Senior Resource Guide
for the
Babylon Rotary Club
Service Area
Compiled October 2009
The Babylon Rotary Club is a service organization aiming to support our local residents in a variety of ways, including the creation of this Senior Resource Guide (with the help of professional Suffolk County librarian Norma S. Nelson). In these difficult economic times, this guide hopes to help connect our local seniors with a wide assortment of available resources in the Babylon Rotary’s service area including: Babylon Village, North Babylon, West Babylon and West Islip.
Disclaimer: The Babylon Rotary Club does not necessarily endorse any of the following resources listed.
Topics in this guide include:
HEALTH RESOURCES
FOOD AND CLOTHING OPTIONS
SOCIAL SERVICES
FINANCIAL RESOURCES
SOCIALIZATION OPTIONS
TRANSPORTATION AID
VOLUNTEERING
HEALTH RESOURCES
[“To wish to be well is a part of becoming well.” Seneca quotations, mid century, AD]
• Our local libraries host many health related workshops. Call your local library for details on upcoming health related events. Recent offerings have included:
— Babylon Public Library
24 South Carll Avenue, Babylon, NY 631 669-1624
Free Blood Pressure Screening, “Get Fit While You Sit,” Tai Chi for Arthritis, Mental Health Clinic
— North Babylon Public Library
815 Deer Park Avenue, North Babylon, NY 631 669-4020
Alzheimer’s and Caregiving
— West Babylon Public Library
211 Route 109, West Babylon, NY 631 669-5445
Arthritis Awareness, Meditation for Everyday Living, Hearing Aids and Hearing Loss for Seniors, “Is Your Sleep Keeping You Awake?” Learn to be Tobacco Free, Celiac Disease
— West Islip Public Library
3 Higbie Lane, West Islip, NY 631 661-7080
The ABC’s of Diabetes, Boost Your Immune System Naturally, Free Blood Pressure Screening, Tot Savers (CPR on children), Herbs for Winter Health, Arthritis Support Group, TOPS 258 – Take Off Pounds Sensibly, American Parkinson’s Disease Association’s West Islip Support Group
• GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL Montauk Highway, West Islip ( 631 376-4444) offers many health related screenings, workshops, lectures and support groups. Recent offerings have included:
Cholesterol and Glaucoma Screenings, “How to Improve Balance and Prevent Falls,” Bariatric Support Group, Prostate and Breast Cancer Support Groups, Chronic Pain Support Group, Drop in Bereavement Support Group, Free Community Health Fair
• Houses of Worship often host 12-step AA meetings,such as:
— Christ Episcopal Church, 12 Prospect St., Babylon – Tues. 7am, and 7:30pm, Fri. 7am
— Church of Saint Joseph, 39 North Carll Ave., Babylon – Wed. 8pm
— Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, 576 Deer Park Ave., Babylon – Fri. 7:30pm
— United Methodist Church of Babylon, 21 James St., Babylon – Mon. & Thurs. 8:30pm
— Our Lady of Grace, 666 Albin Ave., West Babylon – Wed. 8pm, Fri. 7 and 8:00pm, also Fri. 8:15pm and 9:15pm
— Our Lady of Lourdes, 455 Hunter Ave., West Islip – Mon. & Tues. 8pm, Sat. 2 & 7pm
— Westminster United Presbyterian Church, 109 Udall Rd., West Islip – Wed. & Sun. 7:30pm
• AA meetings are also held at:
— Bridge to Sobriety, Captree/Overlook, Babylon – Sun. 7am
— Babylon Town Hall, Phelps Lane, North Babylon, Rm. 17 – Mon. 7:30pm, Tues.,
11am & 6:30pm, Wed. 7pm, Thurs. 7:30pm, Fri. 11am & 7:00pm, Sat. 9:30am and Sunday 3pm
— Good Samaritan Hospital, Montauk Highway, West Islip – Sun. 9:30am
— Our Lady of Consolation, 111 Beach Drive, West Islip – Mon, Thurs. & Fri. 8pm
— Town of Islip Senior Center, 90 Higbie Lane, West Islip – Mon. 6:30pm, Thurs. 8pm
• For more information on AA meeting locations, call Suffolk Intergroup Association at 631 654-1150
• Al-Anon Meetings are held at:
— Christ Episcopal Church, Thurs. 10am
— Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, Sat. 7pm
