Retirement - Senior Scene
Between the golf courses, resorts, county clubs, and abundance of cultural activities and restaurants offered on Long Island, the region definitely attracts the 65-and-up crowd—both as a summer vacation spot and as a year-round destination to live. Needless to say, seniors on Long Island typically lead very happy, active, and productive lives, whether they’re living totally independently or within a retirement community, assisted living facility, or nursing home.
Many of the retirement-age people living or vacationing on Long Island are considered affluent, or at least upper-middle class, so the prices associated with the various housing options, for example, are mainly in line with that (with a few exceptions, of course). Long Island is known for having a shortage of affordable housing and rental apartments in any price range.
1. Aarp
City: Long Island, NY
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (888) 687-2277
Description: With more than 40 million members in the United States, AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people age 50-plus improve the quality of their life. The organization’s prime mission is to enhance the quality of life for everyone as they age.
2. Catholic Charities
City: Long Island, NY
Category: Retirement
Description: This organization provides a range of services to help Long Island seniors enjoy a high quality of life. It aims to ensure that seniors can live independently, in comfort and safety, while maintaining physical and emotional health. The social activities sponsored by Catholic Charities help seniors to better remain connected with their community. Some of the programs offered include Meals-On-Wheels (Nassau County: 516-377-2691; Suffolk County: 631-842-4123); the operation of Senior Community Centers in Franklin Square (516-481-3322), Massapequa Park (516-797-5357), Oceanside (516-764-9792), and Seaford (516-679-8373); and Caregiver Support (516-348-8010).
3. Medicare Rights Center
City: Long Island, NY
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (800) 333-4114
Description: This Web site is designed to help seniors understand their rights when it comes to Medicare benefits.
4. National Consumer Voice For Quality Long-Term Care
City: Long Island, NY
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (202) 332-2275
Description: This is a nonprofit consumer-advocacy organization that caters primarily to nursing home residents. It’s mandate is to provide information on staffing in nursing homes, details about citizen-advocacy groups, tips on how family members can advocate for good care, and details about government policies, laws, and regulations affecting residents. Additional free resources available from the Web site include fact sheets on malnutrition, neglect, abuse, use of restraints, and resident rights. You’ll also discover a nationwide listing of agencies and organizations to contact to file a complaint about poor nursing home care.
5. New York Foundation For Senior Citizens
City: Long Island, NY
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (212) 962-7559
Description: This is an organization dedicated to assisting New York State’s seniors in avoiding the need for premature institutionalization, thus allowing them to be able to more thoroughly enjoy a healthier, safer, productive, and dignified life while remaining in their own homes.
6. New York State Senior Citizen Resource Guide
City: Long Island, NY
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (800) 342-9871
Description: Published by the New York State Office for the Aging, this Web site is a free consumer’s guide relating to information, programs, and services for older New Yorkers, including those living on Long Island.
7. Riverhead Senior Citizen Department
City: Long Island, NY
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (631) 722-4444
Description: The town of Riverhead offers a handful of programs, activities, and support services for seniors. Some of the information on this site is relevant to all Long Island seniors, not just those living in Riverhead.
8. Social Security Online
City: Long Island, NY
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (800) 772-1213
Description: This Web site is operated by the U.S. Social Security Administration and is designed to help seniors better understand their benefits and the resources available to them.
9. Suffolk County Office For The Aging
City: Long Island, NY
Category: Retirement
Description: The Suffolk County Office for the Aging is the designated area agency on aging under the Older Americans Act. This agency oversees or administers a handful of federal, state, and county programs for people over the age of 60.
10. Town Of Brookhaven Senior Citizens Division
City: Long Island, NY
Category: Retirement
Description: The Town of Brookhaven offers a range of special services for seniors, including medical and shopping transportation, adult day care, in-home services, home chore and repair services, senior citizen clubs, summertime picnics, sports, and day trips. Some of the information on this site is relevant to all Long Island seniors.