eNewsletter
Last updated May 15, 2020.
During the COVID-19 outbreak, services for older adults – who are thought to be more vulnerable to the virus than the general population – are even more essential. Below is a list of service providers and their current service plans. It based on the most up-to-date, available information we have, but please note that services are subject to change at short notice during the outbreak. It will be updated regularly.
BENEFITS
AGENCY: Community Service Society of New York
SERVICE: Benefits Plus Learning Center
DESCRIPTION: Currently there is no impact to payment of benefits as a result of the Coronavirus. However, guidance and instructions are evolving rapidly regarding benefit access, appointments, and fair hearings. This guide provides information on these changes, as well as additional resources. Note that the following information may change in the coming days. In this fast-moving landscape, we will update this resource guide periodically to provide the latest information.
AGENCY: Social Security Administration
SERVICE: Social Security Benefits
DESCRIPTION: All local offices are closed to the public, but the Yonkers office can be contacted directly at this number.
CONTACT: tel.: (866) 331-6404
AGENCY: Westchester Library System
SERVICE: Senior Benefits Information Counseling (SBIC)
DESCRIPTION: The Westchester Library System’s SBIC counseling sites remain closed through April, but you can still receive unbiased Medicare counseling by calling our helpline at 914-231-3260 or emailing SBICS@wlsmail.org
CONTACT: tel: (914) 231-3260
DELIVERY SERVICES
AGENCY: Family Services of Westchester
SERVICE: RideConnect
DESCRIPTION: FSW’s RideConnect program is ready to serve Westchester and southern Putnam County older adults 60+ who need shopping and doorstep delivery of groceries. RideConnect’s core mission is to provide transportation resources for older adults 60+, and it is mobilizing quickly to meet the new demand for delivery services to seniors. We recruited more than 350 volunteers last week that are ready to serve the community.
CONTACT: tel.: 914-242-7433
e-mail: Karen Ganis at kganis@fsw.org
AGENCY: Invisible Hands
SERVICE: Delivery of Groceries and Supplies (serving the greater New York area and parts of New Jersey).
DESCRIPTION: Volunteer organization working to bring groceries and supplies to people who are at the greatest risk for severe COVID-19 reactions. “We’re focused most prominently on the elderly, disabled, and immunocompromised, but are available to help anyone in need.”
CONTACT: tel.: (732) 639-1579
AGENCY: Yonkers Office of the Aging
SERVICE: Listing of Prescription and Supermarket Delivery Services
DESCRIPTION: List of Yonkers pharmacies and supermarkets that offer delivery services. (Call to confirm, as services may have changed.)
FOOD
AGENCY: City of Yonkers
SERVICE: Food Delivery
DESCRIPTION: List of Yonkers restaurants that are open and offering delivery service. (Call to confirm, as services may have changed.)
AGENCY: Down to Earth Markets
SERVICE: Farmers Markets
DESCRIPTION: Support your local farmers! Some vendors working with Down to Earth Markets are offering home delivery options. (Call or check their individual Web sites to confirm.)
AGENCY: Feeding Westchester
SERVICE: Food Bank
DESCRIPTION: Follow link for distribution locations, hours, and instructions.
CONTACT: tel.: (914) 923-1100 (Weekdays, 8 AM to 5 PM)
AGENCY: Feeding Westchester
SERVICE: Mobile Food Pantry
DESCRIPTION: Follow link for distribution locations, hours, and instructions.
CONTACT: tel.: (914) 923-1100
e-mail: MobilePantry@FeedingWestchester.Org
AGENCY: Yonkers Community Action Plan
SERVICE: Food Delivery
DESCRIPTION: This service is designed to aid low-income, home-bound seniors and physically disabled persons by delivering a food box, typically on the last Thursday of each month. Clients are provided with groceries to compose at least 21 full meals (3 complete meals a day). Groceries provided are sensitive to restricted diets and include healthy options such as low-sugar and low-sodium items, fresh produce, lean proteins, and dry goods. The food boxes are prepped the day prior to delivery and are delivered by YCAP staff or volunteers.
CONTACT: tel.: (914) 423-5905
e-mail: INFO@YONKERSCAP.ORG
CARING CALLS
AGENCY: Dorot
SERVICE: Caring Calls
DESCRIPTION: In-person visits have been replaced with phone calls (Caring Calls) for the interim. People who register now will receive periodic check-in calls for friendly conversation and, later, be transitioned into the Friendly Visits program.