— United Methodist Church, Babylon, Tues. 8pm
— Our Lady of Grace, West Babylon, Mon. 9:30pm
— Our Lady of Lourdes, West Islip, Wed. 9:30am
• For additional Al-Anon info. call Al-Anon Suffolk Information Service, 631 669-2827, located at 666 Albin Avenue, West Babylon
• For Crisis Response Hotline call 631 751-7500
• Families Anonymous (for those concerned about a family member who appears to have an alcohol, drug or behavioral problem.), held at Our Lady of Grace School, West Babylon, Room 116, Sat. 9:30am, room 115 & Wed. 8pm, room 116. For more information call Donna at 631 589-3790 or Julia at 631 587-5921
• Narcotics Anonymous meets at Our Lady of Grace, West Babylon, Thursdays, 8:00 to 9:00pm
• Other 12-step program contact numbers:
— Gamblers Anonymous 631 665-6660
— Narcotics Anonymous 631 827-9500
— Overeaters Anonymous 631 924-0440
• Long Island Teen Challenge at 30 Farmingdale Rd., West Babylon, NY offers addiction counseling, abuse recovery and residential treatment for all ages. Call 631 321-7070 for more information.
• Mission Cataract USA has offered free cataract surgery to residents who are not covered by medical insurance and who are unable to pay for the surgery themselves. Call 866 733-6254 for more info.
• Seventh-Day Adventist Church hosted a series of 10 health seminars at the South Bay Junior academy, located at 150 Fire Island Avenue, Babylon Village. The lectures were free and topics discussed included: steps to wellness; cancer and foods to heal and prevent; depression, stress, nutrition and vegetarian cooking. Call 631 422-5207 for information on any future offerings.
• Southside Hospital, at 301 East Main Street, Bay Shore, NY offered free PSA prostatecancer screenings for men 40+ years old. This free community health program was provided as a service by the Department of Professional and Public Health Education, 516 465-2500.
• The Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation helps lighten the burden and improve the quality of life for those suffering with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, as well as their caregivers and families. Services include: a resource and referral center, a toll-
free hotline at 866 789-5423, counseling, educational workshops and conferences, a state-of-the-art social-model adult day services program, and Alzheimer’s Companions, an in-home respite care with a cognitive stimulation component. For more information, call 516 767-6856.
• The web site of the American Geriatrics Society’s Foundation for Health in Aging, offers easy-to-understand information about health in aging. Topics include high blood pressure, heart disease, back pain, diabetes, osteoporosis, depression, anemia, nutrition, pain relief, sexuality, hearing, vision, incontinence and medication.
• Advance Care Plans - Protect your loved ones from having to make life and death decisions on your behalf by developing an advance care plan. The Heart Failure Society of America has put together a brochure that will take you through the various steps you’ll need to consider. Log on to to request a copy.
• Senior Citizen Centers offer a variety of health services such as health screening, flu shots, medication management, nutrition counseling and physical fitness. Recent health related offerings also include:
— Town of Babylon Senior Center, 438 Spangle Drive, North Babylon, NY 631 422-7610 recently offered:
Range of Motion Chair Exercise Program
Tai Chi
— Town of Islip Senior Citizen Center, 90 Higbie Lane, West Islip, NY 631-893-8932 recently offered:
Arthritis Exercise Class
Arthritis Foundation and Support Group
Wii Bowling
— Town of Islip Brief Respite Program – This limited respite service for family caregivers provides “time-off” for brief periods, generally 4 hours. Call 631 224-5540 for more info.
