The month of November was recently proclaimed by Gov. Eliot Spitzer as “Family Caregivers Month” in New York state. In a proclamation presented to Michael J. Burgess, director of the New York State Office for the Aging, on behalf of all caregivers in the state, the governor called on New Yorkers to recognize the significant contributions made by caregivers throughout the year as they provide care and assistance to those who need help to remain in their homes and communities of choice.

It is estimated the number of caregivers in New York state is more than 2.2 million individuals and these caregivers provide the majority of long-term care assistance given to frail, older residents and adults with disabilities. Without the care provided by these dedicated caregivers, their family members and others they care for would likely be placed in an institutional setting or nursing home, sometimes miles away from their homes and family members. The financial effect of the care provided by caregivers is enormous, given the fact that without their care, costly institutionalization may be the only option for those they care for.

As the baby boomers age, the older population will grow at an accelerated pace, and we will experience the aging of the older population. As the population ages, their need for assistance in the tasks of everyday living will increase. Given a choice most older individuals would prefer to remain in the community living in their own homes.

This assistance is likely to come first from informal caregivers and second from the formal system of home and community based long-term care services.

Informal caregivers are an invaluable resource to their loved ones and to the United State's health care system because of the care they provide. The unpaid care provided by caregivers saves billions of dollars in state and federal funds. A recent AARP report cites family caregivers provide an estimated economic value nationally of $350 billion, and in New York the estimated economic value is $24 billion, with 2.2 million family caregivers providing care to their loved ones.

Caregivers dedicate an average of 20 hours per week to the provision of care and even more time when caring for someone with multiple disabilities. Almost one-third of all caregivers are balancing work and caregiving responsibilities, making their efforts even more difficult to maintain.

Often times caregiving is challenging and can create physical, emotional and financial strains on the caregiver. An increasing body of evidence indicates that caregiving can take a major toll on the physical and mental health of the caregiver, and even on their mortality. Caregiver support services educate and assist caregivers and allow many to continue to work - allowing them to continue to be productive members of the community.

During the coming year, Burgess will convene a series of Town Hall Meetings in New York state to listen to caregivers and to give them an opportunity to discuss their needs and issues with him.

“In order to maintain and sustain the efforts of caregivers in New York, we must be sensitive to and work to address needs of caregivers so that they can continue to provide the assistance they so much want to provide to their loved ones,” he said.

The State Office for the Aging Web site has a link to a Special Edition NYSOFA Newsletter “Caregivers - Where would we be without them?” This newsletter has excellent articles and resources for everyone that cares about older persons.

To visit it, go to aging.state.ny.us/news/

pressreleases2007/Newsletters/07November.pdf.

Janet Taylor is an aging services specialist for the Cayuga County Office for the Aging. For additional information about programs and services available for the elderly and caregivers in Cayuga County,

contact her at 253-1103.