Information for Older Adults and their Caregivers

Thank you for visiting Brooklyn Public Library's Services for Older Adults resource links. We are always updating the content and information on our webpage, and welcome inclusion of new websites as well as feedback. Email us at seniors@bklynlibrary.org

Our resource links focus on the following topics:

Caregivers
City Services
Creativity
 
 
Caregivers

Caregiving.com
Community blog forum on all aspects of care giving.

Everyday information and tips on how to keep you or your loved one healthy as well as a resource to help you find the services that fit your needs.
 

MySeniorCare
MySeniorCare’s mission is to support families and their aging loved ones during a highly stressful time as they search for information, resources and providers of senior care. They provide families with a wide range of support and credible information: 500+ articles reviewed by industry experts serving on our advisory board, a member community featuring message boards, user and expert authored blogs and a question and answer section called 'Ask the Experts'.

 
 
City Services
APS is a state-mandated program that helps New Yorks (18+) regardless of income who are the following: mentally and/or physically impaired; due to impairments, unable to manage their own resources or carry out everyday tasks, and do not have anyone available or willing to help assist them.  To make a referral or get in contact, call 212.630.1853 or 311.
 
This initiative seeks to make New York City a better place to grow old by promoting an "age-in-everything" lens across all aspects of city life.
 

Citymeals-on-Wheels
Citymeals-on-Wheels hand-delivers meals to homebound elderly New Yorkers on weekends, weekdays, holidays, and times of emergency.

Food Bank for New York City
Food, support, services and education for home-bound New Yorkers if you need emergency food resources.

NYC Department for the Aging
New York City's Department for the Aging provides many services for older adults including programs, job training, information on benefits and resources, and caregiver support.

 

Creativity

Alzheimer's Poetry Project
The mission of the Alzheimer's Poetry Project is to facilitate the creativity of people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia.

Brooklyn Museum
The Brooklyn Museum offers creative and educational programs for people with disabilities, including people with dementia and people who are blind or have low vision. Brooklyn Afternoons: Art and Conversation for Individuals with Memory Loss, and Sensory Tours: Art and Conversation for Individuals Who are Blind or Have Low Vision, are held monthly.  Call 718.501.622 for more information and to preregister or email information@brooklynmuseum.org.  The Brooklyn Museum also offers discounted guided tours for seniors and those with disabilities.

Elders Share the Arts
Elders Share the Arts (ESTA) affirms the creative potential of older adults and upholds their time-honored role as bearers of history and culture by using the power of the arts to transmit their stories and life experiences for the benefit of all generations.

Lifetime Arts
LIFETIME ARTS is a tax exempt, 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization that exists at the intersection of aging and the arts. Lifetime Arts serves organizations and individuals in both fields by promoting the creation, expansion and sustainability of professionally conducted arts programs for older adults.

 
Educational Opportunities
This program is for adults of retirement age who can take as many courses in literature, history, health, film and more — with no exams or homework. Workshops also include painting, foreign languages, memoir writing, drama, music, or poetry. There is an annual fee of $85 and, a few classes may have additional expenses.
 
CWI Works
CWI Works is a non-profit organization that helps provide training, digital inclusion programs and employment opportunities to older adults who work to fill community needs. It offers programs that serve everyone who needs them and qualifies for them, regardless of race, creed, gender, national origin, sexual orientation or geographic location.
 
Kingsborough Community College 50+ Wellness Program 
Free college classes, including computer classes, for NYC seniors. "50+ Wellness" is a tuition-free college education program offered at Kingsborough Community College. 
 
 
 
Grandparent Services
NAC is a New York State non-for-profit health and child welfare agency with information on caregiver trainings and support groups, individual and family support services, case coordination and management, information, referrals, and advocacy; crisis intervention, and family activities.  Meant for helping children with disabilities and mental illness.
 
Health

Alzheimer’s Association
Alzheimer’s Association website has information for seniors, caregivers, families and professionals.

BenefitsCheckUp.org
BenefitsCheckUp helps thousands every day to find programs for people ages 55 and over that may pay for some of their costs of prescription drugs, health care, utilities, and other essential items or services.  Run through the Center for Disabled, NY.

