CCRC Legislative Education Program

On June 2, New York’s Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) joined together to host a legislative education program aimed at informing lawmakers of the unique role of CCRCs in delivering senior services and the unique challenges facing these communities in New York. The educational program featured presentations by Steve Maag, director, residential communities at LeadingAge and John Kowalik, from J. Kowalik Consulting LLC. 

Mr. Maag focused his presentation on national trends and how CCRC development is lagging in New York. CCRCs have a long history of providing care and service to seniors and continue to grow at the national level.  Of 1,920 CCRCs nationally, only 12 are located in New York State.  Maag also noted the growing trend in new services being offered by CCRCs at the national level. He made the case that across the country, CCRCs have proven themselves a valuable and viable model for delivering senior services.

Mr. Kowalik offered details on the particular problems in New York that have stymied the development of CCRCs and offered an excellent analysis of the four main problem areas. This analysis also opens the door for considering ways in which New York can catch up to the rest of the nation and offer CCRC services to a wider variety of our residents. 

Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Morelle and Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti both took time to address the group as well, and as legislators with CCRCs in their districts, praised the CCRC model. They also expressed their support for innovative programs like the LeadingAge NY Continuing Care at Home legislation, which recently passed both the Assembly and Senate and will be delivered to the Governor for his review in the coming months.

The case is clear that now is the time for addressing CCRC challenges in New York, and LeadingAge NY and our CCRC members are leading the way.

Contact: Patrick Cucinelli, pcucinelli@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8827