Archive for the ‘Spring 2019 Issue’ Category

Senior Volunteer Programs Provide More than Service

The United States Census Bureau estimates that the 65 and older population will reach 73 million by 2030. Baby boomers are the fastest growing population in the United States and by 2029 will comprise 20% percent of the total national population. With that in mind, social service providers are...

Reaching Out to Meet the Mental Health Needs of the Aging

There are more than with 3.7 million individuals aged 60 and older in New York State. It’s expected that this number will increase to 4.63 million by 2040. At the same time, the number of older adults with mental illness will increase by 80 percent, to 900,000. Studies have shown that the...

Physical Illness, Depression, and Late-Life Suicide: Considerations and Opportunities for Enhancing Suicide Prevention

Suicide rates in the United States increased from an age-adjusted rate of 11.3/100,000 in 2007 to 14.0/100,000 in 2017 (CDC Fatal Injury Data). During that same period, rates among adults 65 and older remained higher than the national rate, climbing from 14.3 to 17.1/100,000. Increased risk for...

NYAPRS Regional Forum Held at CoveCare Center

Individuals served by and representatives from agencies in Putnam, Westchester and surrounding counties participated in a special forum hosted by CoveCare Center in Carmel, NY. “The Power of Grassroots Advocacy” and “The Promise of Pioneering Service Innovations” were the main topics...

New Partnership Between Coordinated Behavioral Care and Technology Innovator, Karuna Health

Coordinated Behavioral Care, Inc. (CBC), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of care for New Yorkers with serious mental illness, minors with serious emotional disturbances, chronic health conditions and/or substance use disorders, has partnered with Karuna Health to...

Addressing the Urgent Treatment and Housing Needs of Older Adults

In the midst of a devastating opioid epidemic, much of the attention has focused on the impact on younger populations, but there is another group struggling with substance use disorders: senior citizens. As baby boomers head towards their senior years, the number of older Americans with substance...

Impact of Social Isolation Among Older Adults Living with a Mental Health Diagnosis

Risk of social isolation and resulting loneliness becomes increasingly more prevalent as we age, lose friends and family, and navigate chronic health conditions. Situational factors including diminished social and familial roles, together with physical limitations increase the incidence of...

How Senior Centers Combat Isolation

Whether it’s due to distance or the passing of friends and family, many older adults find themselves outside of the social circles to which they once belonged. Now aged and reliant on others for help, many seniors become isolated and depressed, which can have devastating effects on physical and...

Healthy Aging Requires More Than Health

Our nation’s population is rapidly aging. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2030 all members of the Baby Boom generation will have reached or surpassed 65 years of age, and the population of older adults will outnumber children for the first time in our nation’s history (United States...

From Our Recent Children’s Issue: An Innovative Solution for Family and Home Day Care

Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS), a non-sectarian, not-for-profit multi-service agency founded in 1943, has a long history of focusing on early childhood as a key component to its program for children and families. Research has proven the crucial importance of the first years of life on...