regardless of circumstances.

It is important to also acknowledge the great work of all of the staff and volunteers across the state that provide services or assist in the day-to-day operation of programs. The Office for the Aging can plan and design programs, but without the dedication of caring staff and volunteers many people would not have the ease of access to those services.

Volunteer opportunities through RSVP and the Foster Grandparents Program provide meaningful and healthy activities for older persons to continue to help their families, neighborhoods and communities. Given the increasing numbers of baby boomers entering their retirement years, it is important that stimulating and meaningful opportunities to be civically engaged are available to older adults.

NYSOFA Mission
The mission of the New York State Office for the Aging is to help older New Yorkers to live independently for as long as possible through advocacy, development and delivery of person-centered, consumer-oriented, and cost-effective policies, programs, and services which support and empower the elderly and their families. This is done in partnership with the network of public and private organizations which serve them. This mission is implemented through an initiative called New York @ Home. It is a strategy which combines efforts to promote economic security, provide home and community-based care, support caregivers, enhance healthy aging and empower communities. Together, these initiatives will help create a more livable New York for older persons.

Priorities
With this new budget, the agency will continue to implement the NewYork@Home strategy and pursue its priorities to:

  1. ALLOW OLDER PERSONS TO HAVE GREATER OPTIONS FOR NON-MEDICAL CARE AT HOME by changing EISEP regulations, expanding person-centered services through federal grants; and continuing to educate, train and support caregivers so that they can maintain independent living for friends and family members.
    EISEP
    In 2009, NYSOFA began amending EISEP regulations to give AAAs increased flexibility in administering EISEP so they can more effectively spend program funding in a manner that better addresses the needs of clients. The proposed revisions expand the definition of ancillary services and increase their potential use, as well as increase the maximum housing adjustment to a level that takes into account current housing costs for purposes of calculating client cost share. Additionally, NYSOFA is working with a large cadre of stakeholders to draft regulations to allow consumer direction in the EISEP program, giving older persons more options for how to access services, which are especially needed in rural areas where direct service workers are in short supply.
    NY Connects
    • Established in 2006 and now operates in 54 counties (Non-participants include Seneca, Oswego, and Madison counties and the City of New York).
    • Since July 2007, there have been over 300,000 contacts made to the NY Connects program. The majority of these contacts were from individuals needing home and community-based services.
    • Received over ninety percent customer satisfaction rating of local NY Connects staff and overall benefit of program to the community.
    • Through local Long Term Care Councils, counties are engaged in a multitude of various reform activities such as:
      • designing strategies to offer low-cost transportation and affordable and accessible housing;
      • streamlining access to public programs;
      • working with hospital discharge staff to improve safe transitions to the community;
      • streamlining service delivery via co-location of cross agency staff;
      • sharing electronic data among providers/programs; and
      • finding solutions to address workforce shortages.

    Federal Funding: NY Connects has enabled successful receipt of federal grant awards. The Nursing Home Diversion Modernization and Community Living Program grants are designed to promote the enhancement of home and community-based services so that unnecessary and costly nursing home placements can be avoided by utilizing state and federal dollars more flexibly. Through these grants, NYSOFA is evaluating how to implement consumer direction and give participants the training and tools to successfully direct their own care. The Aging and Disability Resource grant is also designed to enhance NY Connects functions and develop person-centered discharge planning, a community supports navigator program to prevent expensive re-hospitalizations, and options counseling.

    Caregiving:
    Caregivers are spouses, family, friends and neighbors who provide care and support to a loved one. Caregivers are critical in helping persons of all ages with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses remain independent. Some caregivers live with the person needing care, but many do not. Some are providing care to grandchildren or other young relatives.
    • A recent study of New York’s aging services network caregiver support programs found that individuals receiving care from caregivers are more likely to be female (64 percent) and a majority (85 percent) of them are age 75 or older. Many of the individuals receiving care or support from a caregiver has significant health needs, with the most prevalent health condition being Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia. A majority (85 percent) have one or more impairments.
    • Caregivers provide eighty percent of all long-term care in New York State. The care and assistance these caregivers provide includes assisting in specific tasks, such as: transportation, financial management, arranging for care or services, housekeeping, home repairs, and assistance with activities of daily living. Absent their commitment to provide this care, New York taxpayers would be contributing millions more in funding to support frail individuals in settings such as nursing homes. Caregiver support programs such as respite, individual counseling, support groups, information and assistance in accessing services, and supplemental services like personal emergency response systems (PERS) have shown to be the difference between someone remaining in their homes or going to a nursing home due to caregiver stress and burnout. In fact, 52 percent of caregivers surveyed responded that they could not continue caregiving without such support. Supporting caregivers will continue to be very important as the population ages.
    • For more information on caregiving go to the NYSOFA website - where you will find three reports related to caregiving that were released in November 2009.

