May is Older Americans Month!
Many older Americans are caregivers.

Around 42% of U.S. family caregivers are aged 65 or older, stepping in to help a spouse, a partner, or other family member, according to the Caregiver Action Network.

Older Americans Month celebrates the invaluable contributions of older adults, emphasizing aging trends and reinforcing the importance of a healthy lifestyle and independence. Led by the Administration for Community Living, the 2026 theme, Champion Your Health, focuses on prevention, wellness, and personal responsibility as cornerstones of healthy aging. It encourages taking an active role in managing your own health, advocating for yourself, accessing preventive care, and making informed decisions that support independence. 

As a caregiver, prioritizing your own health isn’t easy. Here are 6 Sanity-Saving Tips to Help You Care for Your Aging Spouse from Aging Outreach Services, a full-service elder care firm located in North Carolina.

Q. Who are you caring for?
A. My mom.

Q. How long have you been caring for her?
A. 30 years.

Q. What type of condition or illness does she have?
A. Brain injury and cancer.

Q. What has your caregiving experience taught you about yourself?
A. That I'd like my efforts to be more impactful than just for my family. I have become an advocate because caregiving isn't an individual problem to be solved. It is a situation all of us will be faced with and we need our government to provide adequate support so the care we provide isn't exploited. I have learned how to be vocal about this issue and push for policy change at the local, state and federal levels.

Q. If you had one piece of advice for those in the throes of caregiving, what would it be?
A. Get politically active and demand more from your elected officials! Even better— run for office! The entire system is content to keep family members providing unsustainable levels of care without any support. Why do we allow this? Family caregiver labor allows insurance companies to profit — we save them money and they profit! Family caregiver labor saves all of us money —care provided for free at home saves taxpayer dollars. Family caregiving needs to be recognized as labor and supported in a variety of ways. We need to think bigger than just the need for services— we should receive health insurance —Medicare for caregivers! We should receive financial support for our households— they provide a place for care to be given and received. Caregivers shouldn't worry about keeping the lights on, putting food on the table, or a roof over their heads while also providing countless hours of care. Family caregivers in NYS contribute $40 billion worth of care each year. It is time for NYS to provide tangible support in return!

Maggie Ornstein and her mom, Janet, take a moment to enjoy the sweet side of summertime.

When Caregiving Shapes Your Professional Journey

Caregiving became a way of life early on for Kaitlyn Pierce. At the tender age of 9, her dad was diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, a neurodegenerative disease that damages motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, and respiratory failure. Though the diagnosis was devastating, it guided Kaitlyn to precisely the right place.

You can read about Kaitlyn here.

A Nutrient-Dense Diet Is Important for Caregivers
Pulling together a healthy and delicious meal in only a few minutes!

Family caregivers often find themselves skipping meals, eating unhealthy snacks, or grabbing fast food instead of nourishing themselves with meals to help sustain energy and stamina. Time is of the essence for most caregivers but there are ways to prepare a quick meal with limited time and effort. Join a virtual class called Great Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less along with other great offerings from NYS Office for the Aging GetSetUp.

Check out next month’s Advocate Program Teach In addressing the rights of Medicare recipients to dispute a hospital discharge/file a complaint. Information below in the “Upcoming Events and Resources” section.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Providing care and support to a loved one who has mental health issues and protecting your own mental health

Over 59 million U.S. adults (about 23% of the population) live with mental illness, with nearly 14.6 million facing serious mental illness. Additionally, around 1 in 7 youth aged 6-17 have a mental health disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Mental illness comes in many forms, including anxiety disorders and mood disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, eating disorders, disruptive behavior disorders, psychotic disorders, and substance use disorders.

Here are some tips for those who have found themselves caring for a loved one who suffers from mental health issues.

• Listen Without Judgment: Create a safe space for them to talk without feeling pressured to offer solutions.

• Offer Practical Help: Depression and anxiety make daily tasks difficult. Offer to help with chores, childcare, cooking, or errands.

• Check In Regularly: Send a text or make a call to show you care. Include them in plans, but accept they may not always feel up to it.

• Encourage Professional Help: Suggest speaking to a therapist, counselor, or doctor and offer to help find one or drive them to an appointment.

• Educate Yourself: Learn about their specific condition to understand what they are going through, reducing stigma and judgment.

It is common among caregivers to develop depression or anxiety. Take a mental health screening if you are a caregiver and feel

• Anxious or cry often

• Lonely or detached from others

• Angry

• Very tired

• Hopeless

• Have thoughts of suicide or self-harm

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has a helpline that is available Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM ET.

The Race and Victory of Caregiving
by Rebecca Hyde, NYSCRC

Since he took up running more than 10 years ago, Liam Branigan of Dublin, Ireland, has entered many half-marathons. When he decided a few years back to challenge himself and run a full marathon, he knew he had to try for a spot in the most famous marathon of all -- the New York City Marathon.

