While state funding for senior services has grown, thousands remain on waitlists for in-home care, meals and other essential support, a new report from State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli found.
Data reporting by the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) also makes it hard to determine who is being left behind and where, the report said.
New York’s population of adults 60 and older is projected to reach about 5.5 million by 2030. Nearly 70% of those over 65 are expected to need some form of long-term care in their lifetime. With federal funding, like Medicaid support, shrinking, demand for state-funded services is likely to rise.
Many seniors prefer to receive care at home rather than in institutions, but as the number of older New Yorkers grows, local agencies and service providers face mounting pressure.
“New York has an obligation to support seniors who need and qualify for in-home, meal, or other support services,” DiNapoli said in a statement. "These critical services provide necessary care and help people remain in their homes and communities, while preventing more expensive institutional care."
Services that are needed include in-home personal care, meal delivery, transportation, case management and support for family caregivers. A June report from the state’s Master Plan for Aging found that a key challenge will be the availability and capacity of the direct care workforce.
State funding for NYSOFA programs has increased more than 88%, or $114 million, in the 2025–26 budget compared to 2018–19. Despite these increases, demand continues to outpace availability. Many seniors who qualify for services are still on waitlists, and some funds went unspent, raising questions about whether state dollars are reaching their intended targets.
A 2023 audit by DiNapoli found that NYSOFA did not consistently monitor local agencies or provide guidance on tracking and reporting waitlists. There are gaps in available data, including on service participation and funding, including waitlist numbers by county and program; how much funding each local agency receives and spends on in-home services; and how many eligible seniors remain underserved.
Without this information, it’s difficult to know where services fall short or whether taxpayer dollars are being used effectively, DiNapoli said.
