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Advocates highlight disproportionate impacts on NYC, veterans and LGBTQ older adults
Summary
Witnesses at the Assembly hearing said ISIP funding and reporting fail to match evolving needs of New York City's older adults, veterans and LGBTQ elders; advocates called for targeted outreach, culturally competent services and veteran pilot expansion to capture federal benefits.
Advocates and city officials told the Assembly Aging Committee that distribution and outreach gaps make ISIP harder to access for some populations, and they urged targeted investments to address those inequities.
Ryan Murray of NYC Aging noted that the city houses 42% of the state's older adults but receives roughly 18–20% of the state set‑aside for home care; he said that the city's FY25 ISIP‑related home care allocation is about $34,040,000 with $6,940,000 from the state and that funding disparities make it difficult to meet growing urban demand.
SAGE's Brian Ellicott Cook urged culturally competent service delivery for LGBTQ older adults and people living with HIV. "This program is a vital lifeline to vulnerable older adults," Cook said, and described instances where reduced hours caused serious health setbacks for older adults living with HIV.
Witnesses also discussed leveraging federal veterans' resources. Olsen and others referenced a Veterans Home Care pilot that could expand services and free up capacity in ISIP by shifting eligible veterans to VA‑funded care; Olsen said the pilot could increase available hours because the veterans program can provide up to 20 hours of personal care.
Caregiver Marcela (founder of Essential Care Visitor) gave an emotional personal account of navigating long‑term care and paying privately for aides before institutionalization, and said more visible, navigable ISIP outreach and case management could have preserved more time at home. "It would have meant complete peace of mind," she said of having robust home supports earlier.
Committee members asked agencies for clearer borough and veteran data; Ryan Murray committed to supplying veteran participation numbers within a week. Advocates asked the legislature to baseline funding and require more transparent reporting on unmet‑need allocations so local offices can plan services and outreach.
