Our AmeriCorps Seniors Volunteer Respite Project is Growing

Respite Haven, a five-day per week respite program operated under the Jefferson County Office for the Aging, is now officially an AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer station. This means that volunteers age 55+ will take part in specific training and are now eligible to receive a $12/hour stipend and mileage reimbursement. Last month, we recognized volunteers and provided information to recruit new volunteers during an event at the Hilton Garden Watertown/Thousand Islands. Currently a two-site program, Respite Haven will soon open a third location.

Respite Haven Coordinator Chris Kubis and Jefferson County Office for the Aging Director Bethany Munn pose for pictures with volunteers honored at last month’s recognition event.

Meet Our Newest Respite Champion

We’re happy to congratulate our newest AmeriCorps grantee: The Virgil Community Living Center, in partnership with Virgil United Methodist Church. Virgil is a small, rural town located in Cortland County.

The Center will develop a drop-in respite program to provide support for the one in five adults in Cortland County that are informal unpaid caregivers.

If you’re interested in learning more about our AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer opportunities, contact Karen at kaubertine@lifespan-roch.org or 585-695-3716, or visit our AmeriCorps web page.

The Caregiver Wellness and Respite Center (CWRC) aims to improve the experiences of family caregivers by offering resources that aid them in their caregiving roles. By providing vouchers for respite services and self-care training, CWRC is dedicated to assisting family caregivers in the North Country.

You can learn more from CWRC Outreach Specialist Colleen Salisbury at these upcoming events:

October 14 - Colleen will present at the Washington County Office for the Aging (OFA) luncheon in Hartford, NY. The Washington County OFA Disabilities Resource Center is hosting this event.

October 17 - Colleen will have a table at Managing Changing Symptoms, a Parkinson’s Foundation presentation in Plattsburgh, NY.

October 29 - Colleen will be sharing information about the CWRC at the Glens Falls Senior Center. It’s open to the public!

Worry Over Planned Medicaid Cuts

In July, the President signed into law the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA), which includes cuts to Medicaid. The Guardian spoke to family caregivers "about what they fear most with regard to the Medicaid changes looming on the horizon."

Hear from Experts, Caregivers, and Policymakers Working for Family Caregivers

While the Caregiver Nation Summit 2025 in Washington, DC, is sold out, the National Alliance for Caregiving is still accepting registrations for its virtual livestream of the event, set for November 5-6. Summit sessions will highlight the latest research and data trends, including findings from Caregiving in the US 2025, a report released in July by AARP and NAC. You can find more information here

Would you like to be a voice for family caregivers? If so, please consider joining our Advocacy Committee. We meet once a month to discuss how we can empower caregivers. Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 21 from 11 AM to 12 PM. Learn more here

Denial: An Instinctive Response

Denial is a gift and a curse. It is a first line of defense and the coat tails we hang onto of a life we knew before change occurred. For many people, a gradual loss of independence due to physical or cognitive changes is met with depression, sadness, or resignation. Others react to their impending dependent status with fear and fury wearing the mask of denial. Denial trumps change – they hope. Read the entire article

Check out Mary’s podcast series about future care planning

The NYSCRC Respite Registry
Increasing awareness of respite programs across NYS

Family caregivers need support in order to continue caring for someone with a chronic condition. Respite services are among the most sought-after yet least utilized options available.

How often have you discussed your program with a former caregiver who responded, "I wish I had known about this when I was caring for my loved one"? Consider the NYSCRC Respite Registry as just one more way for family caregivers to find out about you while they are fulfilling that role and in need of some time off.

Learn more and sign up today! For more information, contact nyscrc@lifespan-roch.org 

Story Telling and Advocacy

Bruce Willis has received a lot of attention since being diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in 2023. Now, the caregiving journey of his wife, Emma Hemming Willis, is taking center stage. In a recent interview with ABC’s Diane Sawyer, she talks about her husband’s diagnosis, her life as a caregiver, and her new book, The Unexpected Journey.

“…it sometimes feels as if the only emotions we are allowed to express as caregivers is sadness. Sharing any others, like frustration, grief, anger, resentment, exhaustion, or even moments of joy, can lead to a lot of judgement from those who are not care partners because, in their eyes, the person we are caring for has it worse than we do.”

- The Unexpected Journey

New Caregiver Guide Available

The Caregiver Action Network recently released Seeing the Signs: A Caregiver’s Guide to Involuntary Movements and Tardive Dyskinesia (TD). TD is a neurological syndrome that involves involuntary movements and is often underdiagnosed. The guide shares lessons, stories, and strategies for caregivers. You can access the guide here

• If you and/or your family has had experience with mental health services, the New York State Office of Mental Health would like to hear from you. Community Engagement Sessions will be held in the counties of Monroe, Steuben, Erie, and Tompkins this month. Sessions will include breakout groups for youth and provide space for feedback on needs, ideas, and priorities. Learn more here

• Whether your caregiving journey is over or you’re wondering what life will look like when it is, an upcoming webinar may answer questions and provide some direction. Regardless of who you’ve cared for or are currently caring for, preparing for life after caregiving can be extremely helpful. Join Lifespan’s Mary Berk, LCSW and others for a discussion about putting the pieces back together and rediscovering yourself. Wednesday, November 12 from 1:00 to 2:00 PM. Learn more and register

Would you like to add your organization to the NY Connects
Resource Directory? Please use this link to request that your organization be added to the Directory. 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 

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.