CONTACT: tel.: (914) 573-8906
AGENCY: iamfine
SERVICE: Caring Calls
DESCRIPTION: iamfine offers a daily automated check-in phone service for free. The service calls a person who lives alone, 1-2 times a day at a predetermined time and prompts them to press 1 to confirm they are OK. If they miss their check-in, then iamfine will alert friends and family.
INFORMATION
AGENCY: Alzheimer’s Association, Hudson Valley Chapter
SERVICE: Information, Support
DESCRIPTION: Meetings, events and other activities will be conducted online or by phone whenever possible. During this time, the Alzheimer’s Association is available to you 24/7 for assistance. Coronavirus tips for dementia caregivers can be found here.
CONTACT: tel.: (800) 272-3900
AGENCY: American Diabetes Association
SERVICE: Information
DESCRIPTION: Coronavirus information for Diabetes Patients.
AGENCY: American Heart Association
SERVICE: Information
DESCRIPTION: Coronavirus information for Heart Patients.
AGENCY: American Lung Association
SERVICE: Information
DESCRIPTION: Coronavirus information for Lung Disease Patients.
AGENCY: Pace Women’s Justice Center
SERVICE: Legal Helpline
DESCRIPTION: Has an elder unit which may be helpful for housing/rent issues.
CONTACT: tel.: (914) 287-0739
AGENCY: Salud America!
SERVICE: Information
DESCRIPTION: Information on coronavirus for Latinx individuals with chronic health conditions.
AGENCY: United Way/Westchester County
SERVICE: 211 Helpline
DESCRIPTION: 2-1-1 offers information, referral, assessment, and crisis support for health and human services to callers, helping them find the assistance they need to address the everyday challenges of living as well as those that develop during times of disaster and other community emergencies.
CONTACT: tel.: 211
e-mail: 211info@hudson211.org
AGENCY: Westchester Library System
SERVICE: Senior Law Day Collaborative
DESCRIPTION: A team of more than 150 attorneys, financial planners, geriatric care managers and more offering free consultations and advice. We can accept email inquiries regarding legal, financial, and healthcare topics (click on the “Ask Us!” button). To support our clients in being safe and well-informed during this time of social distancing, we are making live webinars available via Zoom video conferencing as well as recordings of past events.
AGENCY: Westchester Seniors Out Speaking (Westchester Library System)
SERVICE: Senior Benefits Individual Counseling (Medicare and more)
DESCRIPTION: Call or e-mail with your name, preferred contact method, and Medicare question. Volunteer counselors will respond within two business days.
CONTACT: tel.: (914) 231-3260
e-mail: SBICS@wlsmail.org
AGENCY: Yonkers Office of the Aging
SERVICE: Information, Referral
DESCRIPTION: Office for the Aging is closed to walk-ins; however, some of our services to the most vulnerable will continue. If you need further assistance or have questions, please call the office during normal business hours of 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
CONTACT: tel.: (914) 377-6822
MEDICAL
AGENCY: New York State Department of Health
SERVICE: New York State COVID-19 Hotline
DESCRIPTION: For questions about testing
CONTACT: tel.: (888) 364-3065
AGENCY: New York State Department of Health
SERVICE: New York State COVID-19 Hotline
DESCRIPTION: For people under quarantine for exposure to a known case
CONTACT: tel.: (866) 588-0195
AGENCY: New York State Department of Health
SERVICE: COVID-19 Testing
DESCRIPTION: Yonkers COVID-19 testing site at St. John’s Riverside Hospital, Parkcare Pavillion, 2 Park Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10701. Mondays through Fridays BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Call NYS COVID-10 Hotline for a testing appointment.
CONTACT: tel.: (888) 364-3065
AGENCY: Westchester County Department of Health
SERVICE: COVID-19 Testing
DESCRIPTION: COVID-19 drive through testing site at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla is now open to the public BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Call between 8:30 AM and 6 PM. You will receive a screening, and if appropriate, you’ll be given an appointment.
