Take Charge!: The Complete Guide to Senior Living in New York City

417 Pages·1999·1.16 MB·English

by  John Vinton

Take Charge!
Take

The Complete Guide to

Senior Living in

New York City

Charge!

John Vinton

a
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PRESS

New York and London
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PRESS

New York and London

Copyright © 1999 by New York University

All rights reserved

Book design by Jeff Hoffman

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Vinton, John.

Take charge! : the complete guide to senior living in New York

City / John Vinton

p. cm.

ISBN 0-8147-8801-7 (pbk. : alk. paper)

ISBN 0-8147-8800-9 (cloth : alk. paper)

1. Aged—New York (State)—New York—Life skills guides.

2. Aged—Services for—New York (State)—New York—

Directories. 3. Aged—Recreation—New York (State)—New

York—Guidebooks. 4. New York (New York)—Guidebooks.

I. Title.

HQ1064.U6 N4746 1999

305.26'09747—dc21 99-6097

CIP
New York University Press books are printed on acid-free paper
and their binding materials are chosen for strength and durability.
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
To the social workers of New York City,

who make life better for us all
Contents
Preface xiii

Choices in Life Enrichment 1

Chapter 1: Arts and Entertainment 2
Senior Centers and Public Libraries 2

Sundays at JASA 2

Senior Action in a Gay Environment 3

Discounts at Museums and Exhibitions 3

Discounts at Concert Halls 3

Free and Discount Theater Tickets 3

Discounts at Movie Theaters 4

Senior Theater Companies 4

Elders Share the Arts 4

Elder Craftsmen 5

Financial Assistance 5

Chapter 2: Recreation and Travel 6

New York City Department of 6

Parks and Recreation
Other Recreation Programs 7

Low-Cost Day Trips 8

Discount Travel 8

Discount Travel Swindles 13

Learning and Travel Opportunities 15

Work and Travel Opportunities 15

Healthcare for Travelers 17

Travel Resources for the Disabled 19

Low-Cost Senior Camps 21

Vacation Camp for the Blind 22

Chapter 3: Learning Opportunities 23

Senior Centers and Public Libraries 23

Computer Classes 23

High School–Level Learning 24

College-Level Learning 25

Learning and Travel Opportunities 29

Chapter 4: Job Training, Employment,

and Volunteer Opportunities 30

Job Programs for Low-Income Seniors 30

Job Programs for All-Income Seniors 32

Opportunities for Craftspeople 33

Local Volunteer Opportunities 34

Volunteer Opportunities Outside the City 35

Advocacy Groups 36

Chapter 5: Preventing Abuse and Crime 38

Elder Abuse 38

Age Discrimination 41

Swindles 42

Assistance for Crime Victims 46

Safety Tips 48

v i i i C O N T E N T S
Choices in Housing and

Long-Term Care 52

Chapter 6: Standard Housing
53
Programs for Homeowners and Renters 54

Programs for Homeowners Only 58

Programs for Renters Only 75

Seniors-Only Rental Housing 82

Other Below-Market Apartments 87

Chapter 7: Home Care and Community

Support Services 90

Home Care 90

Community Support Services 113

Chapter 8: Supportive and Long-Term

Care Housing 128

Congregate Housing 130

Personal-Care Housing 135

Medical- and Personal-Care Housing 141

Chapter 9: Paying for Long-Term Care 154

Will I Need Long-Term Care? 154

What Does Long-Term Care Cost? 155

Medicaid 156

Supplemental Security Income 156

Medicare 157

Department of Veterans Affairs 157

Workers’ Compensation Board 157

Assisted Living Contracts 158

Life Insurance 158

Corporate and Union Retiree Health Insurance 158

Long-Term Care Insurance 158

C O N T E N T S ix