Caregiver Resource Centers

Section 206 of the NYS Elder Law, Article II, Title I established the Caregiver Assistance Program within the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA). Under this program, NYSOFA is authorized to establish training and assistance programs for caregivers for people who are frail or have a disability. Since its inception in the late 1980’s, New York State has provided funding annually to 17 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) for local Caregiver Resource Centers (CRCs) to provide caregivers with information, assistance and counseling, support groups, and training, as well as initiatives including specialized training curricula for caregivers of adults with developmental disabilities, minority populations, and caregivers of grandchildren. 

With the advent of the federal Title III-E funded National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) in 2001, AAAs that receive CRC funds have coordinated their CRC programs with their NFCSP programs so that, from the caregiver perspective, there is a program consisting of a coordinated array of services that are comprehensive, complementary, and supplemental in nature.

CRCs are located in the following counties: Broome, Cattaraugus, Clinton, Cortland, Fulton, Genesee, Madison, Monroe, Nassau, Onondaga, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Steuben, Sullivan, Tompkins, and Westchester.

• To provide a single focal point of assistance to family members and other informal caregivers
• To provide training, support groups, counseling, and technical assistance to caregivers so they may continue in their caregiving roles
• To link caregivers with AAA and other community-based services

Family and other informal caregivers of frail and/or older individuals who have a disability.

Section 206 of the NYS Elder Law, Article II, Title I

NYSOFA holds monthly conference calls with AAA Caregiver Coordinators and others.