OGDENSBURG -- A new report shows that United Helpers is a significant player in the local economy, contributing $59.7 million to the economic activity of the region each year.

United Helpers is one of the largest employers in the region, directly and indirectly supporting more than 950 local jobs.

United Helpers offers an array of services for older adults such as independent retirement communities and complete long term care, including assisted living, home care, nursing home care, senior housing, sub-acute rehabilitation, respite, and therapy services. United Helpers also provides homes and services for people with development disabilities and those with mental illness.

“I am proud to be part of an organization that supports so many people and significantly contributes to our community’s economic vitality,” said Stephen E. Knight, Chief Executive Officer for United Helpers. “This report brings to light the importance of locally owned businesses. Of significant importance is the fact that studies show that locally owned businesses generate three times the economic activity of absent-owned businesses.”

The report, “IMPACT: Services for the Elderly and Disabled - An Economic Powerhouse,” by LeadingAge New York, tallies the economic impact of long term care providers -- nursing homes, assisted living and other care and services -- at the state level and examines the field’s impact within each of the 10 state-designated economic regions with spotlights on 18 providers across the state, including United Helpers.

LeadingAge New York President James W. Clyne Jr. said the report illustrates the impact long term care providers such as United Helpers have not just on New York’s elderly, but on communities and the state in its entirety.

“Non-profits are well known for the quality of the care they provide,” Clyne said, “but legislators and policymakers often overlook the economic impact that long term care providers have on the local economy.”

The impact of these providers is not just in dollars, of course. Each worker pays taxes, buys food, clothing, household goods and services that encompass haircuts, oil changes, child care, and family dinners at a local diner.

“The services and supplies providers purchase and the wages they pay create a ripple effect in local economies and support other businesses and the jobs they bring,” Clyne said.

The regional provider spotlights throughout the report rely on what are known as RIMS-II multipliers to highlight the impact individual organizations have on regional economic activity. RIMS-II multipliers are commonly recognized tools for gauging the economic impact of an enterprise, representing both the direct spending as well as the impact that spending has as it moves on through regional economic activity. The RIMS-II multipliers used to calculate impact in this report were produced by the Regional Product Division of the Bureau of Economic Analysis on Sept. 12, 2011.

LeadingAge, formerly the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, advances policies, promotes practices and conducts research that supports, enables and empowers their member institutions and the people they serve.

LeadingAge New York represents not-for-profit, mission-driven and public continuing care, including senior housing, nursing home, adult care facility, continuing care retirement community, assisted living, home care, adult day health care and community services providers. LeadingAge New York’s more than 570 members serve an estimated 500,000 New Yorkers of all ages annually.