Empowering Health Care Consumers

Project Title

Convening of a Caregiver Summit

Grant Amount

$50,000

Priority Area

Empowering Health Care Consumers

Date Awarded

September 28, 2017

Region

Outside New York State

Statewide

Status

Closed

Website

https://www.aarp.org/aarp-foundation/

Approximately 2.5 million New Yorkers provide unpaid care to a family member or loved one.

These caregivers play a critical role in the health care system, providing tasks ranging from simple day-to-day care to complex medical procedures. The physical, financial, and emotional impact of caregiving is significant and can contribute to caregiver stress, loss of income, and development of chronic conditions. With the passage of New York State’s Caregiver Advise, Record and Enable (CARE) Act and Governor Cuomo’s $67.5 million initiative to support Alzheimer’s caregivers, the time is ripe to build on this momentum to support caregivers. In 2017, NYHealth awarded AARP Foundation a grant to convene a statewide summit to discuss how caregivers can be provided with the recognition, knowledge, and support they need to remain effective and productive in their caregiving roles.

In collaboration with NYHealth, New York State Department of Health, and the United Hospital Fund, AARP Foundation convened a group of caregivers, experts, clinicians, and thought leaders to identify and prioritize strategies to help caregivers. The goals of this summit were to (1) identify policy options that can be advanced in 2018 and (2) identify multilevel actions that can be addressed by government agencies, health care providers, social support organizations, and community-based organizations. As a follow-up to the summit, the New York State Department of Health developed a Caregiver Guide—an on-the-go resource for caregivers to find relevant information and keep track of the medical records for their loved ones. In conjunction with partner organizations, AARP Foundation developed and disseminated a white paper with recommendations on addressing the unmet needs of caregivers and raising awareness about available resources and advocacy opportunities.

Read the report, “The Future of Family Caregiving: Leading the Change.”