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Town of North Hempstead Open Third Location for “Aging in Place” Senior Program
For Immediate Release Media Contacts: Collin Nash and Sid Nathan
Oct. 22, 2010 (516) 869-7794
Town of North Hempstead Open Third Location for “Aging in Place” Senior Program
North Hempstead, NY
--Chalking up another milestone on the road to regionalizing North Hempstead’s ambitious program designed to help seniors remain in their homes as long as possible, Supervisor Jon Kaiman and the North Hempstead Town Board announced the opening of the Project Independence/New Hyde Park satellite office, the third of a planned town-wide network of offices.
Located at Clinton G. Martin Park, the new Project Independence office opened its doors Oct. 15. Hundreds of residents and dozens of participating organizations and agencies joined with North Hempstead officials and lawmakers from the state and county to celebrate the occasion.
“We are very much aware that a great majority of you here today helped make this town top 25 healthiest places to retire in the Nation,” Supervisor Kaiman said referring to North Hempstead’s ranking by Money Magazine in 2009. “Now we have made a commitment to investing the resources to make sure our seniors remain in their communities for as long as they want and are able.”
With North Hempstead’s senior population growing, Supervisor Kaiman developed Project Independence to help support and empower seniors by providing an array of services through partnerships with government, service providers, businesses and the local community.
The opening of the Project Independence New Hyde Park location brings to three the number of locations now in operation. The other two locations are in Great Neck Senior Center and the Port Washington Community Center. Plans are to establish a network of eight Project Independence locations throughout the town.
“This is your town,” Town Councilman Angelo Ferrara told the hundreds of seniors in attendance. “Project Independence is one way we are trying to ensure that you are able to stay here.”
A multifaceted initiative, Project Independence has one primary goal: help seniors live healthy, active and engaged lives as members of their community by connecting them to the valuable services, programs and providers that will help them remain as independent as possible.
By simply dialing 311, a resident can connect with a Project Independence staffer, who will help them find answers to a particular question, track down information or tap into valuable services such as health screenings, immunizations and information about managing medications. Project Independence also offers caregiver support, social and recreational activities, support groups for those coping with illness, depression or loss, as well as volunteer opportunities.
The Town recently broadened the menu of offerings by introducing a free transportation service to designated area supermarkets as well as low-cost taxi rides for non-emergency medical visits.
First initiated as a pilot program in the New Hyde Park area, Project Independence is the first program of its kind to be established in a suburban setting.
The program is a godsend, said Georgina Fitzpatrick of New Hyde Park. She hasn’t driven for a while, Fitzpatrick said and her husband Kieran who was the primary driver is now not well enough to get behind the wheel, she said. She said she plans to use the non-emergency medical transportation program for her monthly doctor visits.
“Project Independence is a wonderful program,” Fitzpatrick said. “Programs like this are needed in every town. People are living longer and want to stay in their communities.”
North Hempstead’s Project Independence/New Hyde Park Open House was celebrated by
(L to R)
Back Row: NC Legislator Judi Bosworth, Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel, Supervisor Jon Kaiman, Receiver Charles Berman, Councilwoman Lee Seeman, DOSA Commissioner Evelyn Roth
Front Row: New Hyde Park Residents Barry Greene, Richard Husch, Terri Calabrese, Nancy Gaines, and Regina Kovack.
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