CSS provides an Aging with HIV program that provides social workers, psychiatrists, gynecologists, and nutritionists for support on site.  Call to set up an appointment at either their New York-Presbyterian Hospital location (212.746.4180) or their location at the Judith-Peabody Wellness Center (212.746.7200).
 

Medicaid
Medicaid is health insurance that helps many people who can't afford medical care pay for some or all of their medical bills. A state administered program, each state sets its own guidelines regarding eligibility and services.

Medicare
The Official U.S. Government Site for People with Medicare.

Mental Health
A resource guide with support strategies on loneliness and social connection for older adults

National Association for Home Care and Hospice
NAHC is the nation's largest trade association representing the interests and concerns of home care agencies, hospices, home care aide organizations, and medical equipment suppliers.

National Cancer Institute
The National Cancer Institute coordinates the National Cancer Program, which conducts and supports research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to the cause, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer, rehabilitation from cancer, and the continuing care of cancer patients and the families of cancer patients.

National Institute on Aging
NIA, one of the 27 Institutes and Centers of the National Institutes of Health, leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life

Call for help, questions about medicine safety and interactions- all calls are free and confidential.  Save 212.764.7667 to your contacts in case of emergencies.
 
Quitting smoking is hard. Chances are you tried to quit before and know how challenging it is. NY Smoke Free's services are based in science and can help you quit for good.
 
Housing

Consumer Information Guide: Assisted Living Residence

Housing Resources for Seniors: New York

Senior Services or the Elderly Safe at Home Program provdies support to 62+ seniors by helping them access public benefits, advocate with service providers, maintain the health and well-being of residents through home visits and telephone check-ups, and form partnerships with community-based organizations and law enforcement.
 

NY ALFA: Assisted Living's Voice in NY

NYC Department for the Aging Housing Resources

NYC Department for the Aging NORC Programs
Learn about Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORC).

 
Individuals with Alzheimer's and Dementia
Alzheimer’s Association website has information for seniors, caregivers, families and professionals.
 

alzheimers.net
Alzheimers.net is a supportive community for caregivers, families and professional

Information about choosing care facilities or providing home care for adults with Alzheimers.
 
 
Tips and guidelines to help Understand the Basics of Legal Planning.
 
LGBT Older Adults

Brooklyn Community Pride Center 
The Brooklyn Community Pride Center's ElderPRIDE aims to address issues of isolation and companionship within the senior population by engaging them in dialogue about culturally relevant topics, with the eventual goal of opening up a broader dialogue about inclusiveness.  There is a group that meets every Monday as well as contact information for other programs.

SAGE USA (Services & Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Elders)
Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) is the country's largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults.

 
Money and Legal Issues

AARP Tax Aide Program
Free tax counseling program for low and middle income taxpayers over the age of 60.

Better Business Bureau
The mission of the BBB is to promote and foster the highest ethical relationship between businesses and the public through voluntary self-regulation, consumer and business education, and service excellence.

Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports® and ConsumerReports.org® are published by Consumers Union, an expert, independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves.

Resource for estate and will planning for New York artists, created by Columbia Law School's Lawyering in the Digital Age Clinic, the Research Center for Arts and Culture at the National Center for Creative Aging, City University of New York Elder Law Clinic and Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts.  This was resource was created to prevent artists from having their work misappropriated or misallocated.
 
Go Direct / Direct Express
Calculate your benefits, look up retirement ages, apply for widow benefits and more at the SSA site.
 

MTA Reduced Fair Program

Reduced fares are available for riders who are 65 or older or riders who have qualifying disabilities. 

 

Social Security Administration
Calculate your benefits, look up retirement ages, apply for widow benefits and more at the SSA site.

 

Services and Information for People with Disabilities and Visual Impairments

Public libraries in the NYC area provide similar services for the homebound people in their communities.

Brooklyn Public Library Books By Mail 718-236-1760

New York Public Library Books by Mail 917-ASK-NYPL (917-275-6975) or TTY 212-930-0950.


