NYC seniors face delays getting needed services, survey says

Waiting lists for older adults trying to receive help through case management during the pandemic have surged 265% to 2,936 people, according to a survey of 15 nonprofits helping seniors, the New York Post reports. 

This could delay access to services like housekeeping and transportation to get groceries for a population that is particularly vulnerable and more often homebound during the COVID-19 crisis. Support provided through case management can make the difference between staying at home or in a nursing home for an elderly New Yorker, providers of senior services say.

The data, provided by the senior advocacy group LiveOn NY, may also be driven by budget cuts to nonprofits contracting with the city Department for the Aging. The agency saw a $33.1 million funding reduction in the city’s approved budget this year, though its officials say the cut should not impact its core programs. 

But the rising demand for help has several organizations calling for more support to hire additional case managers. It’s unlikely such a request will be met, given the city’s poor fiscal state, which could lead the city to lay off 22,000 of its employees.