  2. PROMOTE THE ECONOMIC SECURITY OF OLDER ADULTS IN THIS TIME OF ECONOMIC DIFFICULTY by assisting individuals with direct benefits and providing information and assistance to help older persons access available benefits. The State Office for the Aging’s priority is to reach those in need; it will continue to enhance outreach efforts regarding benefits and services available through Older Americans Act programs as well as other economic security programs available to the general public. Many older persons are working longer or are looking for work for additional income. The State Office for the Aging will continue to support efforts to promote the value of employment of older persons and emphasize their economic value and contribution to the State of New York as workers and volunteers.
    Benefits Assistance
    • Health Insurance Counseling - NYSOFA’s Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP), has almost 500 volunteers who help Medicare beneficiaries with their health insurance plans, Medicare Part D drug insurance, Medigap policies, Medicare Advantage plans and EPIC benefits. In 2009, nearly 116,000 beneficiaries were counseled through State and local HIICAP programs. In addition to this, the HIICAP counseling network assisted many of the State’s 17,500 beneficiaries who were terminated by their private Medicare health plan. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) gave New York State the second highest performance award in the U.S. In 2009, 32,000 calls were placed to the HIICAP hotline. This represents approximately 4,000 more calls than in 2008.
    • Last year’s energy crisis disproportionately affected people on fixed incomes. NYSOFA conducted several activities to help these individuals and families better meet their energy obligations including mailing relevant program applications early to older adult households, creating and distributing publications such as the “Save and Heat Checklist” (a comprehensive list of energy resources available for older adults) and “Saving Energy at Home: 101 Tips” (consisting of energy saving tips for the home). In addition to this, NYSOFA worked with the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) and the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) to develop criteria for weatherization referrals in order to identify people on Weatherization Referral and Packaging Program waiting lists who are most in need of help.
    • The NYSOFA state-wide helpline fielded over 17,000 calls for assistance. Many calls fell within the areas of HIICAP/health insurance related, economic security (general concerns), ombudsman program or other nursing home/adult home issues, HEAP/WRAP, Area Agencies on Aging/NY Connects, and EISEP.


