For information on the Caregiver Support and Services, please contact AOA:
Cattaraugus Territory (716) 532-5777 or Allegany Territory (716) 945-8414

Caregiver Assessment
Do you provide unpaid care to a family member, friend, or neighbor who has an illness, disability, memory loss, or injury?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you are a caregiver!
Are you feeling overwhelmed, constantly worried, tired, sad, easily irritated, and/or extremely stressed? You are not alone, and there is support available. If you would like to learn more about resources, tools, and supports available for caregivers, please answer the following questions to get connected to the right starting place.

• Are you over the age of 18 and caring for an older adult (age 60+)?
• Are you over the age of 18 caring for an individual (any age) with Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder (e.g., dementia, traumatic brain injury, mild cognitive impairment, chronic traumatic encephalopathy)?
• Are you over the age of 55 and living with and caring for a child (not biological) under the age of 18?
• Are you over the age of 55 and living with and caring for an adult (can be a biological child) aged 18-59 with a disability?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you are eligible for the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP). The goal of the NFCSP is to support family caregivers so they may continue to carry out their caregiving roles and responsibilities. The program can provide services such as caregiver counseling, information and assistance, caregiver training, respite care (a break from caregiving), and much more. If you would like to learn more about how this program can assist you, please contact the Seneca Nation Area Office for the Aging at (716) 945-8991.

If you answered no to all the questions above, or you are not interested in learning about the resources available through the NFCSP, there is still help available to you through the Any Care Counts – New York (ACC-NY) Campaign, which recognizes and supports the millions of unpaid caregivers across the state!

Through ACC-NY, you can discover your caregiver intensity score by taking the ARCHANGELS Caregiver Intensity Index (CII). It takes just 2 minutes to complete. You will find out whether you are “in the red,” “yellow,” or “green,” and be connected to trusted resources.

Do you prefer to search for resources on your own? Visit the NY Connects Resource Directory. NY Connects links individuals of all ages and their caregivers to long-term services and supports and provides one-stop access to free, objective, comprehensive information and assistance.

Adult Day Services

The Seneca Nation AOA provides respite care to qualifying Elders who have physical and/or cognitive limitations, are over the age of 60, and reside on Seneca Territory. Respite care gives caregivers a break and temporarily relieves them from their caregiving responsibilities. Respite is designed to provide relief to the caregiver while also providing direct services to the care recipient.

Powerful Tools for Caregiving

The Seneca Nation AOA offers this educational program designed to provide caregivers with the tools they need to take care of themselves while caring for their loved ones. Classes are offered once a week for six weeks. Caregivers will learn to reduce stress, improve self-confidence, communicate feelings more effectively, and locate helpful resources.

Respite Care

The Seneca Nation AOA has contracted with Adult Day centers near the Cattaraugus and Allegany territories to provide Adult Day services to qualifying Elders and their caregivers. Adult day centers operate during the day and offer a variety of activities in a safe, supportive environment. Depending on the participant’s income, there may be a cost share associated with this program.

Overnight Respite – Caring for a loved one can be deeply fulfilling — and exhausting. Every caregiver deserves time to rest and recharge. Through the SNI AOA, overnight respite services provide temporary relief for caregivers of older adults, ensuring their loved ones receive quality care in a safe, comfortable long-term care facility while they take a much-needed break.

For more information on eligibility and availability, please contact our office.

The SNI AOA has contracted with the Center for Elder Law & Justice (CELJ) to provide free legal assistance to Elders age 60 and older residing on Seneca Nation Territories or within the City of Salamanca. This service is not dependent on Seneca Nation enrollment.

Appointments with lawyer Thomas Warren are available on the fourth Friday of every month – mornings at Allegany AOA and afternoons at Cattaraugus AOA.

CELJ provides:

• Will Construction (basic)
• Health Care Advocacy
• Elder Abuse Prevention
• Income Maintenance
• Kinship Care
• Guardianship Services
• Consumer Protection
• Foreclosure Prevention
• Health Care Proxy & Power of Attorney Assistance

CELJ also provides a Free Legal Hotline at (844) 481-0973 or email: helpline@elderjusticeny.org

To make an appointment for in-person legal assistance on either territory, please call:

Tina Law (Cattaraugus) (716) 532-5777  |  Samantha Smith (Allegany) (716) 945-8414

OR, feel free to contact the lawyer directly: Thomas Warren, Center for Elder Law & Justice, 716- 853-3087 ext. 236, twarren@elderjusticeny.org

Need help with long-term care services? Call NY Connects to speak with specially trained operators.

Are you looking for a community service or program to help an aging or disabled person and don’t know where to go? Call our local NY Connects Helpline at (716) 945-8991 for assistance from specially trained operators who can guide you through the available resources in our community or search the state website at NY Connects.

The federal funding that supported the Senior Farmers’ Market Coupon Program expired in December 2025 under the 2018 Farm Bill. We are currently waiting to hear whether New York State will continue the program with state funding.

Please check back for updates!

Food Pantries – Food Connect Map
Find nearby food pantries and meal programs using the Food Connect Map, which helps locate free food resources in your area.

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps eligible households pay heating costs during the winter months.

Cattaraugus County

📞 Last Names A–M: 716-701-3773
📞 Last Names N–Z: 716-701-3774

Erie County

📞 Phone: 716-858-7644

Chautauqua County

📞 Phone: 716-753-4471

Aging Services in Western New York

These county offices provide services such as caregiver support, home-delivered meals, transportation assistance, benefits counseling, and wellness programs for older adults.

Erie County Department of Senior Services

📞 Phone: 716-858-8526
🌐 Website: https://www3.erie.gov/aging/

Chautauqua County Office for Aging Services

📞 Phone: 716-753-4471
🌐 Website: https://chautauquacountyny.gov/office-aging

Cattaraugus County Department of the Aging

📞 Phone: 716-373-8032
🌐 Website: https://www.cattco.gov/aging