When we talk about being “older,” specific numbers may come to mind. 50 might be the age at which your local diner offers a “senior citizen” discount. At age 55 or 60 you might be eligible for services through your area agency on aging. Or you may qualify to apply for a housing unit in a “senior living” or retirement community. You might think of 62 if you’re considering electing to get Social Security retirement ‘early.” 65 comes to mind because we’ll be called upon to make choices about Medicare.
We are all getting older every day, and our needs evolve over time. That’s why the “Master Plan for Aging” (MPA), and aging services in general, should be of concern to all of us.
In 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul ordered that a Master Plan “shall coordinate existing and new state policy and programs creating a blueprint of strategies to be implemented to ensure older New Yorkers can live fulfilling lives, in good health, with freedom, dignity and independence to age in place for as long as possible.” This process is being led by the State Department of Health in coordination with the State Office for the Aging, and the executive branch agencies are directed to be involved. The Master Plan on Aging Council is in the process of completing the “recommended” or draft final report and adoption of a final report is set for early 2025.
Numerous individual stakeholders and myriad organizations have been involved in MPA advisory councils, subcommittees, and workgroups for months. In AgingNY’s case, two staff members have spent approximately 12 hours per week since early 2023 attending official MPA meetings. AgingNY is committed to providing a high level of support because we believe there is value in creating a robust Plan that accurately reflects where the State’s priorities should be.
At the same time, we know that the Plan is not the end-all, be-all of aging in New York. In the time that the Plan is being created, the State government will have completed two, and likely three State budgets (FY24, FY25, and, if the Plan is not released until after the budget is completed next year, FY26). Every year our government decides whether and how much to spend on things like home-delivered meals and nutrition programs, healthy living and preventative health programs, homecare, caregiver support, transportation, elder abuse prevention, long term care oversight, independent living supports, legal services, and many other things that allow people with disabilities of all ages to live in the community. People who currently need any of these or other supports, or will need them in the next year, simply cannot wait for a completed Master Plan for Aging to be implemented. And what’s more, they cannot wait for a Master Plan for Aging if it does not demand budgetary investments far beyond what the State is currently spending.
Funding to support our long-term care services, specifically for hands-on care for those who need it, is a combination of Federal, State, and County funding that has not kept pace with the needs of our aging population. New York is currently fourth in the nation for population over the age of 60 at 4.6 million, with anticipated growth to 5.3 million in less than ten years. Additionally, 1 in 5 older residents live with a disability, and data shows that 70% of individuals over the age of 65 will need some form of long-term care services. Currently, we know that there are 18,000 people on a waitlist for a variety of aging services that area agencies on aging cannot provide. We also know from our friends in the Independent Living network that disabled people of all ages struggle to find accessible housing, accessible transportation, and homecare.
We are urging you to take action to let our state government know that we need to do more now. Contact your Assembly member or State Senator to ask for more funding for aging services. Fill out a ‘postcard’ with your AAA or older adult center to say that healthy aging programs are important to you. Visit ny.gov/form/sign-up-for-mpa-updates to sign up for MPA email updates and leave a comment. The Master Plan for Aging is for everyone. While we might eventually have a final draft Plan, we must advocate today to meet the needs of every aging New Yorker and caregiver.
If you or a loved one are aged 60 or older or are a caregiver and in need of services, please don’t hesitate to contact your local area agency on aging whose information you can find at aging.ny.gov.
Learn about us at agingny.org, and follow us at @AgingNY on X, and Aging New York on Facebook and Instagram.
Opinions expressed are solely those of the writer(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Able News at The Viscardi Center and/or The Viscardi Center.