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:
■ home care
■ screening for Medicaid and
food stamps
■ employment information
■ Golden Park Passes
■ home-delivered meals
■ Home Energy Assistance
Program
■ 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:
■ 28-18 Steinway St., 4th
Floor, Astoria, 11103
■ 138-50 Barclay Ave.,
Flushing, 11355
■ 155-10 Jamaica Ave., 3rd
Floor, Jamaica, 11432
■ 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
FOR SENIORS
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 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:
■ professional nursing
services
■ home health aide services
■ personal care or
housekeeping services
■ physical, occupational and
respiratory therapy
■ speech therapy and
audiology
■ medical social services
■ nutritional services
■ laboratory services
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