— Discounted gym memberships for seniors – Silver Sneakers at YMCA, for example, check at your neighborhood gym for any senior membership discounts offered
• Poison ControlHotline – 516 542-2323
• Other popular health related web sites include:
• Mental Health
— Emotions Anonymous, meets at Our Lady of Grace, West Babylon, Fri. 7:30pm, room 114 and Mon. 7:30pm, room 115
— The Federation of Organizations for the New York State Mentally Disabled, Inc, 1 Farmingdale Road, West Babylon, has a respite program for those caring for relatives with Alzheimer’s or Dementia, day social programs, evening drop in program. Call 631 321- 8229 or 631 669-5355 for more information.
— Recovery, Inc. – Community Mental Health Organization – meets at the West Islip Public Library, West Islip, Mon. 7pm
— Suffolk County Mental Health Dept. 631 853-3105
— Mental Health Association of Suffolk County, 631 226-3900, provides information and referrals to connect resources for people living with mental illness, their families and service providers. They also provide advocacy and consumer training to develop the skills necessary to work and/or volunteer as peer recovery and wellness specialists
— Suffolk County Psychiatric Hotline 631 952-3333
— The Long Island Veterans Center , 116 West Main Street, Babylon – provides psychological counseling for all veterans suffering from war trauma. Call 631 661-3930 for more information.
— The Wellness Project provides older persons with in-home counseling under the professional supervision of the Suffolk County Dept. of Health Services, Division of Community Mental Hygiene. Under supervision of a certified social worker, student interns meet with individuals, couples, and two-and-three generation families, providing mental health counseling. The interns also conduct weekly wellness workshops at senior nutrition sites. For more information, call 631 853-7300.
— County Wide Mental Health Services offers counseling services via Family Service League, 1444 5th Avenue, Bayshore, NY. Call 631 647-3100, ext. 103 (diagnosis and treatment for issues such as bereavement, financial distress, aging issues, personal, interpersonal and social adjustments, etc.)
— Medicare reimburses qualified licensed clinical social workers and/or licensed psychologists in private practice for mental health services rendered in your area.
FOOD AND CLOTHING OPTIONS
[“For my part now, I consider supper as a turnpike through which we must pass, in order to get to bed.” Oliver Edwards, 1711 –91: in James Boswell’s Life of Samuel Johnson ]
• A number of local houses of worship provide food pantry’s, soup kitchens and discounted used clothing. Some examples are:
— Church of Saint Joseph’s of Babylon, 39 North Carll Ave., Babylon 631 669-0068
Clothing thrift shop – Mon., Wed., Thurs.
Food Pantry: Mon. 9:30 to noon; Tues., Wed., Thurs. 9:30 - 1:30pm (no Thurs. in Aug.)
(or call Mary Jane at 669-0068, ext. 128 for an appt.)
— Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, 576 Deer Park Avenue, Babylon 631 7245
Food Pantry - Tues. 4:45 to 5:30pm
Soup Kitchen – Tues. 5:00pm
— First Presbyterian Church of Babylon, 79 East Main Street, Babylon 631 587-5838
Food Pantry – Mon., Fri. 10:00am – 1:00pm
Soup Kitchen – Thurs. 6:00 – 7:00pm (closed for summer)
— United Methodist Church of Babylon, 21 James Street, Babylon 631 661-5151
Food Pantry – Tues., Thurs l0:00 – 12 noon
Soup Kitchen – Sundays 12 noon – 1:30pm (closed in August)
— Bread of Life Outreach, 325 Wyandanch Avenue, North Babylon 631 668-2474
Food Pantry – Mon., Thurs. 11:00 – 1:00pm, 2nd Sat. of month, 10:00 – 11:00am
— Mt. Carmel Full Gospel Church, 420-A Wyandanch Ave., N. Babylon 631 559-0311;
Food Pantry – Wed. – 7:00 – 9:00pm; Sat. 12:00 – 5:00pm
— Church of God of Prophecy, 196 Little East Neck Rd., West Babylon 631 482-1804
or 631 376-0103; Food Pantry – Sat. 10:00 – 2:00pm
— Our Lady of Grace, 700 Albin Avenue, West Babylon 631 661-9354;
Food Pantry – Tues., Thurs. 10:00 – noon or by appt.
