Dear Governor Hochul,
As it stands, the FY25 Executive Budget is an ageist document - which we believe is not the intent of your office. We have a number of concerns that illustrate a clear lack of consideration for the millions of older adults in New York, and that fail to recognize the reality that we are aging as a state. Those concerns are:
Older New Yorkers were not meaningfully mentioned in the budget
18,000 services denied to New Yorkers due to lack of adequate funding
Program cuts and unfunded mandates will cost services providers millions of dollars: $9.3 million cut services; $2.5 million in cut LTCOP funding that was a legislative addition last year; $0 for the mandated rate increase to local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), leaving a $10 million shortfall that will necessitate local cuts to services.
The State has significant fiscal reserves and provided over $6 billion in additions to many service sectors. However, the current budget allocation for the New York State Office for the Aging is less than 0.8% of the total budget, significantly below what is required to meet the growing needs in our communities. Here is what an age-inclusive budget needs to include:
An immediate $51 million to address wait lists for the over 18,000 services denied to New Yorkers due to lack of adequate funding. In order to fully fund services promised in the existing system, the true need is $252.5 million.
Recognition of the value and importance of these programs - these programs both improve quality of life AND save Medicaid dollars. NYSOFA programs serve individuals that would qualify for skilled nursing or assisted living care, in homes and communities for less than $10,000 per year on average for 6.5 years.
On behalf of the almost 5 million older adults and 4 million caregivers – nearly half of the population – who call New York State home, we write with ongoing and urgent concern for the lack of funding for safety net aging service programs, funded through the NYS Office for Aging (NYSOFA). We implore you to show a fiscal commitment to the millions of older New Yorkers that deserve autonomy, dignity and independence.
Signed,
50 Forward Mohawk Valley
Action for Older Persons
Aftercare Nursing Services
AHI (Adirondack Health Institute)
Albany County Department for Aging
Allegany County Office for the Aging
Allen Community Senior Citizen Centers
APNA Brooklyn Community Center
Association on Aging in New York
Bay Ridge Center, Inc.
Benson Ridge Senior Services
Bronx House
Brooks Senior Center
Broome County Office for Aging
Caring Majority Rising
Carter Burden Network Inc.
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities Benson Ridge Senior Services
Catholic Charities Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens
Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services
Catskill Center for Independence
Cayuga County Office for the Aging
Cayuga County Office for the Aging Advisory Committee
CCBQ Glenwood Senior Center
CCNS Northside Senior Center
CCNS RIVERWAY OAC
CCNS The Lodge Older Adults Center
Chautauqua County Long Term Care Counsel
Chautauqua County Office for Aging Services
Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC)
Citymeals on Wheels
Clinton County Office for the Aging
Columbia County Offce for the Aging
Commonpoint Queens
COTHOA Luncheon Club Inc.
Dunkirk-Fredonia Meals on Wheels
ELMCOR YOUTH & ADULT ACTIVITIES INC
Encore Community Services
Essex County Government Center
Essex County Office for the Aging
Foodnet Meals on Wheels
Fulton County Office for Aging and Youth
Grand St. Settlement
Gray Panthers NYC
Greenwich House
Hamilton-Madison House
HANAC, Inc.
Heights and Hills
Henry Street Settlement
Herkimer County Office for the Aging/NY Connects
Herricks Senior Community Service center
Homecrest Community Services
Hope Senior Center, Inc.
Hospice and Palliative Care Association of New York State
India Home inc
JACOB A RIIS NNORC
Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement
JASA
Jefferson County Office for the Aging
Jewish Board Family Children Services
Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island
Joan and Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island
KCS
Laurel House Inc.
Lenox Hill Neighborhood House
Lewis County Office for the Aging and NY Connects
Life Enrichment Center
Life Story Club
Lifespan
LiveOn NY
Livingston County Office for the Aging
Meals on Wheels of Staten Island
Meals on Wheels of the Jamestown Area
Mill Brook Terrace Older Adult Center
Millennium Development
Montgomery County Office for Aging, Inc.
Morningside Retirement and Health Services
Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care
Narrows Older Adult Center/CCNS
Nascentia Health
Neighborhood SHOPP
New York State Alliance for Retired Americans
North Country Home Services
Northside OAC
Ontario County Office for the Aging
Orleans County Office for the Aging
Oswego County Office for the Aging
Otsego County Office for the Aging
Penn South Social Services, Inc.
Pierro, Connor & Strauss, LLC
Project FIND
Project Guardianship
Prospect hill senior service center
Putnam County Office for Senior Resources
Queens Community House
R.A.I.N. INC
Rensselaer County Department of Aging
Ridgewood Older Adult Center and Services,Inc.
Riverdale Senior Services
Riverstone Senior Life Services
Rochdale Village Social Services Inc.
SAGE
Schoharie County Office for the Aging
Schuyler County Office for the Aging
Search and Care
Selfhelp Community Services
Seneca County Office for the Aging
Senior Citizens of Westbury, Inc.
Senior Projects of Ravena
Seniors Helping Seniors(R)
Service Program for Older People (SPOP)
Services Now for Adult Persons, Inc
Sisters of Charity Housing Development Corporation
South Butler Golden Friends Senior Citizens
Spanish Speaking Elderly Council - RAICES
St. Charles Jubilee OAC
St. Lawrence County Office for the Aging
Star Older Adult Center
Steuben County Office for the Aging
Stonewall Community Development Corporation
Suffolk County Office for the Aging
Sullivan County Office for the Aging
Sunnyside Community Services
The Faatz-Crofut Home for the Elderly
Tompkins County Office for the Aging
Ulster Coutny Office for the Aging
Union Settlement
United Jewish Council of the East Side, Inc.
University Settlement Society of New York
Village of Ames NY
Warren/Hamilton Counties OFA
Washington Heights Community Services, INC
Wayne County Department of Aging and Youth
Wayne County Public Health
WCDAY
West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing
Wilkinson RHCF
Wilna-Champion Transportation Association, Inc.
Wyoming County Office for the Aging
YM & YWHA of the Bronx, Inc. (Riverdale Y)
YM & YWHA of Washington Heights and Inwood
Cc:
Kathryn Garcia
Priya Joshi
Stacy Lynch
Greg Olsen
Angela Profeta
Alyson Tarek
Blake Washington
NYS Senate Aging Chair Cordelle Cleare
NYS Assembly Aging Chair Ron Kim
Phil Fields
David Friedfel
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