Southwestern New York State Economic Plan

About

Engagement

Background & SWOT

Action Plan

Evaluation

Conclusion

Data Visuals

Full PDF Plan

---

  Vibrant Communities: Aging

OBJECTIVE 1
Workforce lens: Develop skilled caregiving workforce, and attribute higher value to caregiving work​

Action Items

• Start caregiving training and Personal Care Assistant (PCA) certification programs in high school and to increase competition for these skilled workers
• Increase pay rates and provide benefits for all caregiving staff to help attract workers to the field and retain them
• Advocate to increase stagnant federal funding

100th birthday celebration, Cattaraugus
County Department of Aging

---

OBJECTIVE 2
Improve access to transportation and housing

Action Items

• Equity lens: Make public transit available across the region, including all rural areas, so that seniors can age at home safely and stay connected and active
• Increase access to wheelchair-accessible vans for rental by agencies, driving services and individuals
• Require community review for new senior housing projects with agencies' feedback
• Equity lens: Prioritize senior housing in walkable communities in downtown revitalization efforts

---

OBJECTIVE 3
Increase support for aging at home

Action Items

• Resilience lens: Direct more funding toward “consumer-directed” home care by families and friends
• Promote the numbers to public officials and leaders that living at home is more affordable on average than leaving home for group care ($10-15k annually)
• Equity lens: Make funding available for residential safety improvements not only for owned homes, but also for rentals and for mobile homes on rented land. Rental units and mobile homes tend to be smaller and single-story, so are more manageable for senior residents to age in, but rentals do not qualify for financial assistance for shower bars, lifts, etc.

Other Actions and Objectives

• ​Create Seniors Councils meets to advocate for the needs of the aging ​
• Increase access to nutritious food via mobile markets, SNAP use at farmers markets
• Decrease isolation with more intergenerational spaces, such as child care alongside elder care
• Increase support for seniors to have virtual medical appointments
• Provide advocacy for navigating medical services
• Create dementia-friendly systems

​Number of seniors receiving day services through county offices of aging = 691
___________________________________________________
Number of seniors on waiting list to receive services or an increase in services = 739