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Home Energy Benefits to Help Older Adults: New NYSOFA Web Resource
HEAP benefit to open November 2, plus New Yorkers encouraged to enroll in newly expanded Energy Affordability Program
As winter draws near, NYSOFA has a new resource page to help older adults navigate the many programs and services to help families cover home energy costs. Please bookmark this page and share it with your community.
Please also encourage older adults in your community to check eligibility and apply for the Energy Affordability Program (EAP). As reported in last month's newsletter, approximately 2.5 million more households are eligible to enroll for monthly discounts – including many New Yorkers that are now eligible due to Governor Hochul’s expansion of EAP program eligibility.
Depending on household income, the EAP can help New Yorkers save up to hundreds of dollars per year on utility costs, with discounts set to make a typical utility bill less than six percent of household income.
You can find more information on our new resource page.
Other related reminders and updates are below.
Regular HEAP Benefit to Open Nov. 2
The 2026-27 Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) benefit application opens on November 2, 2026 to help income-eligible individuals pay for heating their home. The program is administered by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA).
HEAP Emergency Benefit
Applicants may also be eligible for emergency HEAP benefits if they are in danger of running out of fuel or having their utility service shut off. The HEAP emergency benefit is scheduled to open on January 4, 2027.
Efficiency and Repairs or Replacement
Applications are also open for the HEAP Clean and Tune Benefit as well as the Heating Equipment Repair or Replacement Benefit.
Eligible households can receive energy efficiency services, which includes the cleaning of primary heating equipment, but may also include chimney cleaning, minor repairs, installation of carbon monoxide detectors or programmable thermostats, if needed, to allow for the safe, proper and efficient operation of the heating equipment.
For eligible homeowners, the Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement benefit can help repair or replace a furnace, boiler and other direct heating equipment necessary to keep a home's primary heating source working.
Questions regarding the HEAP program should be directed to your HEAP Local District Contact.
NYSOFA HEAP Outreach Campaign
In November, NYSOFA is working with OTDA on a statewide HEAP outreach ad campaign on television and radio. Look for it on your favorite broadcast channels, or on NYSOFA social media.
NYSOFA Director Greg Olsen Talks HEAP on WTEN
On October 16, NYSOFA Director Greg Olsen spoke to WTEN about the upcoming enrollment period for HEAP. Director Olsen stressed the importance of this assistance for older adults who are on fixed incomes to help overcome the burden of rising costs and the potential health risks of inadequate heat. He also highlighted other benefit programs that older adults may be eligible for, including the Energy Affordability Program (EAP).
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NYSOFA Talks AI and Age-Tech Innovations on PIX11 Podcast
NYSOFA Director Greg Olsen recently joined PIX11 for its “Meet Me in the Middle” podcast, which explores the issues that matter most to people in midlife, including aging, caregiving, health, wellness, technology, and navigating life's transitions. The discussion covered: how AI is changing the experience of aging, what NYSOFA has learned from the rollout of its ElliQ proactive care companion initiative, the role of technology in addressing loneliness and social isolation, NYSOFA's many technology partnerships to address social determinants of health, and other issues at the intersection of technology and aging services.
Check Out the Conversation on YouTube Today
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Medicare Open Enrollment is Here, and So is HIICAP – for Trusted Assistance
Medicare Open Enrollment is here. As we reported last month, Heather Leddick and Caleb Foard of the New York State HIICAP team are helping to spread the word about the Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program as your trusted place for help during Medicare Open Enrollment. If you haven’t seen the video yet, check it out here.
Heather and Caleb also teamed up to tell us about the Medicare Savings Program, which helps pay out-of-pocket Medicare costs, such as Part B premiums. On average, this program can provide up to an estimated $8,000 in cost savings annually for older adults. Thanks to HIICAP and partners like the Medicare Rights Center, over 1 million older adults have enrolled in this financial security program. Watch the video today to learn more.
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NYSOFA Director Goes Back on Air for WAMC Vox Pop Program
On October 14, NYSOFA Director Greg Olsen joined WAMC's call-in Vox Pop program to discuss issues affecting older adults, including social isolation and resources available to help people address various needs. A big focus of the program was scams prevention, and tools available for older adults to detect a scam, plus NYSOFA's efforts to make recommendations on the feasibility of a one-stop portal for benefits that older adults can apply for. Director Olsen also provided an update on New York State’s Master Plan for Aging, a roadmap to ensure that older adults and individuals of all ages can live healthy, fulfilling lives while aging with dignity and independence.
Take a listen to the program on WAMC's website.
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National Family Caregiver Month in November: A Preview
National Family Caregiver Month in November is a time to put special focus on the many ways that NYSOFA and our aging services partners help New York’s 4.1 million unpaid caregivers.
