Greenwich Answer Book
Senior Citizens

May 29, 2007

What special housing is available for the elderly?
The Bishop Curtis Home at 1040 East Putnam Avenue in Riverside is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport, but it is not necessary to be Catholic to live there. It is a federally subsidized apartment complex offering low-income housing to qualified people 62 years and older and for people who are permanently disabled. Call 637-8065 or 576-0823.
The Greens at Greenwich is an assisted living residence at 1155 King Street. It is affiliated with Greenwich Woods Health Care Center (see Health section under nursing homes). Call 531-5500 for details.
Hill House at 10 Riverside Avenue in Riverside offers affordable housing for the frail elderly (over 62) who need some support services. Call 637-3177.
The Mews is a senior residence offering assisted living services at 1/2 Bolling Place (off Arch Street). For information, call 869-9448.
Parsonage Cottage at 88 Parsonage Road is a residential care home for seniors, with single and double rooms. Call 869-6226.
The Greenwich Housing Authority operates low- and moderate-income rental housing for families, the elderly, and the disabled. There are currently 1,000 units in 15 properties, although there is a waiting list. For information, call 869-1138. A complete list of senior housing available in a 14-town region of southwestern Connecticut is available from the Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging (333-9288/swcaa.org) in Bridgeport.

Is there day care for the elderly?
Greenwich Adult Day Care and The Gazebo at 70 Parsonage Road offer individualized programs of health care, therapy, and social activities for impaired and/or isolated adults. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 8 to 4:30. Transportation is provided. An admission form, visit, and physician’s orders are required for enrollment. For information, call 622-0079 or visit online at gadc.org.
A new facility, GADC on the Mianus, will result from the renovation of the 1927 Railroad Pump House on the Mianus River in Cos Cob. It will be able to serve 75 clients a day with adult day care services.

Is there a senior center?
The Greenwich Senior Center (622-3990) is at 299 Greenwich Avenue and serves Greenwich residents 55 and over Monday through Friday from 9 to 4. There are classes, day trips, health forums, and social activities. A hot lunch is served every day (reservations required the day before).

Are there any senior clubs?
There are several including: Byram Senior Citizens, Glenville Senior Citizens, Greenwich Seniors Club, Retired Men’s Association, St. Roch’s Senior Group, and J ewish Family Services Senior Group. Call the Commission on Aging at 622-3992 for information.

Is there an AARP chapter here?
There are three. The Greenwich chapter meets the third Thursday of the month (except July and August) at 1:30, at Christ Church on Putnam Avenue. Call Louise Burns for information at 531-6837.
The Eastern Greenwich chapter (637-3661) meets the second Tuesday of the month (except July and August) at 1, at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 8 Riverside Avenue.
The Western Greenwich chapter meets the first Thursday of the month (except July, August, and December) at 1, at Greenwich Civic Center, 10 Harding Road, Old Greenwich. Call Theresa Kelly at 531-8263 for details.

Does anyone help seniors with their income tax?
There is a Tax Service for Seniors that runs on Mondays and Fridays from 9 to 1, Feb. 1 through April 15 on the ground floor of the Greenwich Senior Center (622-3990). No appointment is necessary.
AARP Tax Counseling for the Elderly takes place from Feb. 1 through mid-April at Greenwich Town Hall. Call Herbert Egli at 869-7898 for information.

Will anyone run errands for seniors?
Supermarketing for Seniors is a program offered by Jewish Family Services of Greenwich to those 60 and older who can no longer shop for groceries. The service is free. Call 622-1881 for details.

Does anyone offer a chore service for seniors?
Jewish Family Services of Greenwich (jfsgreenwich.org), through its Eldercare Connection, offers chore and carpentry services as well as a Snow Angels Shoveling service. Call 622-1881 or details.

