On December 5, the JCC hosted Senior Law Day, an event designed to answer legal questions that many seniors will face. The information session covered a wide range of topics, including planning for future medical expenses, estate planning, tenant and landlord rights, elder abuse, and helping family members in crisis. Mary, an attendee, reports being impressed by the presenters’ knowledge, “Over the years, I have attended quite a few programs on Staten Island promoting senior topics ranging from law to healthcare to housing. The depth and breadth of knowledge shared by the presenters yesterday was extraordinary. The speakers were thoughtful, inclusive, and helpful in their remarks.” We are grateful to the New York State Office of Court Administration for organizing Senior Law Day and to all those who sponsored the event: The State of New York Unified Court System, the Community Agency for Senior Citizens, the NYC Department of Social Services, the NYC Department of Aging, Catholic Charities of Staten Island, the Richmond County Bar Association, the Staten Island Women’s Bar Association and the Staten Island Trial Lawyers Association. The same day, the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) returned to the JCC with its state-of-the-art Mobile Legal Help Center (MLHC) van. The NYLAG van, which serves as a law office and courtroom, provides a space for free legal services, including elder law, housing, and public benefits assistance. For more information on the free legal and financial counseling services offered at the JCC, contact Devorah Weiss, LMSW, at 718.475.5245 or dweiss@sijcc.com. On Tuesday, November 19th, the JCC of Staten Island announced that it will operate the island’s first ever NORC—Naturally Occurring Retirement Community—in Stapleton. Stapleton was designated as a NORC based on the large population of seniors who live in the area.
This NORC has been named GO KOSSAH, which stands for Keeping Our Seniors Safe and Healthy—a priority for us here at the J! The social services offered in this community, such as health assessments and transportation to medical appointments, will help seniors live safely and independently in their homes. This newest endeavor will support the JCC’s other initiatives to enhance the well-being of our seniors. This project, announced today in a press conference at the Carter Center in Stapleton, was made possible through funding from the Department for the Aging (DFTA), allocated by Councilwoman Debi Rose. The JCC is proud to play a continuing role in serving Staten Islanders at all stages of life.
The office is operated out of the Seaview Senior Housing complex and serves the residents who live there. An on-site coordinator provides comprehensive screenings to residents to determine eligibility for benefits, including Medicare/Medicaid enrollment, tax exemption benefits, HRA services, advocacy, and mental health and medical referrals. She also coordinates shopping trips twice a week for residents and plans other relevant programming that improves daily life for residents.
“It’s a great place to live,” said John, a resident of the complex. “I’m really happy that I can get access to so many things right in the building.” Other activities that have taken place since the complex opened are a theatrical performance, a “Welcome Summer” party, bingo, and tai chi. Some other educational presentations included topics such as scam prevention, identity theft, tobacco education, and Medicare enrollment. These events were presented in partnership with Illuminart Productions, Fidelis, Senior Services of North America, Vita Care Pharmacy, Tobacco Free Staten Island, and the NYS Division of Consumer Protection. Another resident, Mary, noted, “I like going to these free events, and I get to meet my neighbors. We’re becoming a really nice community.” The complex has 160 apartments exclusively for low-income seniors, as well as indoor common spaces, ample parking, and outdoor amenities. Residents were selected to live in the complex through the City’s senior housing lottery process. “With the senior population booming on Staten Island, we understand the importance of expanding our senior services programming to fit the ever-changing needs of seniors in our community,” said David Sorkin, CEO of the JCC of Staten Island. “Seaview Senior Housing is a wonderful example of a special partnership that helps meet a need, which was inspired by the Borough President’s vision of a vibrant community for seniors. It is fantastic to see so many seniors thriving in this environment. As projects like this grow, we look forward to continuing to serve even more seniors on Staten Island.” For more information on the JCC’s senior services, visit sijcc.org or call Amelia Winter at 718.475.5238. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
January 2024
Categories
All
|
LocationSBERNIKOW/MID-ISLAND
1466 Manor Road Staten Island, NY 10314 718.475.5200 ABERLIN/NORTH SHORE
485 Victory Blvd Staten Island, NY 10301 718.475.5290 |
AVIS/SOUTH SHORE
1297 Arthur Kill Road Staten Island, NY 10312 718.475.5270 BERMAN EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
2221 Richmond Ave. Staten Island, NY 10314 718.475.5100 |
|