    Workforce and Volunteer Recruitment
    • New York State’s Senior Community Service Employment Program helps older unemployed adults receive training for new work opportunities and be placed in subsidized employment for time-limited periods. In 2009, New York placed 1,068 older adults in subsidized paid employment. Additional funding received through ARRA in 2009 has enabled another 190 low income adults to participate in the program.
    • NYSOFA exceeded United States Department of Labor (USDOL) performance measures for the past two years, which resulted in USDOL awarding NYSOFA funding to serve an additional 200 people in 2010.
    • Through the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices Policy Academy on Civic Engagement: Engaging Seniors in Volunteering and Employment, NYSOFA has worked to stimulate discussions and actions to improve the number of volunteers in New York and address mature worker issues. This work includes:
    • A partnership with the NYS Department of Labor (DOL) to enhance the interactions between the agencies to further workforce opportunities for older New Yorkers by:
      • Creating linkages between agency web sites to provide information and assistance to older workers seeking employment and guidance and enhancing access to the SCSEP.
      • Presenting to the DOL regional office directors the National Governors Association Civic Engagement Agenda and older worker efforts.
      • Organizing an educational older worker webinar with the one-stop centers and the Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs).
      • Facilitating an introduction via DOL to the associations of employment training providers.
      • Collaborating on input for USDOL on the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act related to older workers.
    • Engaging with the NYS Association of Community College Presidents to create a taskforce on older adult students to discuss strategies for advancing lifelong learning.
    • Arranging for RSVP volunteers to attend pre-retirement planning sessions organized by the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations to speak with state employees who are eligible to retire about the benefits of remaining civically engaged during their retirement years.
    • Supporting the work of the NYS Office on National and Community Services (ONCS) by assisting its efforts to host the Corporation on National and Community Service’s annual conference that will be in New York City this summer, assisting in developing a volunteer marketing recruitment campaign, and working to promote access to the ONCS website by senior volunteers seeking to locate a service opportunity in their community.
    • Conducting a statewide survey of organizations that use volunteers regarding their recruitment, retention, and management practices to create policy recommendations that encourage the development of service opportunities and use of good practices.
  3. IMPROVE THE HEALTH STATUS AND INCREASE THE LIFESPAN OF OLDER PERSONS BY PROMOTING HEALTH AND WELLNESS through evidence-based health promotion, disease prevention programs, and outreach to increase the utilization of Medicare covered screenings.
    • NYSOFA has continued to be a national leader in helping older New Yorkers increase their use of Medicare preventive benefits and tests through the Senior Health Check Up initiative.
    • With support from an Administration on Aging grant, NYSOFA has invested in evidence-based interventions, particularly the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP). This program is a two hour per week, six week training for older adults with one or more chronic diseases. It coaches them to eat more nutritiously, be physically active, interact more fully with their health care providers and manage their chronic diseases. The program is effective in reducing hospital and medication use, and improving quality of life. In the past two years more than 1,600 people have participated in the CDSMP.
    • Efforts to reduce smoking, obesity and heart disease and increase early cancer screenings have led to increased longevity, regardless of the age of intervention. Since these initiatives benefit New Yorkers across the lifespan, including older generations, NYSOFA will work with the Department of Health and community partners on prevention and wellness activities. Additionally, we will work with the Department of Health and its Healthy Communities initiative to identify and promote better management of diseases and other programs.
  4. REDUCE HOSPITAL RE-ADMISSION RATES by developing a volunteer program with local providers to improve care transitions.
    • NYSOFA has spearheaded a collaboration with stakeholders including the Senior Corps, other volunteer programs, hospitals, and area agencies on aging to develop and implement a community support navigator program using trained volunteers who support older adults at risk for re-admission to hospitals throughout the state.
    • This effort is supported by a national Aging and Disability Resource Center grant that NYSOFA received in 2009 and will be implemented in Tompkins and Albany counties.
  5. ENCOURAGE EVERY COUNTY AND COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP A LIVABLE COMMUNITY PLAN that incorporates the needs of an aging population by collaborating with local and state partners to provide technical assistance to community organizations seeking to assess the infrastructure of their communities in housing, transportation, and service delivery; and developing new coalitions and services to provide a greater quality of life by enhancing independent living. A key to this work is involving older volunteers, respecting their rights to self-determination, and encouraging their participation in prioritizing local needs and initiatives to address them.
    NYSOFA’s work will complement President Obama’s creation of a new Office of Livable Communities that will coordinate federal interagency efforts.
    Since the November 2008 Community Empowerment Conference NYSOFA has:
    • Awarded fifteen Community Empowerment grants for planning and implementation efforts. In addition to receiving technical assistance provided for being grantee recipients, grantees are also included in larger regional community empowerment conference calls and communications. Governor Paterson has proposed continued funding for this initiative in FY10-11.
    • Advanced the Livable New York initiative which has brought together state agencies, private entities, consumers, advocacy organizations, planners, local zoners, county and local officials and builders to develop a comprehensive technical resource manual that will be made available to all communities to help them in their local planning efforts. The manual will include housing, zoning, planning/land use, green building, energy and universal design.
    • Worked with the Governor’s Smart Growth Cabinet to better integrate smart growth and livable community principles and partnerships.
    • Created a database of more than 300 community empowerment leaders and liaisons statewide who are interested in ongoing communication, sharing resources and technical assistance on community empowerment and livable community issues, and launched a listserv for ongoing exchanges of information and ideas.
    • Held regional informational and technical assistance conference calls in February 2009 and September 2009.
    • Created Community Empowerment pages on the NYSOFA website where best practices, regional happenings, and tools for advancing community empowerment efforts in communities across New York State can be found.

In Closing
New Yorkers have shown their strength in these difficult times and have come together to help solve their own problems and work toward utilizing their resources more effectively. These opportunities have generated many successes. Despite the poor economic conditions, there is a strong desire for government and non-government agencies and individuals to work more closely together to support aging in the community, the development of livable communities where people of all ages and abilities can thrive, and making New York State a retirement destination.

Thank you - and at this time I will be glad to address any questions the committees may wish to pose.



Download Microsoft Word doc and docx viewer

Download Adobe Acrobat Reader to view our pdf documents Link to download Abobe Reader