Our Senior Citizens
With decades of experience, service, and leadership, seniors are undoubtedly the anchors of our communities. As our aging population continues to grow, it is vital that we continue to provide seniors access to services that cater to their unique needs. Below you will find many of the resources available to seniors living in New York City.
City Hall Update: My Recent Work on Senior Issues
As a Council Member I have worked hard to make New York City a place where seniors can live long, fulfilling lives. Here are a few of the senior initiatives I have been working on in City Hall:
- As part of the Fiscal 2020 Budget, I worked hard to include multiple programs focused on improving the lives of senior citizens. I am happy to report that this year’s budget included increased support of senior social clubs which provide services for senior residents to live independently.
- Senior centers must be clean spaces that adhere to best practices of quality care. For this reason, I co-sponsored a bill that requires the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to conduct annual inspections at social adult day cares and senior centers that are food service establishments.
- Data reports are critical for future initiatives related to senior services. I am working on legislation that would require reports produced by the Department of Homeless Services to include the number of those persons who are 62 years or age or older when possible. The bill can be found here.
- As part of my continued efforts with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), I am cosponsoring a bill that seeks to provide a snapshot of senior centers within NYCHA buildings, including the number of centers, the number of people served by each center, and the programming provided.
- It is paramount that seniors struggling with neurodegenerative diseases, and their caregivers, have substantial support from the City. Together with Council Members Eugene and Brannan, I am working to create a task force to provide assistance to people affected by Alzheimer’s disease. The bill can be found here.
Resources For Our Senior Citizens
Arts and Culture
NYC ARTS Cultural Guide for Seniors: Manhattan
The NYC-ARTS Cultural Guide for Seniors: Manhattan was developed in cooperation with the City of New York, which has declared its commitment to make the city friendlier to senior citizens through its program Age-Friendly NYC: Enhancing Our City’s Livability for Older New Yorkers.
Senior Planet celebrates aging by sharing information and resources that support aging with attitude, with a particular focus on the role of technology in helping adults connect, stay healthy, and enjoy life. Senior Planet is home to New York’s only events calendar curated by and for older adults.
Resources for Employment
Senior Employment Services (SES) Form
ACCESS NYC screens New Yorkers for over 30 City, State, and Federal benefit programs. It allows individuals to apply easily and is available in many different languages. Use ACCESS NYC to discover health and human services benefits that may be right for you.
Workforce1 Customer Information Form
ACCESS NYC screens New Yorkers for over 30 City, State, and Federal benefit programs. It allows individuals to apply easily and is available in many different languages. Use ACCESS NYC to discover health and human services benefits that may be right for you.
Resources for Your Health
A Complete Guide to Health Insurance Coverage for Older New Yorkers
This guide has been developed by the New York City Department for the Aging’s Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) to help older New Yorkers better understand the health care coverage options currently available in New York City. The topics include Medicare Parts A and B, “Medigap” insurance, Medicare Advantage health plans, Medicare Part D, Medicare Savings Programs, and Medicaid.
BenefitsCheckUp is a free service of the National Council on Aging (NCOA), a nonprofit service and advocacy organization in Washington, DC. Many adults over 55 need help paying for prescription drugs, health care, utilities, and other basic needs. There are over 2,000 federal, state and private benefits programs available to help. But many people don’t know these programs exist or how they can apply. BenefitsCheckUp asks a series of questions to help identify benefits that could save you money and cover the costs of everyday expenses. After answering the questions, you will get a report created just for you that describes the programs you may get help from. You can apply for many of the programs online or you can print an application form.
Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC)
The Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) program is a New York State program for seniors administered by the Department of Health. It helps more than 270,000 income-eligible seniors aged 65 and older to supplement their out-of-pocket Medicare Part D drug plan costs.
The Medicare Rights Center is a national, nonprofit consumer service organization that works to ensure access to affordable health care for older adults and people with disabilities through counseling and advocacy, educational programs and public policy initiatives.
Senior Citizen Housing Resources
A Housing Guide for Senior Citizens
This guide addresses such key issues as age discrimination, harassment, Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE), alternative housing, in-home assistance, financial assistance, help with electric and gas utilities, and help with telephone service.
New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)
Senior Center Search Page Search for NYCHA Senior Centers by borough.
Senior Center Search Engine – Department of the Aging
Search by zipcode or borough and then by service for senior centers in NYC.
Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) Program Information for Tenants
Tenants who qualify for the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) Program can have their rent frozen at their current level and be exempt from future rent increases.
The West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing, Inc. (WSFSSH)
In addition to serving independent seniors, we now serve frail elderly individuals, older persons living with serious mental illnesses, homeless individuals, persons living with physically handicapping conditions, grandparents raising their grandchildren, and families. Today we house over 1,800 people in 24 buildings located on the Upper West Side, and in Harlem, Chelsea, and the Bronx.
The first senior center for blind seniors in NYC.
