As a new year begins, it is a good time to evaluate our priorities and re-state our focus for the coming year. We are facing difficult economic times that bring new challenges for maintaining services in all state agencies. While our budget proposal for the next fiscal year is yet to be finalized, 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 in our state. This is the core of our mission and should be a part of our everyday work throughout the entire aging network.
Specifically, we strive to work to help older persons maintain their independence with dignity. Should older residents need to receive care in a residential health care facility, we work to protect their safety and their rights. I want to particularly applaud the efforts of the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program in the past year as it has been aggressive in assisting the bankruptcy courts to insure 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.
The work of maintaining independence and improving the quality of life is being carried out across the state through a variety of aging network programs such as our meal programs, EISEP, caregiver assistance programs, respite and adult day services, as well as transportation and economic security programs such as EPIC, HEAP, weatherization, and the supporting work of HIICAP counselors and our state wide Senior Citizens Help Line. The NY Connects program is helping older persons and families obtain and use information about options and services which will allow older persons to remain living independently in their homes and communities of choice.
It is important to also acknowledge the great work of all of the staff and volunteers across the state who provide these services or assist in the day to day operation of these programs. We 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 baby boomers entering their retirement years the importance of providing stimulating and meaningful opportunities for them to be civically engaged is a challenge that our network can meet.
I believe it is important to restate all of this as we begin the new year because it is important to recognize that the ongoing work of the aging network has always been about maintaining independence and dignity. The service providers that work alongside and with the offices for the aging are doing this every day. At the state level it is our role to support our local partners and strengthen them as much as we can through our efforts as well as by helping them to identify and access additional funding and resources.
With this perspective, the initiatives that we often discuss regarding Civic Engagement, Health Care Consumer Navigator, Community Empowerment and Livable Communities are meant as new approaches to further improve care transitions and local collaborations that will ultimately improve the quality of life even more for older residents and persons of all ages. So, as the New Year begins, we continue our priorities to:
- allow older persons to have greater options for non-medical care at home by adopting regulations to implement consumer direction in the EISEP program to give older persons more options for how to access services; we will continue to educate, train and support caregivers so that they can maintain independent living for friends and family members.
- reduce hospital re-admission rates by developing, with local providers, a Health Consumer Navigator Program using older volunteers; we will provide training and help local agencies access funding to operate this program to provide better care transitions and use older persons as volunteers.
- encourage every county and community to develop a livable community plan that incorporates the needs of an aging population; continue to collaborate 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 to develop new coalitions and services which would provide a greater quality of life by enhancing independent living; active older volunteers have a right of self determination and should play an active part in prioritizing local needs and initiatives to address them.
- improve the health status and increase the lifespan of older persons by promoting health and wellness through greater public health efforts including outreach for Medicare provided screenings and promoting evidence based programs which have proven to be successful; we will work with the Department of Health and its Healthy Communities initiative to attack diseases and educate the public about falls prevention programs; we know that successful efforts to reduce smoking and heart disease and early cancer screenings have led to increased longevity.
- promote the economic security of older adults in this time of economic difficulty by continuing to assist individuals with direct benefits and provide information and assistance to help older persons access available benefits. The bottom line is always providing direct services for those in need; we will step up our 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 and we 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.
Mike Burgess
1/6/10
