New York’s population is aging. Today, 1 in 4 New Yorkers is over the age of 60 – and counting.
At this moment of demographic change, it’s now more important than ever to fund services and programs that allow older New Yorkers to maintain their independence, and stay healthy in their communities.
As Director of the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA), I’m proud to say that Governor Hochul’s FY26 executive budget proposal recognizes this through historic investments in aging services while advancing an affordability agenda that provides vital relief for all New York families, including for older adults.
The Governor’s FY26 executive budget proposal includes an additional game-changing $45 million to help Offices for the Aging meet locally determined needs for older adults who need services like personal care, home-delivered meals, case management, and more.
The Governor’s bold affordability agenda for New York families presents opportunities at all levels for New Yorkers to age successfully in the community. Middle class tax cuts will also put more money back into the pockets of older adults, particularly those on fixed incomes. Inflation rebates will provide a payment of $300 to $500 for 8.6 million tax filers, including millions of older adults. These measures build on thousands of dollars in benefits assistance already available to income-eligible older adults through the Governor’s past expansion of the Medicare Savings Program, nutrition and home energy assistance programs, and others.
The Governor’s proposals for consumer protections and increases in victim-services claims will also help those harmed by scams and restore dignity to many older adults who face cumulative losses of $28 billion annually due to financial exploitation across the U.S.
Housing remains among the most serious concerns for older New Yorkers. The Governor has advanced an historic five-year plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide while pursuing housing innovations that will provide older adults more opportunities to potentially downsize while opening up more housing stock for larger families.
Seventy-two percent of older adults consider their overall health to be excellent or good, according to New York’s first-ever community assessment survey of older adults issued by NYSOFA. Our job is to keep it that way and make even greater progress by prioritizing preventive health services that avoid higher-cost service use while maintaining independence. The Governor’s agenda achieves this by expanding access to community emergency services, obesity drugs, dental care, and air conditioners for individuals with chronic conditions, while also reducing health disparities and prescription drug costs.
These are among the Governor’s many historic investments and bold ideas for older New Yorkers and families. More is yet to come with the upcoming release of the state’s Master Plan for Aging, a blueprint to help all New Yorkers age successfully.
As the first state in the nation to achieve an Age-Friendly designation from AARP. Governor Hochul’s FY26 executive budget proposal and State of the State agenda accelerates this commitment and puts New York on a truly transformational path for the state’s 4.8 million older adults, their families, and the people who care for them.
The writer is the Acting Director of the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA).
The post Governor Hochul’s Historic Budget Investments a Game-Changer for NY’s Older Adults appeared first on EMPIRE REPORT NEW YORK 2025® NEW YORK’S 24/7 NEWS SITE.
