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| LINKS | OLDER ADULT PROGRAMS | ||
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Major Organizations
New York State 1114 Avenue of the Americas, 40th Floor New York, NY 10036 Phone: 646-366-0857 or 212-222-5164 Kevin Brabazon Experience Corps New York City http://www.experiencecorps.org/nyc.cfmExperience Corps is hosted in New York City by the Community Service Society of New York. The program engages volunteers ages 55 and over in service to improve the literacy skills of elementary school students at risk for academic failure
Council of Senior Centers and Services http://www.cscs-ny.org/
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Over a year ago Diaspora started the Older Adults Program (OAP) which strives to overcome social and cultural barriers experienced by low-income seniors. The program is offered for free to anyone over the age of 55. OAP strives to overcome the social and cultural barriers experienced by low income seniors while also providing fun and social time. Diaspora staff helps the seniors to deal with issues including fear of government and the social services network, illiteracy, language differences, and cultural differences concerning issues of respect, privacy, and pride. Other barriers we strive to overcome include complex application processes for benefits, verification requirements, problems of the homebound, waiting times for appointments, lack of bilingual and/or culturally sensitive services, stigma associated with the need or use of public programs, and limited knowledge of programs and services. Program staff provides home visits, telephone reassurance calls, advocacy and weekly social/cultural activities. OAP is a time to socialize and enjoy life. The program offers activities like exercise, crocheting, and arts and crafts. Participants get to enjoy one another’s company while participating in fun and healthy activities like exercise crocheting, and arts and crafts. The staff at Diaspora and the OAP coordinator act as advocates for these individuals. By participating in the OAP, the older population is empowered because they are more active and aware of the services, and opportunities that are available to them.
Carine Jocelyn
MPA |
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Conferences
Planning Today for Tomorrow Statewide Symposium - New York State Long Term Care Restructuring
The New York State Department of Health is pleased to
announce the Planning Today for Tomorrow Statewide Symposium on long
term care.
http://www.health.state.ny.us/events/
Housing New York Foundation for
Senior Citizens
United Hospital Fund
New
York State Housing Rights and Protections
Office of the New York State Attorney General
Age Discrimination ALTERNATIVE
HOUSING IN-HOME
ASSISTANCE FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE HELP WITH
ELECTRIC AND GAS UTILITIES
HELP WITH
TELEPHONE SERVICE
Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage
(EPIC) Program
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Challenges and Opportunities in
Serving Older Adults.... The Challenges Our population is aging. All of it. For social service agencies, which have largely segregated services to this increasing number of senior citizens, or who have managed their needs exclusively, there are many changes ahead.
As the national figures rise in over 65 and over 85 population, there are some specific indicators that need to be anticipated in New York City:
For social service agencies, client education levels and literacy are also a major concerns. High numbers of non English speaking clients, and a majority who have high school or less education, also create challenges with an increasingly complex health care delivery system.
For social service agencies, client education levels and literacy are also a major concerns. High numbers of non English speaking clients, and a majority who have high school or less education, also create challenges with an increasingly complex health care delivery system.
_______________________________________ Charts:
http://www.agingstats.gov/agingstatsdotnet/ Statistics:
http://www.cscs-ny.org/files/policydocuments06/ |
A cluster of “aging in place” challenges and needs of seniors will demand increased attention to:
The Opportunities As demographics change so will social service clients and the need to utilize facilities, services and personnel. Until 2010 senior clients will continue to outpace child client growth; this will be followed by a simultaneous increase in pre-school and grammar school children - largely from immigrant families. Generations United is an organization devoted exclusively to the concept of promoting intergenerational shared sites designed to manage the simultaneous waves in social service needs through planned activities and informal interaction. They have published several works, though the most directly helpful is a comprehensive guide on how to design and develop these dynamic facilities. Generations United, with the support of MetLife Foundation, created Under One Roof: A Guide to Starting and Strengthening Intergenerational Shared Site Programs. Their work suggests that program components may include: • Programs serving older adults, including adult day services, nursing homes, senior centers, senior recreation programs, assisted living/residential care facilities, geriatric care units, continuing care retirement communities and senior housing facilities—or some combination of these. • Programs serving children/youth, including child care centers, early childhood programs, Head Start, before/ after-school programs, schools (K-12, community colleges, universities, vocational/technical schools), youth recreational programs, camps, pediatric care units and child welfare agencies. • Sites serving multiple generations, including community centers, faith-based organizations (such as churches, synagogues, temples, mosques), hospitals, counseling services, family support centers, treatment programs, businesses with on-site family services (such as adult day services or child care) and housing facilities. These programs may include individual older adult or child/youth components as listed above as well. • Programs that provide services off-site, but are housed at the intergenerational shared site program, such as home health agencies, chore services, mentoring programs, etc. • Businesses or services, such as a gift shop, café, bakery or artisan’s shop. You can find more at: Under One Roof: A Guide to Starting and Strengthening Intergenerational Shared Site Programs. http://ipath.gu.org/documents/A0/OneRoofComplete.pdf (Generations United, Washington, DC, Mar 2005) According to a 1998 AARP survey, the most common intergenerational shared site program models were: 1. Nursing Home with Child Care Center. 2. Adult Day Services with Child Care Center. 3. Adult Day Services Center with Multi-level Child. 4. Adult Day Services with Early Childhood Program. 5. Nursing Home with Multi-level Child Care. 6. Senior Center with Before/After School Care. 7. Senior Center with Early Childhood Program. 8. Care (child care center and before/after school care.)
Cited on the National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities site (http://www.edfacilities.org/rl/senior_citizens.cfm) facility design is focussed. For those interested in pursuing intergenerational program planning, author Amy Goyer (2001) suggests: The design of shared buildings and environments can have great influence on the ease of collaboration and intergenerational interaction; common spaces often include a cafeteria/kitchen, patio/garden, restrooms and bathing facilities, pools, libraries, gymnasiums, and entrances or hallways. You can find more information at: http://www.edfacilities.org/pubs/agewave.pdf Another study published in 2005 by
the Annie E Casey Foundation
responds to their interest in the effects of http://www.aecf.org/upload/PublicationFiles/Kuehne.pdf
Written exclusively for Diaspora
Community Services |
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Diaspora Community Services,
182 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Tel (718) 399-0200 Fax (718) 399-0360 Email: info@diasporacs.org
© Copyright Diaspora Community Services 2006. All Rights Reserved.
