Thursday November 9, 2023 3:15 p.m.
Highlights include site-wide Spanish translations, new community discussion forums, content on mental health and providing care for children with complex needs.
In celebration of National Caregivers Month, the New York State Office on Aging (NYSOFA) announced several new offers for subscribers of The New York Healthcare Portal – a resource available for free to anyone in New York providing unpaid support to a family member or friend. New offerings include site-wide Spanish translations, community discussion forums, mental health content and tools to support caregivers of children with complex needs.
The New York Care Portal is made possible through a partnership between NYSOFA, the Association on Aging in New York (AgingNY), and Trualta, which developed and operates the portal. Financial support was provided in the state budget for fiscal year 2024.
A press release states: “The New York Care Portal helps families learn the skills needed to manage the home care of their loved ones, regardless of their age. It also connects to local resources and support services by providing personalized education, training and information links.
New Yorkers can access the service at https://newyork-caregivers.com. To create a free user account, select “Register”. Once enrolled, caregivers can select personalized training and track their progress on topics such as self-care, stroke recovery, dementia care, and medication management. Users can log in from any computer, tablet or smartphone.
New highlights include:
•Spanish translations throughout the site. While audio and PDF translations were previously available platform-wide, a new site-wide toggle provides a more inclusive experience for Spanish speakers.
• Community chat rooms. The portal now features discussion forums on specific topics and conditions, moderated by Trualta, where caregivers can post advice, success stories and offers of encouragement to others in similar situations. Each chat room focuses on high-level learning topics, such as Alzheimer’s & Dementia, Depression & Anxiety, Heart Health, Parkinson’s, Child Care, Support LGBTQ+ and much more.
•New mental health content, including care for depression and bipolar disorder, care for anxiety and PTSD, “Mental Health 101.” The press release states: “Each new toolkit builds the knowledge and strength of caregivers to debunk mental health myths, build a strong support network, and become more aware of how to care for their own mental health when providing care to others.
• Take care of children. Parents and guardians of children with complex needs – including grandparents who are “family caregivers” – now have content to help them manage stress, confidently navigate the school and health systems, advocate for the child’s needs, build necessary community relationships, and build resilience.
•Virtual Support Groups: Trualta online support groups bring together caregivers and a Trualta facilitator for engaging discussions about caregiving experiences, tips and challenges. Small groups meet weekly and are “a judgment-free zone with time for everyone to share.”
There are approximately 4.1 million caregivers in New York who provide 2.68 billion hours of unpaid care. Sixty-one percent are worried about caring for a loved one and 70% reported at least one mental health symptom during the pandemic. The Caregiver Portal teaches essential skills to reduce caregiver stress levels and increase confidence in their caregiving abilities.
A 2021 study in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Reports found a high rate of retention and engagement among caregivers who used the platform developed by Trualta to support their care of their loved ones with dementia: 84% of participants said have used at least one skill they have learned. the care portal. More than half of caregivers (56%) said they spent more time on self-care after using the portal, while 75% said the platform helped their care recipient stay at home longer.
NYSOFA Director Greg Olsen said, “The New York Care Portal provides even more ways for caregivers to connect with each other, learn evidence-based skills, relieve stress staff and improve quality of life when navigating the complexities of caring for a loved one. all ages. No one should have to handle the caregiving process alone. The New York Care Portal provides tools and information to help validate the caregiver experience, connect caregivers to support resources, and build confidence in daily tasks and decision-making to help care of a loved one at home.
Jonathan Davis, CEO of Trualta, said: “We are excited to continue our strong partnership with New York and help its diverse family caregiver population. We are also very happy to help other family caregivers in the state with our Spanish content, our discussion forums, our mental health services. offers and content on child care. The New York Care Portal is inclusive, accessible and welcoming to all.
AgingNY Executive Director Becky Preve said, “Family caregivers are on the front lines of New York’s caring economy. Our imperative is to equip them with the resources necessary to do this honorable work with confidence by providing them with information about evidence-based best practices and the community supports that are available to help. The New York Caregiver Portal, powered by Trualta, makes this possible. I encourage all New York caregivers to explore the benefits of this free resource by signing up today.
