News from New York State Office for the Aging

For more information contact: Reza Mizbani, 518-474-7181

Governor Paterson Proclaims November Family Caregivers’ Month in New York State

ALBANY, NY (11/05/2008; 1318)(readMedia)-- In a proclamation presented today to Michael J. Burgess, Director of the New York State Office for the Aging, Governor David A. Paterson proclaimed November as Caregivers' Month in New York State, and called on all New Yorkers to recognize the significant contributions made by caregivers throughout the year.

Unpaid caregivers provide care and assistance to those who need help to remain in their homes and communities of choice. The contributions they make to society, and most importantly to the loved ones for whom they care, are important to recognize throughout the year, but especially during Caregivers Month

Director Burgess has pledged to bring the voices of caregivers from across the State to Albany by convening a series of Town Hall Meetings on Caregiver Issues in several locations throughout New York. The Town Hall Meetings, several of which took place during the past year, are held in cooperation with the New York State Family Caregiver Council that his office oversees. The Town Hall Meetings give caregivers an opportunity to share their interests and needs with the Director and the Family Caregiver Council. The Council is responsible for developing policy and program recommendations to help caregivers.

In recognizing Caregivers' Month in New York, Director Burgess said, "In order to maintain and sustain the efforts of caregivers in New York, we must be sensitive to, and work to address needs of caregivers so that they can continue to provide the assistance they so much want to provide to their loved ones. We need to hear from caregivers about what they want and need in order to help them to sustain their role as caregivers."

Caregivers dedicate an average of 20 hours per week to the provision of care and even more time when caring for someone with multiple disabilities. Almost one-third of all caregivers are balancing work and caregiving responsibilities, making their efforts even more difficult to maintain.

It is estimated that there are more than 2.2 million unpaid caregivers in New York State and these caregivers provide the majority of long term care assistance to frail, older residents and adults with disabilities. Without the care provided by these dedicated caregivers, many older New Yorkers would likely be placed in an institutional setting or nursing home, sometimes miles away from their homes and family members. The financial effect of the care provided by caregivers is enormous. Without their care provided by unpaid caregivers, costly institutionalization may be the only option for those they care for. At an average cost of $9,000 per month, most individuals placed in nursing homes transfer to the government-financed Medicaid program.