NEW YORK – Assemblymember Aravella Simotas is advocating that $100,000 be included in this year’s State budget to help support the Home Sharing and the Respite Care Programs of the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens.

In a letter to Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie, which was significantly supported by other Members of the Assembly, Assemblymember Simotas requested that the money be used to establish the Denny Farrell Memorial Fund for Senior Living that will assist the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens with its mission of helping seniors to stay in their homes and out of institutions.

Assemblymember Simotas said, “This is a compassionate and practical program that helps the elderly maintain their independence, dignity, and comfort, while saving millions of dollars in Medicaid and other government spending.”

Linda Hoffman, President of the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens said, “We are truly grateful to Assemblymember Simotas for her support of our mission. The Denny Farrell Memorial Fund for Senior Living will be a tribute to both Assemblymember Simotas and the late Assemblymember Denny Farrell, both of whom have always been very caring and supportive of New York’s elderly.”

The Home Sharing Program provides the only services of its kind in New York City, carefully matching senior hosts who have extra room in their apartments or houses with compatible roommates in need of affordable housing. The program also matches adult hosts age 55 or older, who are interested in sharing with developmentally disabled adult “guests” capable of independent living. The Respite Care Program helps relieve adult caregivers by offering affordable short-term certified home health aides and in certain emergency circumstances free care is provided.