Liam and over 165,000 other people entered the lottery for the 2024 race. Only about 4 percent were chosen, and as luck would have it, he was one of them.

But there was a catch. Liam and his mom are caregivers for his dad, William, who lives with Lewy body dementia. To fly to New York City and run the marathon, he would need to be away from home for at least three weeks.

"The thing about dementia, especially, is the heavy toll it puts on the caregiver. You can't leave just one person in that role," he said. “I needed to make sure there were people in the house to help out my mother.”

When he couldn’t find anyone to cover for him, he appealed to the New York Road Runners Club to allow him to defer for a year. They agreed, and instead of running in the 2024 race, he ran this past November in the 2025 New York City Marathon.

“I was regretting my choice [to run a marathon] around mile 17. It was difficult. But the people along the course were amazing,” he said.

A full marathon is 26.2 miles. Liam said there were crowds of people up and down the streets, cheering him on, encouraging him to keep going when he stopped to rest.

“They yelled, ‘You’re almost there!’ I ran it in 4 hours and 12 minutes, which is pretty good for a first-timer,” he said.

Liam said his dad knew he was running the NYC Marathon and was happy for him. Liam entered the lottery for the 2026 race, but this time he didn’t win a spot.

“It’s a huge deal to win a place,” he said. “I will probably never win it again.”

Liam Branigan, left, and his dad, William, pose with his New York City Marathon medal.

Virtual Learning Session: Family Support Services (FSS): May 7 at 12:00 PM ET or May 19 at 6:00 PM Discover how this organization supports families caring for loved ones with developmental disabilities. Find out what support FSS covers, like respite care and necessary goods for those with developmental disabilities. Learn about eligibility criteria, funding limits, reimbursement rules, and the application process, including how requests are assessed and options if denied. Learn more and register here.

2026 Paid Family Leave (PFL) webinars recognizing National Foster Care Month and Military Appreciation Month The Workers’ Compensation Board will host two webinars on PFL for foster care/adoption and support for families with deployed military members. Learn about updates, including a higher weekly benefit and adjusted employee contribution rates, along with eligibility, request procedures, and available benefits.

• PFL for Foster Care/adoption: Thursday, May 7, 2026, 12:00 - 1:00 PM Register here.

• PFL for Military Leave: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 12:00 - 1:00 PM Register here.

Which Legal Documents Are Needed When Alzheimer’s Touches Your Family? May 14 from 1:00-2:00 PM Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s can mean struggles with emotions, finances, and legal issues. Being prepared is essential. Join this free webinar, sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, and discover how a few simple documents can ease your mind and help you focus on providing care.
Learn more and register

More Good Days, Together: A Virtual Wellness Experience: May 20, 12:00-2:00 PM Join Mental Health America for a transformative virtual experience. From your own space, join guided chair yoga, reflective journaling, and calming breathwork activities that support both mind and body. Wellness thrives on intentional, consistent practices—your path to brighter days starts here! Learn more and register here.

Advocate Program Teach In - June 23 from 10:00-11:00 AM Medicare patients have a right to appeal a hospital discharge decision. Join StateWide Senior Action Council for a virtual teach-in on how to make an appeal or file a complaint about quality of care. Learn more and register here.

National Assistive Technology Awareness Day was celebrated on April 22. This year's theme is "Assistive Technology. Everywhere. Everyone." Assistive technology (AT) encompasses any tool or system that enhances a person's abilities, such as smartphones, smart speakers, tablets, wearable heart rate monitors, and remote monitoring systems that contribute to smarter, safer homes. To learn more about New York State’s AT program titled, Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities (TRAID) visit this page.

More Restful Sleep Is Crucial for Caregiver

Americans experience greater sleep deprivation compared to individuals in other nations, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Family caregivers often experience significant sleep deprivation, with roughly 60% reporting less than seven hours of sleep per night and up to 70% of dementia caregivers suffering from chronic sleep problems. Caregivers average only 6.5 to 6.7 hours of sleep nightly—below the recommended 7–8 hours—due to anxiety, nighttime care tasks, and stress, as reported on the Family Caregiver Alliance website.

Listening to calming music may help. It is shown to relax the nervous system, lower heart rates, and decrease blood pressure, embracing calm and ease. The link below provides an example of music that may help you get a more restful night’s sleep.

NY Connects links individuals to long-term services and supports regardless of payment source/health insurance, whether it be private pay, public or a combination of both. Through the provision of free, comprehensive, objective information and assistance about long-term services and supports, NY Connects empowers individuals and families to identify available services and supports and choose what will best meet their needs at home, in the community, and as necessary, in residential or institutional settings.

To learn more, call: 1-800-342-9871 or visit www.nyconnects.ny.gov 

This project is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $1,375,000 with 75 percentage funded by ACL/HHS and $458,330 and 25 percentage funded by non-government source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

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