City Department for the
Aging
2 Lafayette St.
New York, NY 10007
311
nyc.gov/html/dfta/html/
home/home.shtml
The DFTA is the coordinating
and planning agency that
monitors and develops
programs and services for the
elderly.
Senior citizen centers serve
people 60 years and older by
providing nutritious meals
and a wide range of social,
recreational, educational,
counseling and other support
services. Call the department
or go online for more
information and the location of
a center in your neighborhood.
The department provides
information and makes
referrals regarding needed
services, such as:
n Home care
n Screening for Medicaid and
food stamps
n employment information
n Golden Park Passes
n home-delivered meals
n Home Energy Assistance
Program
n Senior Citizen Rent Increase
Exemption
State Office for the Aging
aging.ny.gov/
1-844-697-6321 (hotline to aid
senior citizens with problems,
information and referrals)
MEDICARE
medicare.gov/default.aspx
Medicare is a health insurance
program for people 65 years
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 enrollment
periods for Medicare are:
1. Three months before your
65th birthday
2. Between Jan. 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 or visit
your local Social Security
office:
n 28-18 Steinway St., 4th
Floor, Astoria, 11103
n 138-50 Barclay Ave.,
Flushing, 11355
n 155-10 Jamaica Ave., 3rd
Floor, Jamaica, 11432
n 42-15 Crescent St., Long
Island City, 11101
Medicare Beneficiaries
Defense Fund
The Medicare Beneficiaries
Defense Fund is a nonprofit
that promotes and protects
the rights of Medicare
patients to quality, affordable
health care coverage.
MBDF provides self-help
educational materials,
informational seminars, free
counseling, advocacy and
public education to seniors
and people with disabilities
statewide. For assistance
or information regarding
Medicare, call 212-869-3850.
MEDICAID
medicaid.gov/
Medicaid is a government
program for financially needy
persons. It covers doctors’
services and provides for
payment of prescribed
medicines and other medical
supplies. Contact the state
Department of Social Services
for additional information at
718-557-1399.
HRA INFO-LINE
This provides information
about many city government
social services, including
eviction prevention, child care,
Medicaid, services for People
with AIDS, utility shutoffs,
homeless shelters, family
problems, etc.
Contact: 311
ELDERLY
PHARMACEUTICAL
INSURANCE COVERAGE
PROGRAM
health.ny.gov/health_care/
epic/
EPIC is a prescription drug
insurance plan for the
elderly sponsored by New
York state. This program is
intended for seniors who do
not have adequate insurance
coverage for prescription
drug expenses. To qualify,
you must be a New York state
resident, 65 years of age and
older, and you must meet the
program’s income guidelines.
If eligible, you could save as
much as 60 percent on the
cost of prescription drugs. To
obtain more information and
an application, please call
1-800-332-3742.
QUEENSBRIDGE HEALTH
MAINTENANCE SERVICE
FOR THE ELDERLY
Health services are offered
completely without charge to
the elderly patient. It serves
all people who are 62 years or
older. Services are free and
patients are billed if referred
SENIORS
to a hospital for further
services. For information,
contact:
New York Hospital Queens
nyp.org
Subspecialty clinics include
Dialysis and Arthritis
56-45 Main St.
Flushing 11355
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8
a.m. to 4 p.m.
718-670-2000
Margaret Tietz Center for
Nursing Care
margarettietz.org/
164-11 Chapin Parkway
Jamaica Hills 11432
718-298-7800
Flushing Hospital Medical
Center
Geriatrics Division,
Department of Medicine
Health Maintenance Clinic for
the Elderly 60 Years and Older
45-00 Parsons Blvd.
Flushing 11355
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Home Health Care Services:
718-670-5000
Jamaica Hospital
jamaicahospital.org
Geriatric Clinic Hours:
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Geriatric Care 60 years and
older; transportation available
89-00 Van Wyck Expressway
Jamaica 11418
718-206-6000
Elmhurst Hospital Center
www.nychealthandhospitals.
org/elmhurst/
79-01 Broadway
Elmhurst 11373
Hours: Monday- Thursday, 8
a.m. to 8 p.m.; riday, 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to
2 p.m.
718-334-4000
Medical Clinic, Psychiatric
Clinic: 718-334-2715
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
SERVICES
Sometimes family members who
are caring for a frail or disabled
person would like a chance to get
away for several hours or days.
This relief from their care-giving
responsibilities can be arranged
through respite services. A
trained volunteer or paid worker
can stay with the frail person
overnight, up to a maximum
of several weeks. Respite care
also provides support groups,
counseling and training for
family members. Some respite
programs also offer a respite
center to which a frail person
can move for a while. Sometimes
this enables caregivers to take a
vacation or a trip.
Two respite options are
available to some Queens
residents:
RBSCC, Inc. Respite Care
Program
217 Wyckoff Ave, Flushing
718-676-0876
Parker Jewish Geriatric
Institute
271-11 76th Ave.
New Hyde Park 11040
718-289-2100
IN-HOME SUPPORT
SERVICES
Home care services are
designed to delay or prevent
institutionalization and
provide the extra help the frail
and elderly need to remain
in their own homes and
communities. The following
services may be available in
your community:
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,
shopping, etc.), as well as
some personal care and home
management. Homemaker
services can be provided up
to 24 hours a day, seven days
a week.
HOUSEKEEPER/CHORE
SERVICES
Housekeeping is a part-time
service—up to 12 hours per week
for adults—generally provided
to elderly or handicapped
individuals who are medically
in need of this service and
are unable to perform basic
household tasks. Recipients
of this service must be able
to direct and supervise the
housekeeper assigned to them.
Adults eligible for the service
include those receiving Public
Assistance, SSI and Medicaid.
Contact your local Community
Alternative Systems Agency II.
For people residing in
Community Boards 1 through
7 and 11:
33-28 Northern Blvd., 6th Floor
Long Island City 11101
HOME HEALTH AIDE
SERVICE
Home Health Aide Service
provides personal health care
to adults who are elderly,
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
VNS serves Queens residents
through its borough office
in Flushing. VNS serves the
homebound with nursing, home
health aide and social work
services, as well as physical,
occupational and speech
therapy. 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:
n professional nursing
services
n home health aide services
n personal care or
housekeeping services
n physical, occupational and
respiratory therapy
n speech therapy and
audiology
n medical social services
n nutritional services
n laboratory services
n medical supplies, equipment
and appliances
n waived services, such
as social day care, social
transportation, respite care,
home improvement and home
maintenance tasks
Continued on Page 20
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/aging.ny.gov
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/medicaid.gov
/www.nychealthandhospitals
/nyp.org
/margarettietz.org
/jamaicahospital.org
/www.nychealthandhospitals
/TIMESLEDGER.COM