The SAGE Center is a full-time center for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older people age 60+ in New York City—the first center of its kind in the country. Founded in 2012 as part of New York City’s Innovative Senior Center initiative, The SAGE Center provides a comprehensive array of unique services and programs related to arts and culture, fitness, food and nutrition, health and wellness, and lifelong education for LGBT elders.
Morningside Retirement is a Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) serving the residents of Morningside Gardens in District 7.
Senior Centers
NYCHA Senior Centers in Manhattan
Homepage for the New York City Housing Authority’s website.
Hamilton Grange Senior Center
Sylmetta Donaldson, Director
420 West 145th Street, New York, NY 10031
Tel: (212) 862-4181
Jackie Robinson Senior Center
Norma Gomez, Director
1301 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027
Tel: (212) 666-4910
Manhattanville Housing Senior Center
Robert Anthony, Comm. Coordinator
530 West 133rd Street, New York, NY 10027
Tel: (212) 491-3377
Mannie Wilson Towers
Ms. Laura Williams, Coordinator
565 Manhattan Avenue, New York, NY 10027
Tel: (212) 280-2121
UBA Manhattanville Center
Ms. Basilia Silverio, Director
3333 Broadway, New York, NY 10031
Tel: (212) 862-5562
Wilson Major Morris Community Center
Mary E. Ahalbert, Director
459 West 152nd Street, New York, NY 10031
Tel: (212) 234-4661
ABSW Senior Citizens Center
221 West 107th Street, New York, NY 10025
(212) 749-8400
Manhattanville Riverside Neighborhood Senior Center
3333 Broadway, New York, NY 10031
(212) 862-5562
Convent Avenue Baptist Church Senior Center
425 West 144th Street, New York, NY 10031
(212) 243-6767
Riverstone Senior Life Services
99 Fort Washington Avenue and 163rd Street, New York NY 10032
(212) 927-5600
West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing
135 West 106th Street (between Amsterdam and Columbus)
212-749-7015
Help with Your Personal Finance
EconomicCheckUp is a free service of the National Council on Aging (NCOA), a nonprofit service and advocacy organization in Washington, DC. Many adults over 55 need help making ends meet, but may not know where to find resources that can help. EconomicCheckUp asks a series of questions to help identify benefits that could save you money, find ways to cut expenses and develop a concrete plan to achieve greater economic security. The type of help available through EconomicCheckUp includes: money management & budgeting, housing, health, employment & training, debt & credit management.
Public Safety
Resources for Victims of Elder Abuse
The Elder Abuse Unit of the New York County District Attorney’s Office addresses the needs and concerns of older crime victims who live in Manhattan. In cooperation with the New York City Police Department, Adult Protective Services (“APS”), the New York City Department for the Aging, medical professionals and social service agencies, the Office investigates and prosecutes all kinds of crime involving elderly victims. (The New York County District Attorney’s Office)
Improving Senior’s Quality of Life
Adult Protective Services Program (APS)
Physically and/or mentally impaired adults who are at risk of harm can get help through the Adult Protective Services Program (APS). APS can arrange for services and support to promptly remove risks and help clients live independently and safely within their homes and communities.
The initiative seeks to make New York City a better place to grow old by promoting an “age-in-everything” lens across all aspects of city life. The initiative asks the city’s public agencies, businesses, cultural, educational and religious institutions, community groups, and individuals to consider how changes to policy and practice can create a city more inclusive of older adults and more sensitive to their needs.
Transportation
Access-a-Ride Service Application MTA
New York City Transit’s paratransit service, Access-A-Ride, provides door-to-door transportation within New York City on an advance reservation basis to persons who, because of a physical or mental disability, are unable to use public transit buses or subways.
Accessible Dispatch: Wheelchair-Accessible Taxi Service in NYC
The new way to book a wheelchair-accessible taxi in Manhattan. No advance reservations necessary; available to you 24/7.
Application for Reduced-Fare MetroCard for People with Disabilities
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Reduced-Fare MetroCard Program for People with Disabilities provides reduced-fare transportation for persons with the following disabilities: receiving Medicare benefits for any reason other than age, serious mental illness (SMI) and receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, blindness, hearing impairment, ambulatory disability, loss of both hands, mental retardation and/or other organic mental capacity impairment
Application for Reduced-Fare MetroCard for Seniors
For senior citizens 65 years or older.
The shuttle is wheelchair accessible and free for people with disabilities, the elderly and their companions, as well as individuals with service animals.
Parking Permits for People with Disabilities
New York City issues two types of permits for citizens with disabilities – a New York State permit and a New York City permit. This page describes the different eligibility requirements and different uses for these permits. (NYC Department of Transportation)
Find a Transportation Provider through NYC Department for the Aging
Transportation services are available for essential medical and social service appointments for people age 60 and older who lack access to transportation or cannot use public transportation. This service is provided by community-based organizations funded by the Department for the Aging.
In-Home Services
In-Home Services from NYC Department for the Aging
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