Advocacy
Without advocacy, the voices of those helping a spouse, a parent, a friend may not be heard.
Family caregiver services are under serious threat, putting vital support systems at risk.
Under the proposed 2026 federal budget, funding for essential resources within the Lifespan Respite Care Program, like vouchers to help caregivers pay for a respite provider, grants to develop new volunteer respite programs, and training and education, is in danger. It is crucial to unite and advocate for these important services. Now is the time to speak out for the funding that helps family caregivers get the support they need.
Your voice is important; join the effort to ensure a better future for caregivers and those they care for.
What is the Lifespan Respite Care Program?
The Lifespan Respite Care Program provides funding to help unpaid family caregivers of individuals with special needs, across all ages, pay for respite services. This program, established by Congress in 2006, aims to support family caregivers and improve their well-being by providing temporary relief.
Ask your representatives to sign on to a bipartisan letter requesting $20 million for the Lifespan Respite Care Program in FY 2026.
Become part of the movement in preserving and enhancing services to family caregivers, the backbone of our longterm care system.
Help protect the Older Americans Act, Lifespan Respite, and other programs that support millions across the country.
What could the impact be? Hear from Greg Olsen, director of the NYS Office for the Aging, about the impact that the recent restructuring of the Health and Human Services Department and federal funding cuts would likely have on the federal and state level. Watch video
We’re committed to improving the lives of family caregivers.
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Legislation
We're proud to be part of the Caregiver Nation Network, which unites caregiving leaders from across 10 states in a shared mission to change systems through elevating family caregiving issues on state and national policy agendas to improve support for family caregivers. At the state level, NYSCRC Director Doris Green is a member of Governor Hochul’s Advisory Committee to the New York State Master Plan for Aging. The plan is designed to ensure that older adults and individuals of all ages can live healthy, fulfilling lives while aging with dignity and independence.
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Caregiver Simulation
The Caregiver Simulation creates an environment that includes the challenges and rewards of being an informal caregiver. The outcome is a new or renewed sense of empathy for the enormous role informal caregivers take on, and the systems designed to support them. The simulation is targeted toward populations such as: health professionals, students considering or in the health-related field, social workers, employers and supervisors, new professionals and seasoned professionals in social services, policy making, faith communities, and more. View a recent Simulation.
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National Respite Coalition
The National Respite Coalition, the Policy Division of the ARCH National Respite Network, provides training, grants, and resources for respite providers. The Coalition works to secure quality, accessible, planned, and crisis respite services to those in need in order to strengthen and stabilize families, and enhance child and adult safety. The Coalition works to achieve these goals by preserving and promoting respite in policy and programs at the national, state, and local levels.
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Association on Aging
The mission of the Association is to support and enhance the capacity of New York's local Area Agencies on Aging and to work in collaboration with the aging network to promote independence, preserve dignity, and advocate on the behalf of aging New Yorkers and their families.
I’m interested in becoming a NYSCRC member and advocating for family caregivers!
Learn more about our Advocacy Committee and how YOU can support family caregivers .