Queens Library Mail-A-Book Service 718-464-0084

 

Access-a-ride

MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) Access-A-Ride (AAR) Paratransit Service provides public transportation for eligible customers with disabilities that prevent them from using the public buses and subways.


Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library
Provides materials and resources for people with visual impairments and other disabilities related to reading.  If eligible, there is a downloadable book service or books by mail service that will provide talking books.  See if you are eligible and download an application here.  There also programs open to the public for those with disabilities, including a Braille study group.

 

Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities

 

MTA List of Accessible Stations 

This page lists all accessible stations across all MTA agencies. To find the accessible stations in a specific system, scroll to or search for the New York City Transit, Long Island Railroad, or Metro North Railroad header. 

 

New York State Commission for the Blind

 

VISIONS
Visions provides FREE individualized services for the blind in whatever language you need, including vision rehabilitation services, employment and technology services, and caregiver and intergenerational programs to support blind seniors and their families. 

 

Technology

Accessibility - Apple Support
Learn about accessibility for Apple products.

Assistive Technology
Lists the types of assistive technology available.

GCF Learn Free
Free tutorials and videos to learn how to use technologies, such as the internet, e-mail, social media and Microsoft Office software. Also provides guides for reading, math, grammar and career support.

Internet Scam Guide

The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Internet Scam Guide provides tips to help consumers recognize and avoid deceptive online deals and phishing attempts. It advises vigilance against fraudulent emails, fake websites, and unsolicited messages designed to steal personal information or money.

Learn Google Apps
Tutorials and information about free Google products, including gmail, Google Calendar, Google Translate and Google Drive.

Northstar Digital Literacy
Provides free tutorials to master the digital skills needed to work, learn, and participate fully in life.

 

Veteran Resources
Provides rehabilitation services for veterans in state-of-the-art facilities.
 

Consumer Information Guide: Assisted Living Residence

SAGE Vets is a division of SAGE that helps lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender older adults access their VA benefits and provide guidance.  SAGE Vets serves LGBT military veterans in the New York area who are over 50.  To learn more or schedule an appointment call 212.741.2247 x501 and ask for the SAGE Vets coordinator.
 
Senior Veterans Service Alliance is a not for profit corporation that supports veteran members and sponsors eldercare related businesses.

 

Volunteer/Work Opportunities

Avoid Job Scams

Too many employment agencies take advantage of people who are looking for a job. Some charge upfront fees, guarantee employment, send you to jobs that don’t exist and could make you pay for training. All of these things are illegal. Only use a licensed employment agency, be sure to get DCWP's tips, and fi­le a complaint if you have a problem. Visit DCWP online at nyc.gov/dcwp or call 311 to check an employment agency’s license status and complaint history or to ­le a complaint about an employment agency.

 Brooklyn Public Library Volunteer Services

Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens - Careers

SCSEP is the largest federally-funded program for older adults who seek employment and training assistance, as well as civic engagement. Through this transitional employment program, Easter Seals partners with community-based non-profit organizations and government agencies (host agencies) to provide participants with training opportunities to update their skills.
 
 
If you’re over the age of 55 and meet income eligibility requirements (low to moderate income), you can access training and job placement assistance while you earn a wage through the federal government’s Senior Community Services Employment Program (Title V). 
ReServe
Reserve is an innovative nonprofit that matches continuing professionals age 55+ (ReServists) with organizations that need their expertise.
 
 
 
NEW: Other Resources (these are for-profit companies, and Brooklyn Public Library does not necessarily recommend them)
Caring.com is a senior care resource for family caregivers seeking information and support as they care for aging parents, spouses, and other loved ones.
 

Senior Advisor 
Help finding assisted living and nursing homes.

 
Provides a list of resources that you may find helpful whether you are a senior or a caregiver.  Also gives access to resources that give information on helping seniors with everyday tasks, or picking up on warning signs while caring for the elderly.


If you have questions or suggestions for this listing, please email seniors@bklynlibrary.org. Last edited April 27, 2026.