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Image provided by: Suffolk Cooperative Library System
Hearings on how to care for state's caregivers Englebright, chair of Assembly” Standmg Committee on Aging hears testimony BY LEE LUTZ According to Assemblyman Steve Englebright (D-Setauket). \New York's unsung heroes in terms of providing care to our older population are caregivers who currently provide over 80 percent of all long-term care services in this country.\ The caregivers Englebright was refer- nng to are the \spouses friends and neighbors\ providing care, usually in- home. for senior family members and friends and the occasion for the statement was the first of a series of hearings to be held across the state regarding possible legislative remedies to a potential crisis. \Caregivers are continually the most neglected group in the health and long- term care system,\ Englebright said. adding the \typical caregiver is a 47-year- old woman, college-educated, who works full-time and prowdes over 20 hours of care each week.\ According to Englebright, \In New York there are estimated to be 1.7 million caregivers representing over 760,000 households that provide care estimated to save New York's health care system over $11 billion per year.\ Englebright chairs the Assembly Standing Committee on Aging. Joining him later at the hearing, held at the Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook, were assembly- women Ginny Fields (D-Oakdale) and Pat Eddington (D-Medford). Among the list of problems often encountered by caregivers, Englebright listed emotional stress and mental health issues, expenses and lost wages, the likeli- hood that they would forego promotions The Gilt of Arta Photo by Lee Lutz Assembly members Ginny Fields and Steve Englebright, Englebright's Albany Legislative Director Greg Olsen and Assemblywoman Pat Eddington listen to testimony at the Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook. or transfers that would otherwise improve their financial condition, and physical problems such as depression, anxiety and insomnia. Some who addressed the hearing spoke from first-hand expenence. \I cared for my father-in-law for 10 years,\ said Margaret Posteraro, the senior ciuzen service coordinator for Nassau County. \He passed away two months ago at 92.\ Posteraro said that services and benefits provided to caregivers will bene- fit their loved ones as well. Underscoring the cost benefit to the state, Posteraro said that the yearly cost to a caregiver for weekly grocery delivery, weekly laundry services and monthly house cleaning equates to \less than two weeks in an average Long Island nursing home.\ Mary Ann Ragona, executive director of the Alzheimer's Association of Long Island, said, \I took care of my father-in- law for about 10 years.\ Ragona said this was in the period from the mid-'*70s to nud-'*80s when not only were there no programs available to provide help. but when she was caring for her three- year- old and three-month-old children. She said that her orgamzation estimates that there are 55,000 people on Long Island who - have been - diagnosed | with Alzheimer's. Both assemblywomen related their own experience with caregiving. Fields said. \My mother-in-law suffered from Alzheimer's. She died recently. Now my father-in-law is suffering from dementia.\ \My mother was ill for three years.\ said Eddington. \I was back and forth to the hospital.\ She said that, because health care workers are often overworked, patients such as her mother \may not get the best care\ unless a loved one pays close attention \I am very happy that Charman Englebright is pursuung this issue.\ Bill Hall, whom Englebright greeted as the former mayor of Old Field. addressed the meeting as the volunteer AARP coor- dinator for Suffolk County. Accompanying Hall was Bill Ferns, AARP's New York state legislative repre- sentauve. Hall sud, \AARP estimates there are 44.4 nullhon caregivers in the United States, averaging over 20 hours per week, which represents $257 billon in value per year.\ He said ius organization supports expanded care for those at home, appropnate long-term - care - support. vouchers for caregivers, and more federal money for transportation services for the elderly. Elhzabeth Geary is the director of the Community Programs Center (CPC) of Long Island, with programs operating in Ronkonkoma and Port Jefferson \Our Day Haven programs each serve an aver age of 25 persons per day ~ She said the program offers extended hours. from 8 am to 5 pm. and a Saturday respite program. when caregivers can get a few hours time for their own needs Geary recommended the state make a financial commutment for community- based services, offer flexitulity within the community programs. and expand fund- ing for day care services She indicated her support for a \blended-model\ project that \allows semor to seek the level of support they need ~
