Your NYSCRC Newsletter has arrived!

The Caregiver Wellness & Respite Center (CWRC) is focused on the needs of family caregivers in the North Country (Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Warren, and Washington counties), providing training, education, resources, supportive community groups, and respite vouchers. Vouchers are available statewide. For more information about RESPITE VOUCHERS, please contact Rebecca Hyde at rhyde@lifespan-roch.org

The CWRC, in conjunction with SUNY Adirondack Healthcare Pathways and the NYS Office for the Aging, will hold a Caregiver Simulation on Friday, March 28, 2025 at SUNY Adirondack in Queensbury, NY. The event is a perfect fit for case managers, health professionals, students considering or in the health-related field, social workers, employers and supervisors, new professionals as well as seasoned professionals involved in social services, policy making, faith communities, and more.

Learn more and register

The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) and the New York State Caregiving & Respite Coalition (NYSCRC) are working together to pilot a Regional Caregiver Wellness and Respite Center (CWRC) to strengthen New York’s Lifespan Respite Care System. The CWRC aims to expand service provisions and delivery to caregivers in a six-county region (Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Warren, & Washington).

The purpose of this survey is to better understand the gaps in needed services for caregivers. The survey should take about five minutes to complete. Please submit your response by January 31, 2025. All responses will remain confidential.

Take the Survey

A New Respite Program is Coming to Tompkins County: Volunteers Needed

We’re looking for volunteers 55 and older to spend a few hours a week at a new volunteer respite program in Slaterville Springs, NY. The program, held at the Slaterville Fire Hall, will be open Tuesdays from
10 AM-2 PM beginning March 18, 2025. Volunteers who have completed background checks and meet income requirements are eligible to be paid for training, and will recieve a weekly stipend and mileage reimbursement as an AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer.

Three trainiing sessions to help prepare you for your service will be held at the Slaterville Fire Hall on the following days (lunch will be served):

Tuesday February 25 from 10 AM - 3 PM

Tuesday March 4 from 10 AM - 3 PM

Tuesday March 11 from 10 AM - 3 PM

For more information or to register for a training, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Renee William at rwilliams@lifespan-roch.org or 585-645-8973 or register here.

AmeriCorps has made a difference in the lives of its recipients and volunteers over the course of three decades.

Last year was no exception.

Caring for a Loved One Shapes Work on Capitol Hill

With more than 48 million unpaid family caregivers in the U.S., it isn’t suprising that some of those caregivers are members of Congress. Thanks to AARP, we’re able to hear how personal caregiving experience is influencing legislation.

Learn more about our Advocacy Committee

A Look at Caregiver Nation Summit 2024

The National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) has released video recordings from its November Caregiver Nation Summit in Washington, DC. Presentations and panel discussions included "Care at the Crossroads," featuring former PBS News Hour anchor Judy Woodruff as moderator. The summit brought together leaders from across the country to drive action on the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers. Video recordings can be found here

New tool to find and compare evidence-based programs to address caregivers’ challenges and concerns

The Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging and the Family Caregiver Alliance have come together to create a free online directory of evidence-based support programs for family caregivers of individuals with dementia. The directory is also intended to provide resources for professionals in the field. The directory can be found here

Registration is now open for the National Lifespan Respite Conference – RAISE and Engage – Launch Respite Now!

The ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center and the Alabama Lifespan Respite Resource Network (tm) are pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2025 National Lifespan Respite Conference to RAISE and Engage: Launch Respite Now! in Huntsville, AL, April 1-3, 2025. Early registration ends March 1, 2025! Register at https://archrespite.org/conference-registration-2025/

The conference will feature 40 breakout sessions that align with the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers. Topics will cover respite best practices, working caregivers, direct care workforce, volunteer respite, building respite registries, advocacy and networking, innovative dementia respite, yoga, and much more! The full program with lots of surprises is coming in January! Visit the conference website for more information Register soon!

National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center (NADRC) is hosting a webinar January 28, 2025 at 2:00 PM titled "Life Experience Informing Careers in Dementia Services and Supports: Panel Discussion." Panelists will discuss how their personal experiences as dementia caregivers have informed their work. Click here for more information and to register
The Caregiver Wellness & Respite Center, along with SUNY Adirondack Healthcare Pathways and they NYS Office for the Aging, are hosting a Caregiver Simulation on Friday, March 28, 2025 from 9 AM to 12 PM at SUNY Adirondack, Queensbury, NY. The simulation is designed to create an environment that includes the many challenges and rewards of being an informal caregiver. Learn more and register

Want to add your organization to the NY Connects Resource Directory?

Use this link to make your request. Please note, the entity must provide a service to caregivers, including but not limited to respite care. There are additional inclusion/exclusion criteria—your request will be reviewed by the local NY Connects program for inclusion in the resource directory. To learn more, call: 1-800-342-9871 or visit www.nyconnects.ny.gov