All throughout November, NYSOFA will be featuring key pillars of our family caregiver support programs on social media, including our working caregivers initiative and our partnerships with leading national organizations to provide digital tools like New York’s Caregiver Portal (powered by Trualta) and the ARCHANGELS Caregiver Intensity Index (CII).
Follow NYSOFA social media for ways to promote statewide caregiver supports throughout November. Some resources are below.
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NY Connects Report Highlights Accomplishments and Milestones Providing Information and Assistance
In 2025, NY Connects received 328,301 contacts for a total of 139,766 hours of support, with an average time of 43 minutes per contact. These are just a few of the data points shared in the NY Connects 2025 Annual Report. The top five categories of information provided were:
- Medicaid (32,035)
- Advocacy (25,385)
- Home Delivered Meals (22,397)
- Medicare Information/Counseling (21,227)
- Utility Payment Assistance (18,124)
In 2025, NY Connects also reached 382,650 people with public education and awareness, including 2,294 events. Eighty-six percent of those accessing NY Connects are individuals needing assistance for themselves, followed by caregivers/family (7%), providers (4%) and others (3%). According to a survey of 5,338 respondents, 90% were satisfied with the service.
In addition to key data, the report shares case studies. The report also highlights new initiatives and program successes. These include efforts to: reach specific populations; assist with specific program interventions; work with care transitions teams in provider networks; implement reform efforts; and more.
Read The Report
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Safe Disposal of Unneeded Medications: Disposal Pouches Still Available Through NYSOFA
During National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 24, NYSOFA encouraged older New Yorkers and their families to participate in efforts to easily rid their homes of unneeded medications. (See WSYR-TV coverage.)
Disposal of unneeded medications is important for older adults who are more likely to have a higher number of drug prescriptions and, therefore, face a greater risk of adverse drug events. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that adverse drug events cause adults 65 years or older to visit emergency departments more than 600,000 times each year – more than twice as often as younger people.
How Aging Services Providers Can Help
Since 2022, NYSOFA and the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) partnered to distribute 100,000 Deterra Drug Deactivation and Disposal Pouches to aging services providers for distribution and delivery to older adults. Deterra pouches are designed to destroy unwanted or expired medications safely and permanently, making them unavailable for misuse and accidental ingestion.
Agencies, community groups or not-for-profit organizations interested in Deterra pouches for distribution can use NYSOFA’s online request form. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis for organizations that have an established role serving older adults.
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NYSOFA Awarded 2026-2029 Lifespan Respite State Program Enhancement Grant
NYSOFA has been awarded a federal Lifespan Respite State Program Enhancement Grant which will run through September 2029.
This grant funding will allow NYSOFA and the New York State Caregiving and Respite Coalition (NYSCRC) to continue working in partnership with state and community partners, respite providers, family caregivers, and other stakeholders to strengthen New York State’s respite care system and advance the goals of the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers.
Planned initiatives over the next three years will include strengthening partnerships, increasing access to coordinated supports, and improving the quality and capacity of respite available to caregivers across the state. Highlights are below:
- Strengthening statewide partnerships to improve service coordination, specifically working with the New York State Adult Day Services Association to highlight social adult day services programs as respite options.
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Expanding respite capacity by recruiting and training additional respite providers, continuing to offer the successful respite voucher program, and populating the respite provider registry.
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Enhancing NYSCRC’s satellite Caregiver Wellness and Respite Centers (CWRC) to support caregivers and connect them with respite options.
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Improving data collection and reporting by integrating a caregiver assessment into NYSOFA’s statewide client data system.
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Enhancing NY Connects staff capacity to identify and support family caregivers through person-centered approaches.
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Increasing caregiver awareness of available services and supports through a public awareness campaign.
Look for more information on the rollout of this initiative.
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NYSOFA Hosts First III-D Digest Webinar
On September 29, NYSOFA held its first “Title III-D Digest Webinar” attended by more than 125 aging network professionals. The program featured two timely presentations.
- “Role the Die with Age-Tastic! A flexible and fun evidence-based health promotion program for older adults” (Presented by Dr. Jackie Berman, Director of Program Evaluation and Research at the NYC Department for the Aging).
- “Opportunities for Integration of Evidence-based Falls Prevention Programs” (Presented by: Ayden Jones, Falls Prevention Consultant and Lead Regional Coordinator for NYS Fall Prevention Network, and Valeria Medina, Public Health Specialist for NYS Bureau of Occupational Health and Injury Prevention).
Watch the recording here.
Questions can be sent to NYSOFA’s III-D Coordinator Tianna.Pettinger@aging.ny.gov.
Coming soon: NYSOFA is developing a new web resource about Title III-D Evidence-Based Health Promotion. Look for more information in the months ahead.
This article is the third in a new series highlighting evidence-based health promotion opportunities through the aging network.