CONTACT: tel.: (914) 202-4530
MENTAL HEALTH
AGENCY: Family Services of Westchester
SERVICE: Counseling
DESCRIPTION: The Partnership Innovation for Older Adults Program is a local collaboration to bring mobile outreach and off-site services, including behavioral health and aging services and tele- health interventions to older adults in Westchester County, age 55+. Family Services of Westchester is the lead agency in this program, funded by the N.Y.S. Office of Mental Health in collaboration with the Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services and the Lexington Center for Recovery.
CONTACT: tel.: Tonia Monti at (914) 668-9124, ext. 22
AGENCY: Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health
SERVICE: Information, Support, and Referral
DESCRIPTION: DCMH, together with its partner agencies, will be offering guidance and support to Westchester County’s residents as they cope with the impact of the coronavirus. People may experience stress, fear, grief, depression and anxiety. DCMH will be implementing educational and supportive services through a dedicated telephone resource line, social media, taped video recordings, chat lines, printed materials and linkage to counseling.
CONTACT: tel.: (914) 995-1900 (8 AM. to 8 PM) or text (914) 461-7281
SOCIALIZATION
AGENCY: Dorot
SERVICE: University Without Walls
DESCRIPTION: Dorot’s University Without Walls (UWW) program offers hundreds of classes, appealing to a wide range of interests – all available over the telephone. English-speaking participants from New York and across the country can choose from ever-changing topics and such perennial favorites as Museum Talks, Literature and Arts, In the News, Understanding Your Rights, Jewish Interests, and Health and Wellness. Support groups enable older adults to connect with peers over common experiences such as vision loss, aging as an LGBT community member, caregiving, and coping with the loss of a loved one. Call to register.
CONTACT: tel.: (877) 819-9147
AGENCY: Westchester Independent Living Center
SERVICE: WILConnects
DESCRIPTION: Support group every Tuesday and Friday from 2:30 pm to 4 pm; We laugh, cry, and share resources, creative ideas, cooking tips, etc. Time and time again we prove that when we share with and understand each other we reduce, and prevent further, the harm caused by times like these.
CONTACT: Direct Zoom link
TRANSPORTATION
AGENCY: Family Services of Westchester
SERVICE: RideConnect
DESCRIPTION: As of March 18th, RideConnect is accepting ride requests for medical appointments only.
CONTACT: tel.: (914) 242-7433
e-mail: fsw@fsw.org
AGENCY: WestFair Rides
SERVICE: Rides to Medical Appointments
DESCRIPTION: Volunteers continue to drive pre-registered riders to their medical appointments. They ask that riders AND drivers take precautions to protect each other. If your appointment is NOT for a critical issue, consider postponing your appointment. If you don’t feel well, DO call your doctor’s office immediately for suggestions about next steps. In addition to the CDC/DOH recommendations about social distancing and other precautions, we suggest that riders sit in the back seat, as far from the driver as possible. Together we will get through these challenging times.
CONTACT: tel.: (914) 764-3533
FOR NO/LOW-VISION SENIORS
AGENCY: Lighthouse Guild
SERVICE: Tele-Support for Adults
DESCRIPTION: Living with vision loss is challenging. With the help of the Lighthouse Guild Tele-Support group, you don’t have to face it alone! You can join our meetings from the comfort and convenience of your home by phone or online. A licensed professional will lead the discussions to: Offer support on how to cope with vision loss; Help you find information and resources; Provide opportunities to network and connect with others; Encourage you to find solutions to vision-related challenges. We will also provide presentations by guest speakers who will share their stories and expertise. You’ll be able to ask questions and join the discussion! No specific eye condition or acuity required. Meetings are every other Wednesday, 2 PM. Next meeting is on April 15th, 2020.
CONTACT: tel.: 212-769-7833 or lighthouseguild.org/adult-tele to register.
AGENCY: National Federation of the Blind
SERVICE: Newsline
DESCRIPTION: Newsline free audio news service for anyone who is print-disabled; COVID-19 updates. Apply through state TBBL or through NFB. More information online.
CONTACT: tel.: NFB (866) 504-7300
e-mail: NY TBBL tbbl@nysed.gov
Online application
AGENCY: VISIONS
SERVICE: Support Services for Seniors with Visual Impairment
DESCRIPTION: VISIONS is a 94-year old social service and vision rehabilitation nonprofit organization that serves blind individuals and their families. All VISIONS services are free! During the current crisis, VISIONS continues to function with services being offered remotely.
CONTACT: e-mail: info@visionsvcb.org