The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) and Association on Aging in New York (AgingNY) have partnered with Trualta to offer Trualta’s web-based caregiver education and support platform at no cost to any unpaid caregiver in New York State. Funding for this initiative is supported in the Fiscal Year 2023 state budget through NYSOFA programs to address social isolation and expand caregiver supports.
Trualta’s evidence-based caregiver training and support platform helps families build skills to manage care at home for loved ones of any age. It also connects to local resources and support services by delivering personalized education, training, and information links.
New Yorkers can access the service at https://newyork-caregivers.com. Once registered, caregivers can select personalized training and track their progress on topics like self-care, stroke recovery, dementia care, medication management, and more. Users can log-in from any computer, tablet, or smartphone.
There are an estimated 4.1 million caregivers in New York State who provide 2.68 billion hours of unpaid care. Sixty-one percent worry about caring for a loved one and 70 percent reported at least one mental health symptom during the pandemic. Trualta teaches critical skills to reduce caregiver stress levels and increase confidence in one’s 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 Trualta platform to support their care for loved ones with dementia: 84 percent of participants reported using at least one skill they learned from Trualta. More than half of the caregivers (56 percent) reported allocating more time for self-care after using Trualta. Caregiver burden scores also appeared to decrease after using Trualta for 30 days.
NYSOFA Director Greg Olsen said, “Family, friends and neighbors provide a range of unpaid supports for loved ones at home, including often complex or intensive tasks for family members who have chronic conditions like dementia or diabetes. This labor of love can be all-consuming, but you are not alone. Our partnership with Trualta offers an evidence-based support platform statewide, empowering unpaid caregivers with the knowledge and skills training necessary to reduce anxiety and stress while improving outcomes in the care of loved ones. Equally important is the connection it provides to local programs and services for help if needed.”
He added, “NYSOFA, our county office for aging partners, and their networks deliver many community-based services to help individuals age in place, including support groups, respite, social adult day programs, and more. On-demand platforms like Trualta help extend our reach, bringing vital information and guidance into the homes of more New Yorkers so that nobody faces the struggle of caregiving alone.”
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