PHI Statement on New York’s Priorities for Aging Services and the Direct Care Workforce
Earlier this month, PHI applauded the United States Senate’s unanimous passage of the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act, recognizing the vote as a powerful bipartisan commitment to strengthening the services and workforce that enable us all to age with dignity. We continue advocating for the House to act swiftly on this critical legislation. At a time when the need has never been greater, Congress and states should be investing in aging services and strengthening the direct care workforce—not moving backward.
That is why PHI is deeply concerned about New York State’s proposed rollback of training standards for certified nursing assistants (CNA). New York’s current 100-hour training standard for CNAs is not arbitrary—it reflects the training time, content, and instructional methods needed to ensure that learners are able to successfully complete the program and are sufficiently prepared to support patients and residents with increasingly complex needs. We join our partners in urging the state to withdraw this proposal and instead advance policies that prioritize workers’ preparedness and improve recruitment and retention in this vital workforce.
The proposal to reduce training requirements for CNAs is the latest sign of New York’s reduced commitment to aging and disability services. One year ago, Governor Kathy Hochul released a visionary and comprehensive Master Plan for Aging Final Report, based on years of work by key state agencies and countless experts. With its Master Plan for Aging, New York has the opportunity to lead our nation in building an aging services system that meets the needs of older adults, people with disabilities, and paid and family caregivers alike. Yet implementation of the plan has stalled and critical investments remain unrealized. As a member of the New York State Master Plan for Aging Coalition, PHI echoes the Coalition’s concerns highlighted in our June statement.
The direct care workforce is the foundation of our long-term services and supports system, and essential to the realization of the vision put forth by New York’s Master Plan for Aging. PHI urges Governor Hochul to reaffirm her commitment to this vision by withdrawing the proposed CNA training reduction and accelerating implementation of the Master Plan. We also call on the New York State Legislature to invest in aging services and the direct care workforce so that the state’s actions reflect the promise of the Master Plan—and the needs of New Yorkers today and in the years ahead.
