Issue #3 - May 2022

Message from NYSOFA Director Greg Olsen

The newly enacted state budget continues New York's progress supporting older adults and their families. I thank Governor Hochul for advancing this agenda, and the Legislature for embracing it, including:

Historic investments in core programs delivered by the state’s 59 Area Agencies on Aging and 1,200 community partners.
Funds for NYSOFA to pioneer and sustain important innovations that help caregivers, provide tools for independence, and combat social isolation.
The Governor’s Master Plan for Aging – a next, important stage of our collaborative work to make New York the best place to grow up and grow old in.

Please read our full analysis of the budget today to learn what it means for the work of aging services providers, for older adults, and their families. Please also be on the lookout for further information in our rollout of key initiatives supported in the budget.

Sincerely,
Greg Olsen
Director
New York State Office for the Aging 

May is Older Americans Month - a great time to celebrate the civic contributions of older New Yorkers!

Becky Preve is an experienced human services professional. As the current Executive Director of the Association on Aging in New York, she’s got her finger on the pulse of the aging services network across the state. Watch this YouTube video and discover what the Association is working on, and read this installment of Five Questions to learn more about her team, and what’s planned for the Aging Concerns Unite Us Conference on June 7 and 8 in Albany. Visit the Association on Aging in New York online.

Read 5 Questions with Becky Preve

Health Disparities in Aging: A Four-Part Learning Series

Health is more than just sickness or its absence. Health equity is more than just a difference in outcomes. These ideas – and how you address them in your practice – all have direct implications for the health and wellbeing of older adults.

NYSOFA and partners are offering a new series of mini-modules providing knowledge and concrete strategies to address health disparities and meet the needs of the diverse older adults in your community. It is designed for all aging services providers and their staff. Please take the courses today – and share them with your staff and peers.

SNAP-Ed New York and NYSOFA are proud to announce the second season of the groundbreaking cooking demo series “What’s Cooking at NYSOFA.” Registered dietitian and host Wendy Beckman talk about how you can Save Time, Save Money AND Eat Healthy! This video takes you behind the scenes at the first episode of our new season, which premieres Friday, May 27 on NYSOFA’s social media.

Level up your team's communication skills with these free webinars from NYSOFA's communications team!

Social Media Content Planning Made Easy(ier) - April 27, 1pm - RSVP
LinkedIn 101 for the Aging Services Professional - May 24, 2pm - RSVP

The Aging Concerns Unite Us conference is New York’s premier professional development conference for aging service professionals. More than 480 people attended in 2021. The aging services industry looks to this conference for learning on a broad range of subjects: innovative programs, best practices and policies to support healthy living for aging New Yorkers. If you work in aging services in NY and want to expand your horizons and network, YOU should consider attending ACUU!

There are an estimated 4.1 million caregivers in New York State who provide 2.68 billion hours of unpaid care. Sixty-one percent worry about caring for a loved one. Seventy percent reported at least one mental health symptom during the pandemic. These are just a few of the startling statistics on caregiver burden. You can be a part of the solution.

The newly enacted state budget includes NYSOFA funding to help your clients and their families suffering from these stresses using Trualta, a caregiver training and support platform that will be accessible free of charge to all caregivers in New York State.

Join NYSOFA, the Association on Aging in New York and Trualta representatives for a Zoom presentation on May 25 at 11 a.m. to learn more about providing this service to help caregivers in your community.

Coming Up...

Join the conversation during NYSOFA's Facebook Live events! Please consider sharing these events in your circles of influence.

April 27, 1pm: Social Media Content Planning Made Easy(ier)
April 29, 12:30pm: What's Cooking with Wendy! Garden Stir Fry with Tofu
May 12, 1pm: Live with Greg: M ental Health Month
May 13, 1pm: Ask the Experts: Step It Up for National Walking Month
May 24, 2pm: LinkedIn 101: For Aging Services Professionals
May 26, 1pm: Live with Greg: The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
May 27, 12:30pm: W hat's Cooking at NYSOFA: Herbed Potato Salad

Learn More About NYSOFA Events

In Case You Missed It:

ACL Features NYSOFA in Q&A on Pandemic Innovations, Partnerships

NYSOFA Director Greg Olsen was featured in a Q&A article with the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL) on "Lessons from the Network: How New York’s Aging Network Used Innovation and Partnerships to Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic."

In the Q&A, Olsen discusses how NYSOFA has been responding to the many challenges created by the pandemic, the important role of partnerships, innovative programs to combat social isolation, efforts to increase vaccine and testing access, and the future of aging services in New York.

NYSADSA Seeks Input

The New York State Adult Day Services Association (NYSADSA) is seeking assistance from Social Adult Day Services (SADS) programs, Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), and their network partners on an important program survey that will inform future policy supports. Learn more.

We'd like to extend a hearty welcome to Krista Harbacz who has joined NYSOFA's executive division.

Thanks for sticking it out until the end! If you found this content valuable, please share with your coworkers and colleagues in the aging services network!