Reaching
Out, Finding Help
Senior Reference & Aid
Adult
Social Day Care
According to the Queens Borough President's office,
the borough has been at the forefront of developing
and expanding social adult day care programs,
and has eight programs, all of which are either
totally or partially funded by the office.
Adult Social Day Care (ASDC) may be administered
by a skilled nursing facility or other medical
provider, but is more likely to be affiliated
with a senior center, settlement house, community
center, naturally occurring retirement community,
or senior housing provider.
Some programs are freestanding.
The target client is functionally impaired (physically
and/or mentally) and may require management of
a chronic condition, but not in need of close
medical supervision, the Borough President's Office
explained.
ASDC services provide congregate meals, activities,
various forms of personal care, and informational
and referral services.
They also develop and document individualized
care plans and goals, monitor client's health
needs and plan specialized activities to stimulate
and enhance the functional abilities of the individual
participants.
Senior
Transportation
The Borough President's office created the Queens
Para-transit Network more than a decade ago.
Today, they report the network contains a fleet
of 75 vans, including wheelchair accessible vans
and 43 two-way-radio equipped vans, transport
seniors to medical appointments, senior centers,
social service agencies and shopping centers.
Seniors are also able to access car service through
the network.
For more information contact Borough President
Helen Marshall's office at (718) 286-2650.
Naturally
Occurring
Retirement Community (NORC)
A
NORC is an apartment building or complex in which
a majority of the residents are 60 years of age
or older.
Previously, NORCs received only state funding
enabling the development of additional Queens
NORCs.
This funding provides supportive services on site
allowing these individuals to continue to reside
in their own apartments and maintain their independence.
For more information contact Borough President
Helen Marshall's office at (718) 286-2650.
HOUSING
RENT
CONTROLLED & RENT
STABILIZED APARTMENTS
Apartments
covered by rent control are in buildings built
before 1947 with more than three units. The resident
must have occupied this apartment since before
July 1, 1971.
If your building was built after 1947 and contains
six or more units, or the tenancy began after
July 1, 1971, the apartment is probably under
rent stabilization.
For more information, contact the Queens district
office at:
NYS Division of Housing &
Community Renewal
92-31 Union Hall St.
Jamaica 11433
(718) 739-6400
PUBLIC HOUSING
To obtain an application for public housing, write,
call or visit:
New York City Housing Authority
120-34 Queens Blvd. 2nd Floor
Kew Gardens, 11415
(718) 286-7000
SECTION 8 HOUSING
This program entitles low-income families to a
federal subsidy, which helps pay the rent. If
you want to remain in your present apartment and
are paying 40 percent or more of your income for
rent, or you want to move because your apartment
is substandard, you may be eligible.
To obtain an application for Section 8 Housing
assistance, visit:
Applications Information Section 8
NYC Housing Authority
59-17 Junction Blvd., 2nd Floor
Corona 11372
or
call (718) 383-7400 and ask to have an application
mailed to you.
SECTION 202 HOUSING
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) administers Section 202 housing for the
elderly and handicapped.
HUD makes direct, low cost, long-term loans to
non-profit sponsors to finance the production
of rental housing. Funds are borrowed from the
Treasury, and interest paid by project owners
is slightly below market rates. Rental assistance
(Section 8) can be combined with this program
to help pay rent for tenants with low incomes.
Households of one or more persons, the head of
which is at least 62 years old or is handicapped,
are eligible.
Private non-profit organizations may apply at:
26 Federal Plaza
New York 10007
(212) 264-8000, Ext. 3701
SENIOR CITIZEN RENT INCREASE EXEMPTION (SCRIE)
The Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE)
provides eligible New Yorkers protection from
most rent increases, including those resulting
from lease renewals.
To qualify for SCRIE, one must be 62 years of
age or older, pay one-third or more of their income
for rent and live in rent-stabilized or rent-controlled
apartments, Mitchell-Lama housing or some hotel
rooms. The maximum annual income seniors may have
to qualify for SCRIE is currently $20,000.0
If you live in a rent controlled or stabilized
apartment, contact:
NYC Department for the Aging
Central Information & Referrals
2 Lafayette St.
New York 10007
(212) 442-1000
HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM (HEAP)
Basic HEAP Program:
This program is for renters and owners. It provides
payments to fuel and utility companies or directly
to renters whose fuel and utilities are included
in their rent. Apply at:
NYC Department for the Aging HEAP
2 Lafayette St.
New York 10007
(212) 442-4327
AGE DISCRIMINATION
It is a violation of New York City and state law
for employers to discriminate against a person
solely because of advanced age. If you have been
a victim of such discrimination, you may file
a complaint with:
NYC Commission on Human Rights
40 Rector St., 9th Floor
New York 10006
(212) 306-7500
HOME ATTENDANT PROGRAM
Home attendant services provide personal care
and assistance in the activities of daily living
to adults who are aged, disabled or handicapped.
