Episode description:
As we celebrate National Family Caregivers Month, it’s important not only to honor the contributions of 48 million family caregivers nationwide, but understand how they fit into our government-supported care system for older adults. In today’s episode, I talk with John Cochran, the Chief of Staff for New York State’s Office for the Aging, who has worked on a wide range of aging issues for decades. With a career spanning high-level staff positions in government, the state legislature and the field of government relations, John brings a rare perspective and keen insights to the challenges of serving the needs of older Americans, including how to support community empowerment and civic engagement, advocate for long-term care reform, emergency response planning, and home care support for individuals aging in place. John will describe the state’s comprehensive Master Plan for Aging, set to be unveiled next year, and outline how ideas, goals and recommendations were gathered from stakeholders across the state, highlighting what experts have found not only in New York, but across the country: That our fragmented systems of aging services and healthcare delivery lack the coordinated approach that we sorely need to serve our growing aging population.
Guest description:
John Cochran serves as Chief of Staff for New York State’s Office for the Aging. He previously served as the agency’s Deputy Director of its Executive Division and Assistant Director for Intergovernmental Affairs and Strategic Planning. Since joining NYSOFA in 2008, John has worked on a wide variety of aging issues, including community empowerment, civic engagement, long-term care reform, emergency response activations and planning, long-term care ombudsman program operations, and caregiver supports, among many others. From 1998 to 2008, John worked in the field of government relations. He started his career in New York State government in 1986 working for Assemblyman James Tallon (D-Binghamton) in his district, and then in Albany, when he served as Chair of the Assembly Health Committee and Assembly Majority Leader until 1992. From 1992 to 1998, John worked for the Speaker of the New York State Assembly as Director of the Assembly’s Committee for the Aging. During his tenure as Committee Director, he developed a keen understanding of the intricacies of the long-term care system and the field of aging, as well as the complexities of the human services network.
Contact: john.cochran@aging.ny.gov
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NYSAGING/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-cochran-785b9332/
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