County Office for the Aging outlines services, caregiver resources and funding mix as it marks 50 years

A county representative for the Office for the Aging told the Health and Human Services Committee on July 16 that the office provides 32 programs through a mix of federal, state and local funding, and highlighted the agency’s caregiver resource center and Alzheimer’s support services.

The presentation, given by an Office for the Aging representative and Amy Jackson, the aging service specialist and caregiver coordinator, mapped how Older Americans Act and state funding flows through area agencies into local contracts. “It’s really a network of aging service providers,” the representative said, describing the agency’s mix of 26 contracts with 11 subcontractors and 22 distinct funding streams, including nine federal, nine state, three local and one private grant.

The office uses the funds for core services including nutrition, supportive services, caregiver support, health and wellness and elder rights. Jackson described the caregiver resource center as a single point of assistance for family caregivers, offering individualized counseling, a caregiver lending library, a quarterly newsletter, virtual and in-person support groups, monthly workshops, and caregiver packets with practical tools. “If you’re not supporting the caregivers, they can’t provide that quality care to their care receivers,” Jackson said.

The committee heard details about eligibility and limits. The national Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), administered locally, serves adult family or informal caregivers age 18 and older who provide care to people 60 and older, caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease-related disorders, and certain relatives age 55 and older who care for children under 18. Jackson said funds for grandparents raising grandchildren are limited locally (about $36,000 annually) and that the county supplements the federal NFCSP with roughly $20,000 from New York State to expand services.

Committee members asked about respite and fee-for-care programs. Jackson said the county’s respite funding supports about five caregivers at a time for roughly two hours per week; the program is intentionally limited by available funds. On paid family caregiving options, Jackson noted programs such as CDPAP exist but have eligibility nuances: some family members can be paid under specific circumstances, but spouses and certain legal proxies are disqualified.

The presentation included program specifics: the office runs the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (distributing more than 1,500 coupons this season), a Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) program, transportation tickets (historically up to 10 per year), case management and in‑home personal care, and partnerships with community agencies including Lifelong, Finger Lakes Independent Center, Home Instead and others. The office also mentioned a transportation pilot with GoGo Grandparents, and offered Medicare counseling via Health Insurance Information Counseling programs and Open Enrollment assistance (Oct. 15–Dec. 7).

Committee members raised practical access issues, including parking and wayfinding at the office’s State Street location; the office said it has two designated handicap parking spaces and maintains parking scratch-off tickets for clients who prefer them. The presenter also said the office will mark its 50th anniversary with an in-person event; the state Office for the Aging will join by Zoom and a proclamation will be delivered to the county legislature on Aug. 5.

Why it matters: the Office for the Aging administers a wide range of programs that affect older adults’ ability to remain at home, and the committee used the presentation to clarify eligibility, capacity and funding limits for caregiver supports and respite services.

Committee direction and next steps: staff were asked to provide contact paths for constituents seeking HEAP or other benefits and to share more details about parking access and outreach. The office asked committee members and community organizations to help publicize programs and the upcoming anniversary event.

The county representative and Jackson provided program literature and contact information at the meeting for residents seeking assistance.