PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Linda Hoffman, President of New York Foundation for Senior Citizens, on Community Care Plan and Foundation Programs
2:13:10
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163 sec
Linda Hoffman, President of New York Foundation for Senior Citizens, testified in support of the Community Care Plan and the Foundation's home sharing and respite care programs. She emphasized how these programs enable older adults to age in place, prevent institutionalization, and provide significant savings to the city.
- The Foundation has matched over 25,100 persons in 1,200 shared living arrangements over 44 years.
- Hoffman suggested extending home sharing services to asylum seekers, matching them with older NYC residents.
- The respite care service, at $18.55 a day, fills a gap for those above Medicaid level but spending down to receive it.
Linda Hoffman
2:13:10
Linda Hoffman, president New York Foundation for senior citizens, chair Hudson, members of the aging committee, thank you for allowing me to present today.
2:13:22
We at the foundation are extremely grateful to each of you who for the past, present, and hopefully future will support our city wide home sharing and respite care program, which provides the only services of their type in the city.
2:13:40
In accordance with our community with the community care plan, Our program serve our program services enable our city's older adults to remain in place in their own homes and communities and by preventing their institutionalization and nursing homes and homeless shelters Our program services are both responsive to the city's housing crisis as well as providing significant annual savings to the city in Medicaid and other expenses.
2:14:12
I could go on and explain home sharing and respite care, but I know the committee understands what it's all about because they've been always so supportive of it, especially our illustrious chair who's been so helpful is supporting.
2:14:25
Which we really appreciate.
2:14:28
During the past 44 years, we have successfully matched over 25100 persons and 1200 shared living arrangements.
2:14:38
And if it's someday is appropriate, we would like to extend our home sharing services to asylum seekers and match them as guests in shared housing with older New York City residents.
2:14:50
Our respiratory service, again, keeps people out of nursing homes.
2:14:55
It's short term in home care for people above the Medicaid level at $18.55 a day.
2:15:03
And I know we were talking about the different types of home care.
2:15:06
It's actually filling a major gap.
2:15:08
Because it's people who are spending down to receive Medicaid and it's it's keeping them at home and rather than than in institutions.
2:15:19
So we again certainly support the this community plan.
2:15:27
It makes a lot of sense, and we're hoping that it will continue to be in place, that it will be approved, and we hope that it will be possible to continue funding for New York Foundation for senior citizens home sharing and respite care program and other programs that are keeping people at home in the community.
2:15:47
And thank you very much in advance for hopefully providing these desperately needed funds.
