Aging, Office for the

Agency Web Site: https://aging.ny.gov/

Mission

The State Office for the Aging (SOFA), is responsible for promoting, coordinating and administering State, Federal and local programs and services to the elderly aged 60 and older, their families or other caregivers. The Office provides leadership and direction to 59 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and other local programs and providers that comprise the networks of services to the elderly.

Organization and Staffing

SOFA program specialists provide oversight and guidance to the AAAs, service providers, and fiscal analysts who oversee the funding disbursement. The workforce is in Albany, although SOFA staff routinely travel across the State to provide leadership, direction, and oversight to the AAAs and service providers.

Budget Highlights

The FY 2024 Budget recommends $303 million for Aging. This is an decrease of $6.7 million from the FY 2023 budget. This change is the result of the discontinuation of one-time legislative adds. The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 126 FTEs, which is an increase of 4 FTEs from FY 2023.

Major budget initiatives include:

• Authorizing a 2.5 percent Cost-Of-Living (COLA) Adjustment for SOFA Programming. The FY 2024 Executive Budget provides for a 2.5 percent COLA for not-for-profits that provide services on behalf of the multiple health and human services agencies, including SOFA.

• Permiting Area Agencies on Aging to serve more individuals by allowing individuals whose income is at or above 250 percent of the federal poverty level (from the current 400 percent level) to pay for certain services, thereby generating revenue that must be reinvested back into service provision, ultimately reducing waiting lists and meeting new and emerging needs.

• Supporting a continued investment into the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program. The FY 2024 Executive Budget maintains $2.5 million in additional funding for the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) to provide additional coverage of long-term care facilities across the state. LTCOP funding helps address complaints and advocate for improvements in the long-term care system.

• Contining investments into the State’s Master Plan for Aging with a new $1 million in funding in FY 2024 and the subsequent outyears under SOFA This master plan will coordinate all State policy and programs and address challenges related to communication, coordination, caregiving, long-term financing, and innovative care models.

For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:

Briefing Book – Health Care (PDF)

For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:

Briefing Book – Health Care (PDF)

Program Highlights

Community Services for the Elderly

The Community Services for the Elderly program supports multiple service options, including transportation, in-home services, and case management. Approximately 123,000 people are served annually.

Expanded In-home Services for the Elderly

This program supports non-medical in-home services, case management, non-institutional respite care, and ancillary services for functionally impaired older adults. Approximately 70,000 people are served annually.

Wellness in Nutrition

The Wellness in Nutrition program supports home-delivered meals, nutrition counseling, nutrition education, and congregate meals. Approximately 210,000 people are served annually.

NY Connects

NY Connects provides free, objective, and comprehensive information on long term care services and supports. It has expanded statewide to serve all populations and currently serves approximately 270,000 people annually.

Note: Most recent estimates as of 02/01/2023