Governor Cuomo Signs A.7791/S.5892, Requiring the Director of the State Office of the Aging to Develop a List of Senior Services and Requires Hospitals to Provide Information to Senior Patients When They are Discharged from Hospital
YONKERS, NY — December 22, 2015 — On Friday, December 11th, Governor Cuomo signed A.7791/S.5892, sponsored by Assemblymember Shelley Mayer (D-90th AD) and Senator David Valesky (D-53rd SD). The bill requires the director of the New York State Office of the Aging to develop a list of programs serving seniors in each county to be provided to individuals sixty years of age and older upon discharge from the hospital. These senior services and programs will provide seniors with the opportunity to remain at home, while attending day programs and receiving services that offer nutrition, social activities, medical monitoring and transportation. This bill requires hospitals to provide this information to patients sixty years of age and older when they are discharged from the hospital based on the county of residence of the patient. Research shows social adult day services and other local aging programs are an essential component of the community-based service-delivery system that helps seniors remain in their homes, rather than move to a nursing home or other setting. In Westchester and elsewhere, these services and locations provide a safe environment and essential services where seniors and their families can have confidence that the daily needs of living are met, while providing a stimulating social environment for seniors during the day.
Assemblymember Mayer explained, “I applaud Governor Cuomo for signing this bill, which ensures seniors who are discharged from the hospital are aware of and connected to their communities and to vital services. Senior centers and programs provide essential assistance to seniors, keeping them out of nursing homes and reducing costs. Equally important, these centers and services provide relief to informal caregivers and improve the quality of life for our seniors. This bill furthers our commitment to seniors living at home for as long as possible, while ensuring their social and nutritional needs are met.”
“Seniors and caregivers are often unaware of local services, such as social adult day care programs, that can help avoid unnecessary placement and the need for other costly assistance,” Sen. Valesky said. “Making this information readily available will help individuals find the care they need and ease the burden on their caregivers.”
“This is an important bill that supports the needs for older New Yorkers when being discharged from the hospital. This certainly speaks to the Governor’s recognition of how vital community based supports and services are, and will ease in, the sometimes difficult transition from hospital to home,” said Michael Romano, President, Association on Aging in New York.
Igal Jellinek, Executive Director, LiveOn NY, states, “On behalf of older New Yorkers throughout the state and their family caregivers, LiveOn NY wholeheartedly thanks Governor Cuomo for enacting this bill and for the leadership of Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer and Senator David Valesky for sponsoring it. Information is not only power, knowing what services are offered will make a difference in the health and quality of life of an older adult remaining independent . Family caregivers will also be supported as these services assist them in their caregiving responsibilities. Caregivers across the state provide $32 billion of free care to their parents and other loved ones – raising awareness and funding these services is a good return on investment for the state.”
Under current law, when a senior patient is discharged from the hospital he or she may not be aware of the programs available in the area that provide nutrition, exercise, pain management, and personal care services. This bill seeks to correct this deficiency, connecting data compiled by the State Office of the Aging on a county-by-county basis with hospital discharge planners in order to help patients and their families receive current information regarding the senior programs and services available in their county. This law becomes effective immediately.
SOURCE: Rachel Estroff, Communications, Assemblymember Shelley Mayer
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