— Our Lady of Lourdes, 455 Hunter Avenue, West Islip 631 661-9262, option 4;
Food Pantry - Mon. – Fri. 7:30am – 3:30pm, also on Sun. evening, volunteers make up washing kits for the military and the area’s homeless.
— West Islip Church of Christ, 600 Montauk Highway, West Islip 631 587-1156;
Food Pantry (call first)
— Westminster United Presbyterian Church, 109 Udall Road, West Islip 631 661-6740;
Rummage sales and “Grandma’s Attic” held periodically, call for information
Food Pantry – Tues., Wed., Thurs. 10:00 – noon
Soup Kitchen – occasional Sundays 4:00pm., call for information
— Our Lady of Consolation, 111 Beach Drive, West Islip, 631 587-1762;
Soup Supper – daily (including weekends) 4:30pm, $3.00
• Free food for seniors: The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (funded by USDA, NYSDOH and administered by Catholic Charities) is offering free food for seniors age 60 and over, who meet income guidelines. The food package includes cheese, milk, starches, cereals, juices, canned fish, meats, vegetables and more. Income guidelines for seniors are: gross monthly income for a single senior is $1,127 or less and for a senior couple is $1,517 or less. For further information in Nassau or Suffolk, call 631 491-4169 or 631 491-4156
• The Interfaith Nutrition Network has 19 soup kitchen locations and other programs to assist people in need throughout Nassau and Suffolk. For more information and eligibility inquiries call: 516 486-8506
• The Salvation Army will help out with a one time emergency situation re. food, medicine, utilities, etc on a case by case basis. Call 631 363-6100 for more info.
• Town Food Programs
— Town of Babylon, Spangle Drive Senior Center, 631 422-7610, offers nutritional lunches which must be ordered by 11:00am of the same day or a day ahead of time. Donation is $2.00 per meal. Transportation to the Senior Center is available.
R.S.V.P food coupons are available at the Senior Center for farmer’s market purchases.
Transportation to and from Pathmark is provided from the Senior Center (every other week). Call Madeline at 631 422-7618 for more information.
— Town of Islip, Higbie Lane Senior Center, 631 893-8932 provides a nutritious lunch Monday through Friday. Reservations must be made in advance. A voluntary contribution of $2.00 per meal is suggested. Transportation to the Senior Center is available. For more info. call 631 224-5340
A home delivery meal program delivers a daily meal, Mon. through Fri. to seniors who are unable to prepare meals, and have no one available to assist them while recuperating or incapacitated. An in-home evaluation process is necessary and a voluntary contribution of $2.00 per meal is suggested. For further information call 631 224-5540.
R.S.V.P food coupons are available at the Senior Center for farmer’s market purchases, and transportation to and from Pathmark is provided from the Senior Center twice a month. Call 631 224-5686 for more info.
SOCIAL SERVICES
[“Life is mostly froth and bubble, two things stand like stone, kindness in another’s trouble, courage in your own.” Adam Lindsay Gordon, 1883-90, Ye Wearle Wayfarer, 1866]
• Houses of worship often offer some social services to those living in their geographic area, in addition to food and clothing. Examples include:
— Church of Saint Joseph, Babylon, 631 669-0068 offers bereavement and widowed groups, economic assistance, housing and utility assistance and basic needs of living assistance. Call 631 669-0068, ext. 128 for more info.
— Babylon Christ Episcopal, 12 Prospect Street, Babylon, 631 661-5757, sponsors needy families throughout the year. .
— Our Lady of Grace, West Babylon, 631 661-9354 offers bereavement and widowed groups and the outreach office provides services which include: gift cards, transportation, housing assistance, utilities assistance, plus information and referrals.
