Thanks to a wealth of elder-focused policies and programs, there has never been a better time to age in place or care for an aging loved one in New York City.  However, these resources can only benefit families if they know how to access them.

In recognition of National Family Caregiver Month and the challenges of tracking down useful senior-focused city programs, SelectCare Home Care Services wishes to share an incredibly helpful resource with our community:  the NYC Caregiver website.

A Caregiver Clearinghouse

The NYC Caregiver website is maintained by the NYC Department for the Aging and serves as an entry point for caregivers and care recipients to access a variety of potentially life-changing services.

The website is designed to assist two groups of New Yorkers:

• Anyone caring for a physically frail or cognitively impaired older adult aged 60+
• Grandparents caring for a child aged 18 or younger

Through NYC Caregiver, New Yorkers can find quick tips to improve the quality of care they offer or receive, learn more about cost-saving government assistance programs, and find local resource centers that can offer further case management and assistance in building a sustainable plan of care.

Services Offered

While one-on-one case management can be found through local resource centers, NYC Caregiver offers a wealth of information for first-time visitors on a variety of important subjects:

• Legal Information provides New York-specific advice about Estate Planning, Powers of Attorney filing, Living Wills and Elder Law Attorneys
• Paying for Healthcare explains the nuances of various Medicare plans, as well as advice on Long Term Care Insurance and the EPIC (Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage) Program
• Managing Caregiver Challenges provides broad guidance for new caregivers who are unsure how to handle the more difficult aspects of family caregiving, such as bathing, dressing and agitation
• Self Care offers valuable advice for family caregivers struggling to balance their own needs with those of the person whom they assist, including links to support groups and stress management strategies

One-on-One Assistance

Even with these services just a few keystrokes away, it can still be challenging for new caregivers to know exactly what type of assistance will benefit their family most.  To that end, the Department for the Aging maintains an information and referral hotline at 212-442-1000 to answer questions specific to your needs, as well as a 16-point benefits check that can help determine what financial services may be available for your family.

SelectCare commends the City of New York for putting together this incredibly useful website and are proud to be a part of the elder care network that makes our city a better place to grow old with every passing day. Our staff of home health care experts has extensive experience locating community resources for our clients and advocating for their needs.

To learn more about how SelectCare helps New Yorkers safely age in place with dignity and independence, call us today.