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National Alzheimer’s and Related Dementia Awareness Month in November
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory, thinking skills, and the ability to carry out simple tasks. It is the most common cause of dementia in older adults, accounting for 60% to 80% of all cases. It is not a “normal” part of aging; while cognition does change as we age and mild memory lapses happen with age, Alzheimer's causes severe, lasting memory loss that worsens over time. The disease advances through stages, moving from mild forgetfulness to total dependence on caregivers. And while the overall prognosis is poor, recent advances have provided more hope for treatments which slow the progression of the disease than the field has seen over the past 20 years.
In her monthly column, NYSOFA Advocacy Specialist Colleen Scott highlights some resources to help individuals and families.
Read the Column
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Please Share: ‘Know Your Rights’ Materials
The New York State Office for New Americans within the Department of State has resources to help inform individuals of their rights when it comes to immigration enforcement activities. This includes guides for immigrant communities and concerned individuals related to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) interactions, developing a safety plan, information to carry with you, and where to call if you have questions or need further help. You can find links to these resources on a dedicated NYSOFA webpage here.
As a reminder, NYSOFA is sharing this information with you to help older adults and their families who may be affected. Please showcase this information on social media, in your newsletters, on your websites and in other public outreach, including but not limited to public engagement events (i.e., older-adult fairs/health and wellness fairs you may be participating in) and other client encounters, as appropriate.
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FREE Digital Resources to Support Older Adults, Caregivers
Each month, on social media and at events, NYSOFA shares important resources about digital innovations to help older adults. Are you sharing too? These resources are free of charge — and they're making a difference.
Caregiver Resources
Do you perform housework for someone, help them shop for food, pick up their medication? You are a caregiver. Help is available.
Online Classes Through GetSetUp
NYSOFA’s partnership with GetSetUp has connected approximately 500,000 older adults to free online courses and communities that help them learn new skills and interact with others who share their interests. Explore free online classes here. Find a promotional flyer and postcard on our training page here.
Virtual Senior Center
Through a partnership with Selfhelp Community Services, NYSOFA is offering Selfhelp’s Virtual Senior Center (VSC) free of charge for any individual age 60 and older in New York State. Explore the Virtual Senior Center and enroll here today.
Other Opportunities
Want to learn about other NYSOFA partnerships and pilot programs?
NYSOFA is building an online library of webinars and resource materials to get you started. Go to our training page and select all trainings under the “innovations” tab (left-hand sidebar).
Four Free Resources: All on One Page
NYSOFA has also developed a new one-pager highlighting four online resources that we offer statewide for any older adult. This document features all of these resources on one page for full impact. There's also a second (back) page with information about the approximately 20 core services and supports available to older New Yorkers and families through offices for the aging.
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Check Out November Course Offerings through our Partnership with GetSetUp
Explore what’s new this November through NYSOFA's partnership with GetSetUp, the online learning community.
Diabetes Management
Take charge of your health with simple, practical ways to prevent or manage diabetes. Explore nutrition, movement, healthy habits, and everyday strategies that support steady blood sugar and overall well-being. Learn small changes that can help you feel your best every day.
Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness
Your brain health matters at every stage of life. In recognition of Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month, this series shares simple ways to support memory, stay mentally active, and better understand dementia and caregiving. Learn practical tips for caring for your own brain and supporting loved ones.
Caring for Caregivers
Caregivers spend their days helping other people — which is wonderful. GetSetUp strives to help caregivers too! Join these sessions with other GetSetUp community members and take some time for yourself to learn something new, lift your spirit, and laugh a little.
Thankful Through Art
Celebrate the season by expressing gratitude through creativity. Explore festive art projects, crafts, creative cooking, and other hands-on activities that inspire reflection, connection, and joy. No experience needed — just bring your imagination and enjoy making something meaningful.
Medicare Resources
Open Enrollment is right around the corner! Enrolling in Medicare plans can be overwhelming and you may have questions about the process. These sessions are designed to help you confidently navigate through the open enrollment period, whether you're looking at options for the first time or want to consider changes in your current plan.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Made Simple
Curious about artificial intelligence but not sure where to start? In this series, discover how AI works, how to use it in everyday life, and how to stay safe while exploring this powerful technology. No tech experience needed — just bring your curiosity!
Spend the Holidays with GetSetUp
Celebrate the holiday season with the GetSetUp community! Enjoy classes to help you cook, create, plan, and celebrate. Explore seasonal activities and ideas that help you prepare for the holidays, try something new, and enjoy this festive time of year.
Special classes for: Lung Health (COPD and Lung Cancer Awareness Month), Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and more.
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About Inside NYS Aging
Inside NYS Aging is a publication of the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA). It provides news and resources for aging services providers and their partners in their efforts to promote services and supports for older adults. Please share this newsletter widely with any organizations or professionals that reach older adults. Read past issues in the newsroom on NYSOFA's website.
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Thanks for sticking it out until the end! If you found this content valuable, please share with your coworkers and colleagues in the aging services network!
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