Erie County Government - Official website of the Erie County, NY Government
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(716) 858-8526
Erie County NY Connects to Help Consumers with Long Term Care
Erie County residents now have a new resource for information about long term care. At some point in their lives, many people – children, adults, and senior citizens - may find themselves with an illness or disability that will require assistance with everyday activities. As unveiled in late September of 2007 by County Executive Joel Giambra, "to help residents receive the most appropriate long term care for them as an individual, Erie County New York Connects: Choices for Long Term Care has been established. This program will serve as a single point of entry for receiving information and assistance on the myriad of long term care options throughout our community. Whether care is paid for by Medicaid, by Medicare, or private insurance, or whether someone is eight years old, thirty-eight, or eighty-eight, everybody should make an informed choice about their options available to them."
County Executive Joel Giambra, Senior Services Commissioner Pamela Krawczyk,
and Social Services Commissioner Michael Weiner explain that people of all ages
use long term care services and can receive help through one central resource,
Erie County NY Connects.
Commissioner of Erie County Social Services Michael Weiner explains, "This program encourages consumers and their caregivers to take an active role in planning and decision-making for long term care. Consumers' needs and preferences will be considered at all levels of the process. In addition, the informal care system that consists of family, friends, volunteers, and community resources will be strongly supported. A single point of entry will allow Erie County to reduce long term care costs, alleviate the duplication of services, and better allocate resources."
Pamela Krawczyk, Commissioner of Senior Services, adds, "Long term care is not just for "old people" and it's much more than just nursing homes. It can include therapy, home delivered meals, and visiting nurses. Long term care covers a range of services, and it's often difficult for an individual or family to know where to begin. Knowing which services you need can be difficult. Most individuals prefer to remain in their homes and communities rather than being placed in an institutional setting, so knowing about all the choices that might help you is vitally important. Because there is whole network of agencies serving people, there may be more than one solution to a problem. Erie County NY Connects will help consumers find out about services and providers that can help them...they'll be able to make an informed decision about their care options."
This program is for all ages, and regardless of income. Seniors, disabled children and adults, their caregivers, and long term care professionals are welcome to contact Erie County NY Connects for help...
Phone: 716-858-8526
Long distance: 1-800-396-2705
E-mail: nyconnects@erie.gov
Website: www.erie.gov/nyconnects
Your information resource from the government of Erie County, New York
