Caregiving

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New York City is home to an estimated 900,000 to 1.3 million caregivers. Many of them are women or older adults who provide at least 30 hours of care each week to their loved ones and also work outside the home.

Caring for Adults

An adult-child looks through a photo album with her older mother.
Caregiver programs support older New Yorkers and their caregivers.

Caring for an older adult, someone with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias, or with a chronic illness can be stressful. You may not think of yourself as a caregiver if you have a job outside of the home or if you are an older adult yourself, but recognizing that you are is an important step in getting help.

The Department for the Aging funds 12 community-based caregiver programs throughout the five boroughs that can provide:

  • Information and referrals
  • Long-term care planning
  • Support groups
  • Counseling
  • Training
  • Respite care
  • Financial assistance for some types of assistive devices (medical alert systems, limited home modifications, and caregiving supplies)

As a caregiver, you owe it to yourself to seek support. Aging Connect at 212-244-6469 to find a caregiver program near you.

For older adults who require assistance with personal care, social adult day care is meant to provide socialization, supervision and monitoring, personal care, and nutrition in a structured setting. Many of the adult day cares operating in the City aren't affiliated with NYC Aging, but you can download a list of City-funded sites.

Resources