NYSOFA, AgingNY and Trualta Provide Free, Web-Based Support Platform for Family Caregivers in NY

June 3, 2022

ALBANY, NY—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.

“We’re excited to be partnering with the state of New York to help family caregivers provide the best care for their loved ones,” said Trualta founder and CEO Jonathan Davis. “We’re proud of our track record supporting caregivers across the country, and in partnership with New York’s robust and innovative aging network, we will make sure that every caregiver in New York has access to valuable training and support resources to reduce stress, build confidence and feel less alone.”

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.

“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,” said NYSOFA director Greg Olsen. “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.”

Once registered (newyork-caregivers.com), 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.

“Caregivers are the key building blocks in allowing older individuals to remain in their homes and communities,” said AgingNY executive director Becky Preve. “Trualta is an amazing resource to support caregivers in their journey, and we are thrilled for this partnership. The Association on Aging in New York applauds NYSOFA and Trualta for expanding caregiver services and supports to help all New Yorkers.”

There are an estimated 4.1 million caregivers in New York State who provide 2.68 billion hours of unpaid care. 61% worry about caring for a loved one, and 70% 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.

“The NYS Caregiving and Respite Coalition is so pleased that this amazing resource will be available to all our caregivers in New York,” said NYS Caregiving and Respite Coalition executive director Doris Green. “A big thank you to NYSOFA for always bringing the latest technology opportunities to our caregivers across the state.”

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% of participants reported using at least one skill they learned from Trualta. More than half of the caregivers (56%) reported allocating more time for self care after using Trualta. Caregiver burden scores also appeared to decrease after using Trualta for 30 days.

“Caring for a loved one, whether a family member or friend, is a one-of-a-kind journey,” said NYSOFA caregiver coordinator Deana Prest. “Having person-centered, skills-based training with content tailored to their care situation and learning style is critical. I’m thrilled that NYSOFA is collaborating with Trualta, an e-learning platform that will assist caregivers in building the skills needed to care for a loved one at home.”

Olsen 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.”