Survey: Asian American New Yorkers Worry About the Quality of Nursing Home Care in New York

Survey: Asian American New Yorkers Worry About the Quality of Nursing Home Care in New York

AARP New York Family Caregiving Report Reveals Deep Concern about Nursing Home Care, Citing Understaffing, Isolation and Exposure to Covid 

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ALBANY, N.Y. – Most Asian American and Pacific Island New Yorkers surveyed would prefer to receive long-term care at home with caregiving assistance, and nearly nine in ten are extremely or very concerned about the quality of care in nursing homes, fearing isolation and understaffing, according to a report released today by AARP New York.  

Considering New York State’s rapidly aging population, AARP conducted a telephone survey in fall 2023 on family caregiving and long-term care that queried residents age 40-plus who are caring for an aging loved or have done so, and who are registered to vote in New York. An oversample of respondents who self-identified as Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander was conducted to highlight Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) New York voters’ opinions and experiences about caregiving and long-term care.

In the report, “Asian American and Pacific Islander Voters Ages 40+ in New York: Their Attitudes and Opinions on Caregiving and Long-Term Care,” most AAPI voters ages 40 and over would prefer to receive long-term care at home with caregiver assistance (74%) if they or a family member needed it. One in ten would prefer to receive care in an assisted living facility or group home (11%). However, only 5 of 100 voters (5%) would prefer to receive care in a nursing home.

“This survey shows that the final state budget must increase funding to provide more oversight by ombudsmen in our nursing homes,” said AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel. “Caregivers should not have to worry about the safety and well-being of their loved ones in nursing homes in this state. Our state representatives must do better to ensure all older New Yorkers and their caregivers get the support they need, whether they are in facilities or being cared for at home.”

"Asian American and Pacific Islanders’ attitude toward family caregiving and long-term care are consistent with the majority of surveyed groups in this study,” said State Assemblymember Ron Kim (District 40/Queens). “The AAPI community is deeply concerned over the quality of care inside nursing homes and wish to receive care at home with caregiver assistance. As the Chair of the Assembly Committee on Aging, my highest priority is to map out of route forward that enables older New Yorkers to age in place with dignity and autonomy. The only way toward that goal is to fully fund in-home health services and community-based programs."

Of the AAPI voters surveyed, 81% supported more funding for New York’s existing ombudsmen program to ensure all nursing homes are visited. Currently, only 12% of adult care facilities get weekly visits from an ombudsman. The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) in New York is responsible for identifying abuse, neglect or substandard care claims that are made by or on behalf of residents in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities. The goal of LTCOP is to have weekly visits at all the facilities. The concerns raised about nursing home care included quality of care (87%); not enough staff to provide care (81%); being isolated and alone (79%) and exposure to COVID or other infections (75%).

Among the report’s other key findings:

  ·       76% of AAPI voters surveyed support increasing funding for respite care programs that would provide short-term help from a home health aide or an adult day program so caregivers can take a break.

·       85% of AAPI voters overwhelmingly support more funding for home- and community-based services, like meals, transportation and personal care.

·      More than half of AAPI voters are not confident they can pay for long-term care services if they or a family member needed them (52%). Another 22% are only somewhat confident. Only one in five are extremely or very confident (22%).