— Our Lady of Lourdes, West Islip, 631 661 9262, option 4 offers “The Beginning Experience,” which addresses the heartache of divorce, separation and widowhood. “A weekend away for a lifetime of change.” The latest weekend was August 21 through August 23. For more information, call Connie at 516 735 1720 or Carmen at
516 739-0973.
• Local Librariesoccasionally host social service workshops - recent workshops included::
— Babylon Public Library, 631 669-1624: - Senior Advocacy Workshop, The Ponzi Scheme – Avoid Becoming a Victim, Wills and Estates, AARP Drivers Safety Class
— North Babylon Public Library, 631 669-4020 – Defensive Driving, Computer Training With a Teen, Alzheimer’s & Caregiving
— West Babylon Public Library, 631 669-5445 – Senior Advocacy Workshop, Epic Information Program, Elder Law, Legal Issues Affecting All of Us, AARP Driver Safety Program, Project Lifesaver
— West Islip Public Library, 631 661-7080 – Homebound Services, Senior Financial Workshops, AARP 55 Alive Driver Safety Program, AARP Tax Help, Senior Mentoring for Computers, St. Monica’s Guild Bereavement Group
• Other Local Organizations Providing Social Services:
— American Red Cross – Babylon/Islip Regional Office, P.O. Box 1442, West Babylon, NY631 924-6700 ; 24 hour emergency – 631 924-6911
— Babylon Breast Care Coalition, 200 West Main Street, Babylon, 631 893-4110, Debbie Basile. (Provides education, referrals and direct patient services to all Babylon township residents coping with breast or gynecological cancers.)
— St. Vincent de Paul Society, 631 669-4544 offers material assistance (food, clothing, furniture), financial assistance (for travel, legal, medical and dental aid, rent, utilities), and special assistance (housing, home visits, prison visits, hospital visits, eldercare visits, daycare visits, telephone contacts) for those eligible and in need.
— Bereavement Groups are offered by Our Lady of Consolation, 111 Beach Drive, West Islip 631 587-1600, ext. 8297
— Family Service League supports the CAIR program (Community Advocacy,Information and Referral program) which provides emergency aid to the most needy individuals and families for basics such as food, clothing, heat, housing, and medicine. For more information, call 631 427-3700
— Family Service League helps home seekers through the Home Share Program. This is a program that links older homeowners who have available bedrooms with other adults who need affordable housing. Minimum age of qualified homeowner is 60 years old. Qualified home seekers must be at least 18 years old, and be employed or in school. Each homeowner and home-sharer pays a fee of $100 upon completion of interview and an additional $100 when the parties agree to establish a match.. Program hours are 9:00am – 2:00pm, Call 631 427-3700, ext. 305 or 301 for more information.
— Grandparents Classes are offered at Good Samaritan Hospital, West Islip, 631 376-4444
— Islip Hotline – 631 277-4700, Referral Services and Crisis Intervention Assistance
— Jr./Sr. Companion Program is offered by The Federation of Organizations for the New York State Mentally Disabled, Inc. 1 Farmingdale Road., West Babylon 631 447-6460
— Long Island Crisis Center, 516 826-0244 is a 24 hour crisis intervention/suicide prevention hotline
— North Babylon Community Youth Services for Seniors 213 Phelps Lane, North Babylon, 631 422-0333
— Response Hotline – 631 751-7500 at a 24 hour crisis intervention/suicide prevention hotline offering telephone counseling and a computerized information and referral program
— Salvation Army – one time emergency help, call 631 563-6100
— “Smart and Safe Seniors Workshop,” by Boyd-Spencer Funeral Home, 448 Main Street, Babylon, 631 669-2400, Charles Spencer, (safety around the house, personal safety, cons and scams).
— For Elder Fraud Guide, “Recognizing Con Games That Target Seniors,” write to:
Consumer Action, 221 Main St., Suite 480, San Francisco, Ca. 94105 or call:
415 777-9635 or write to Consumer Action, 523 West Sixth St., Suite 1105, Los Angeles, Ca. 90014 or call 213 624-8327, email