NYS ASSEMBLY MAJORITY LEADER JOSEPH MORELLE AND ASSEMBLYMAN MARK JOHNS JOIN MONROE COUNTY CAREGIVERS AT AARP CAREGIVING FORUM

MEDIA ADVISORY

NYS ASSEMBLY MAJORITY LEADER JOSEPH MORELLE AND ASSEMBLYMAN MARK JOHNS JOIN MONROE COUNTY CAREGIVERS AT AARP CAREGIVING FORUM

Family Caregivers Save NY Health Care System $32 B Annually; Gather In Rochester to Share Ideas For Better Preventive, Cost-Saving Support

New York State Assembly Majority Leader Joseph D. Morelle will give opening remarks and Assemblyman Mark Johns will serve as a panelist at an AARP Caregiving Listening Session and panel discussion on Monday, September 23 in Rochester.  The legislators will join family caregivers and community leaders from Rochester and surrounding areas to discuss the looming caregiving crisis facing the region and share ideas on how the state’s 4.1 million caregivers can be better supported as they provide an estimated $32 billion annually in care to loved ones.  In a recent report, New York State was ranked 48 ^th out of 50 states in its support to caregivers.

The Rochester event is the last of nine forums AARP New York has held around the state in partnership with the New York State Caregiving & Respite Coalition and the Council of Senior Centers and Services to give a voice to caregivers, allowing them to discuss the isolation, depression, financial problems and stress they face.  Based on the input, AARP plans to issue comprehensive recommendations to state policymakers in the coming weeks.

WHAT:
Caregiving Listening Session

WHEN:
Monday, September 23, 2013
9:00 am – 12:00 pm

WHERE:
Brighton Town Hall
2300 Elmwood Ave.
Rochester, NY  14618


WHO:
Approximately 80 Rochester area Family Caregivers, Community Leaders

Opening Remarks: Assembly Majority Leader Joseph D. Morelle, 136 ^th District

Panelists:
Assemblyman Mark Johns, New York State Assembly, 135th District

Keith Harrington, Director of Programs and Services, Alzheimer's Association, Rochester & the Finger Lakes Chapter
Ann Marie Cook, President/CEO of Lifespan and the Director of NYS Caregiving and Respite Coalition

Moderator:   Neal Lane, President, AARP New York

Why:
Last year, nearly half of all callers (6,172) to Monroe County’s long-term care service (NY Connects) were caregivers seeking assistance.  As Monroe County’s population continues to age, the caregiving crisis is expected to worsen, with the number in need of care outpacing the number of caregivers.   Currently, 13.9 percent of the county’s population is age 65 and older, but it’s projected to jump to over 20 percent by 2050 – while the 75+ population is expected to increase by 150 percent.  The core of the crisis will be in the suburbs, where 81 percent of the county’s 60+ population resides.

Contacts:  Chaunda Ball, (212) 407-3732, cball@aarp.org; Erik Kriss, (518) 360-9213, ekriss@aarp.org

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