What transportation services are available to seniors?
The Greenwich Red Cross offers free rides to Greenwich residents for medically related services. All vehicles are white and bear the Red Cross logo and are equipped with two-way radios. Clients must be ambulatory and the service does not operate on weekends or holidays. Call 637-4345 for an appointment one week in advance.
Jewish Family Services of Greenwich offers a free taxi service for seniors in and around the Greenwich area. Call 622-1881 for details.
Call-A-Ride offers free door-to-door services to those 60 and older Monday through Friday from 9 to 3:30. The service will take you anywhere you wish to go in Greenwich. You must be ambulatory. Call 661-6633 for an appointment.
TAG offers door-to-door service within Greenwich and neighboring communities Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., evenings and weekends by reservation. The service is available to senior citizens and the disabled of all ages. Call 637-4345 for the schedule and details.
Easy Access (299-5180/norwalktransit.com)offers door-to-door service Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Norwalk Transit service operates within a three-quarter-mile corridor of the public bus route between Greenwich and Norwalk. The fare is $2.50 per one-way trip, payable as a pre-paid ticket. Wheelchairs OK. Call 637-4345 or 299-5180 for appointments and scheduled runs. Tickets may be purchased in person or through the mail at Transportation Association of Greenwich, 13 Riverside Avenue, 637-7345.
CT Transit offers bus service between Stamford and Old Greenwich, passing through downtown Greenwich weekdays. The daily service from Stamford to Port Chester also passes through Greenwich. All CTTransit buses are handicap accessible and seniors and disabled riders may travel for half fare. For information, call 327-7433 (TTY: 327-2404) or visit online at cttransit.com.
Greenwich Taxi offers a senior discount. Call 869-6000 for details.
Greenwich Emergency Medical Services offers GEMS Access, for non-emergency medical transportation in the ambulance. The service is offered 24 hours by appointment or immediate request. Call 637-2351 for details.

Is there an employment service for older folks?
USE (Utilize Senior Energy) is a non-profit employment service for Greenwich residents over 50. It is at the Senior Center on Greenwich Avenue. Call 629-8031 Monday through Friday from 9:30 to 12:30.

Does anyone check in on homebound elderly?
There are a number of programs that reach out to the homebound. There are two Friendly Visitor Programs. One is run by Greenwich Department of Social Services (622-6455), the other by Jewish Family Services (622-1881).
Friendly Connections at 20 Bridge Street offers a program called Telephone Groups. This program links people via conference call for social calls, discussions, and support. Different groups are available. Friendly Callers are volunteers who call daily for social conversation. Seniors Calling Seniors brings together senior citizens for friendly chats on the phone. For information on any of these programs, call 661-4378.
Many churches also offer outreach programs.

Is there Meals on Wheels?
There is a Meals on Wheels service (mealsonwheelsofgreenwich.org) that will deliver meals to the ill, disabled, or elderly who cannot prepare meals themselves. Clients must be referred by a health care professional. Call 869-1312, 8 to noon, Monday through Friday.
For those who can get out of the house there is the Weekend Lunch Bunch at Greenwich Hospital cafeteria, where meals ($5) are served to Greenwich residents over 55 with senior ID on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 2. Call 863-3690 for menu information.

Does anyone help with insurance questions?
The Health Insurance Counseling Program, offered by the Commission on Aging and Family Centers, Inc., has volunteers to help with Medigap insurance policies. The service is free. For an appointment, call 622-3992.
The Norwalk Hospital Volunteer Medicare Information Service offers help to anyone interested in Medicare or supplemental insurance assistance. Call 852-3325 and leave a name, telephone number, and the best time for a volunteer to return the call.

How can I learn more about services for seniors?
You may call the Division of Senior Services (622-3805) at the Greenwich Department of Social Services.
The Greenwich Commission on Aging publishes and regularly updates a 62-page Directory of Services for Senior Adults. The booklet is available at the Commission on Aging office at the Senior Center and online at greenwichct.org.



© Copyright 2007 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers