2018 Regional Caregiver Forums and Listening Sessions

Prepared by the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA)

In spring 2018, NYSOFA, AgingNY, New York State Caregiving and Respite Coalition (NYSCRC), and the New York State Kinship Navigator partnered to facilitate five regional caregiver forums.  The purpose of the regional forums was to engage the general public, staff who administer and/or provide caregiving and NY Connects services, and those in the New York State KinCare Coalition to better understand what current caregiver and respite supports and services are available statewide. These events also provided a venue to discuss strategies about ways services could be expanded and enhanced through innovative ideas and strong partnerships across age and disability groups. The findings of the forums were organized around the challenges caregivers face each day to address the needs of a loved one, and were used to help inform discussions by policymakers brought together by the Governor on how best to improve the long-term care services and supports system in NY.