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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Representative from VNS Health on NORC Nursing Services
4:40:18
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152 sec
A representative from VNS Health testifies about their NORC (Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities) nursing services, highlighting their extensive reach, the growing demand for their services, and the need for continued funding. They request support for expansion and address the increased costs of providing nursing services.
- VNS Health serves approximately 20,000 older adults across 38 NORCs, providing over 16,000 hours of nursing services in various languages.
- They are requesting funding to expand to three additional sites in fiscal year 2026.
- The organization has increased its nursing rate due to higher wages and costs, emphasizing the need for additional funding to maintain and expand their services.
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4:40:18
Chair Hudson, Chair Brannan, and members of the New York City Council Committees provide nursing services to 38 NOCs across the city.
4:40:40
For one hundred and thirty years, VNS Health has helped people live, age, and heal where they feel most comfortable, in their homes and communities.
4:40:49
As the largest nonprofit home and community based health care provider in New York, we serve over 70,000 residents daily with a wide range of services.
4:40:59
Thanks to city council funding, VNS Health currently serves approximately 20,000 older adults across 38 NORCs, addressing over 40 health conditions.
4:41:09
Our NORC nurses provide comprehensive health services, including health assessments, education, and support navigating the complex health care system to meet the needs of older residents in their homes, enable them to live independently and delay hospitalization.
4:41:25
Our nurses speak English, Spanish, Russian, Mandarin, Cantonese and French Creole, and have provided more than sixteen thousand hours of nursing to older residents so far in fiscal year 2025.
4:41:37
The demand for Newark Nursing services is growing.
4:41:40
The 65 and older population in New York City continues to increase, and we are receiving more and more requests for nursing services.
4:41:48
These services are not reimbursable by insurance, and our program relies on the funding it receives.
4:41:54
Budget cuts to programs that support aging could jeopardize long term sustainability and the care our older residents need.
4:42:00
Though we serve 38 sites, we know there is more need than we can meet.
4:42:04
For fiscal year twenty twenty six, we're requesting funding to expand our care to three additional sites.
4:42:11
The provision of nursing services has also become more expensive, Reflecting higher wages and related costs for our nurses effective this year, VNS Health has increased its nursing rate to allow us to retain and recruit nursing professionals during the current nursing shortage.
4:42:26
This has resulted in a cost increase to cover current level of nursing services which is necessary to provide consistent care and timely connection to providers for our patients.
4:42:36
Our limited increase also reflects our commitment to our NORC partners and our recognition of the immense support of this care.
4:42:43
Thank you again for your support of NORCs and NORC nursing.
4:42:45
We greatly appreciate it and we hope you all will support us in funding in this fiscal year.
4:42:50
Thank you.