With 1 Million New Yorkers Expected to Need Home Care Soon, and Home Care Jobs Driving Employment Growth in NYC, New Survey Highlights New Yorkers’ Experiences and Priorities for Change
New York, NY— ALIGN and the NY Care Council will release a groundbreaking survey report on New York City’s home care needs. The comprehensive survey was conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences and concerns of New Yorkers vis-à-vis the home care system, and to determine aspects of the system that home care workers, seniors, people with disabilities and their families are most passionate about changing.
The release of the new report, Caring Across New York City, will take place at the Murphy Institute for Worker Education, where speakers and panelists will discuss the key issues identified in the survey, including financial security, health and safety, and dignity and respect. Survey findings on New York’s current quality of care, unmet needs, and anticipated needs will also be discussed.
WHO: AFSCME DC 37 Retirees Association, ALIGN, Bend the Arc, Brown Community Development Corp., Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition, Jews for Racial & Economic Justice, Hand in Hand, Metro New York Healthcare for All, National Domestic Workers Alliance, NELP, the New York Care Council, New York Statewide Senior Action Network, PHI, Retirees Chapter of PSC/CUNY and SEIU 1199.
WHAT: Caring Across New York City Report Release and Panel Discussion
WHERE: Murphy Institute for Worker Education
25 W 43rd St 19th Floor, New York, NY (between 5th and 6th Ave)
Directions: 4/5/6 to Grand Central, 7 to 5th Ave, B/D/F/M to 42nd St/ Bryant Park, N/Q/R to Times Square
WHEN: Tuesday, August 6. Press availability from 9:30 to 10:00 AM. Program from 10:00 AM to 12 PM
**For an embargoed copy of the report, please contact Kristi Barnes at Kristi@alignny.org**
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Background
Over 1 million New Yorkers rely on home care services and supports, and in the next two decades as Baby Boomers age, 1 million more people could require home care. The home care system will be the single biggest driver of employment in New York City in the coming years. Home health aides and home attendants are projected to be the two highest-growth occupations in the city between 2010 and 2020, seeing an almost 50 percent expansion, and adding over 76,000 jobs. Currently, 1 in 7 low-wage workers in NYC is a home care worker.
New York Care Council—a broad coalition of care providers, people who receive care, and community, labor, and policy advocacy organizations—launched the local chapter of Caring Across Generations at the June 2012 New York Care Congress. Over 500 New Yorkers, including members of labor and community organizations, faith leaders, and public officials, attended the event. Since then, the NY Care Council has been working to build its coalition and formulate a local policy agenda. Committed to taking a ground-up approach, the Care Council launched the Care Connections Survey Project in the fall of 2012, reaching all five boroughs. Through more than 1,200 surveys, as well as focus groups and interviews, the report reveals aspects of the home care system that respondents believe are in greatest need of change, informed by the direct experiences of New Yorkers who are caregivers, people who receive care, and family providers/ arrangers of care.
ALIGN: The Alliance for a Greater New York’s mission is to create good jobs, vibrant communities, and an accountable democracy for all New Yorkers. Our work unites worker, community, and other allies to build a more just and sustainable New York.
Caring Across Generations is a campaign for quality care and support, and a dignified quality of life for all Americans, across generations. The New York Care Council is building a coalition of community, worker, elder, faith-based, disability, policy and advocacy organizations and individuals committed to justice, dignity and high-quality care for both care givers and those receiving care.