These services are provided at the request of
a physician. Services are available to recipients
of SSI, Medicaid and Public Assistance.
HOMEMAKER SERVICES
Homemaker services provide household management
and personal care for aged or handicapped adults
in order to prevent their placement in institutions.
Homemakers deal with some of the fundamental housekeeping
chores (cleaning, marketing, etc.), as well as
some personal care and home management. Homemakers
services can be provided up to 24 hours a day,
seven days a week.
HOME HEALTH AIDE SERVICE
Home Health Aide Service provides personal health
care to adults who are aged, disabled or handicapped.
These services are provided by aides who have
been specially trained and certified and are supervised
by nursing staff. These services are provided
at the request of a physician for up to 24 hours
a day to Medicaid eligible recipients.
VISITING NURSE SERVICE
Visiting Nurse Service (VNS) serves Queens residents
through its borough office located in Flushing.
VNS serves the homebound with nursing, home health
aide and social work services, as well as physical,
occupational and speech therapy. For information,
call:
VNS
41-61 Kissena Blvd.
Flushing 11355
(718) 463-9494
When you are accepted into the program, VNS Home
Care and the Department of Social Services will
work with you to determine which services you
will need to remain at home safely. These services
may include:
o Professional nursing services
o Home health aide services
o Personal care or housekeeping services
o Physical, occupational and respiratory therapy
o Speech therapy and audiology
o Medical social services
o Nutritional services
o Laboratory services
o Medical supplies, equipment and appliances
o Waived services, such as social day care, social
transportation, respite care, home improvement
and home maintenance tasks
o Emergency Alert Response System
Parker Jewish Geriatric Institute
Long-Term Home Health Care Program
271-11 76th Ave.
New Hyde Park, NY 11040
(718) 289-2160
SENIOR EMERGENCY
SERVICES
This
program is for ambulatory persons who are discharged
from hospitals on weekends and have no one at
home to care for them. They may be eligible for
a one-time service of five hours of home care.
The American Red Cross will arrange for an escort,
transportation, temporary housing and a home care
worker to do light shopping, housekeeping and
meal preparation.
Referrals must originate from the hospital, police
or social service agencies. For additional information,
contact:
Emergency Senior Services
American Red Cross in Greater NY
150 Amsterdam Ave.
New York 10023
(212) 787-1000 Ext. 8141
VA Extended Care Center
179th Street and Linden Blvd.
St. Albans 11425
(718) 526-1000 Ext. 200
HOME
DELIVERED MEALS
Home
delivered meals are available, in many communities,
to help frail, older homebound persons remain
in their own homes.
Through this program, homebound elderly residents
age 60 and over are delivered a nutritious hot
lunch up to five (in some communities six) days
a week. Some programs offer kosher lunches. Also,
trained social workers may be available to the
recipients for assistance in a crisis, to make
linkages with other needed services and to assist
in the completion of forms for other benefits
and entitlements. A small contribution is generally
requested.
For more information and to apply for home delivered
meals, call the NYC Department for the Aging at
(212) 442-1000.
HEALTH
CARE
MEDICARE
Medicare
is a health insurance program for persons 65 years
of age and older and those under 65 who are disabled.
It is a national program run by the federal government.
Medicare has two parts: hospital insurance and
medical insurance. It covers treatment of illnesses
and the cost of most necessary hospital stays.
If you are approaching 65, remember the enrollment
periods for Medicare are:
o Three months before your 65th birthday; and
o between January 1 and March 31 of each year.
These are the only times you will be able to apply
for the program. Bring your birth certificate
and Social Security card when applying. Call 1-800-772-1213
toll free or visit your local Social Security
office:
28-18 Steinway St., Astoria
155-10 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica
617 Beach 20St. Far Rockaway
42-15 Crescent St, LIC
MEDICAID
Medicaid
is a government program for financially needy
persons. It covers doctors' services, as well
as providing for payment of prescribed medicines
and other medical supplies.
Contact the Department of Social Services for
additional information at (718) 657-8300.
-Compiled from the free Senior Citizen Resource
Guide from the Queens Borough President's Office.
