Managed Long Term Care Best Practices Guide for Senior Service Providers was developed by DFTA to facilitate agreements between Managed Long Term Care Companies (MLTCs) and aging services providers. The Guide presents information to aging services providers such as Social Adult Day Care Programs (SADC), senior centers and home-delivered meals(HDML) programs and Managed Long Term Care organizations that are looking to enhance their existing partnerships or forge new ones Although these systems have not worked closely together in the past, partnerships can benefit both while strengthening services for older New Yorkers in need.

Good Practices in Intergenerational Programming – Models Advancing Policy, Practice and Research. A joint project of the New York State Intergenerational Network/NYSIgN and the New York City Department for the Aging, this publication features 16 “real world” model programs that exemplify criteria for good practice in intergenerational programming.

Creating an Effective Senior Center Fitness Program: A Guidebook was developed by the Department for the Aging for its community-partner network. It discusses the components of senior fitness, how to identify fitness components in classes and how to evaluate and modify current programs or create new classes to fill a gap.

Download Creating an Effective Senior Center Fitness Program (in PDF)

Evidence-Based Toolkit: Program Summaries and Implementation Guide. Developed by the Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging and Longevity in collaboration with the New York City Department for the Aging, this compendium describes thirty-five “evidence-based” programs with proven effectiveness in addressing cancer, arthritis, depression, diabetes, falls and obesity. They can feasibly be implemented in New York City senior centers.

Download Evidence-Based Toolkit: Program Summaries and Implementation Guide

Health Indicators: Advancing Healthy Aging in Your Community was developed by the United Hospital Fund. This is an easy-to-use survey tool, database and step-by-step process that can help you address key health risks among the seniors you serve. Designed for NORC programs, it can also be used by senior centers, case management agencies and other senior-serving community-based organizations.

Download Health Indicators 

See Well for a Lifetime: An Educational Series on Vision and Aging was developed by the National Eye Institute for professionals who work with older adults in community settings. It is designed to promote eye health as part of healthy aging.

Download the See Well for a Lifetime toolkit

Norcblueprint is a website developed by the United Hospital Fund. It provides program development and management tools and defines the guiding principles to help transform naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs) into good places to grow old.

Materials for the Arts provides thousands of New York City's arts and cultural organizations, public schools and community arts programs with the supplies they need to run and expand their programs.  Any senior center or other community partner with an established arts program can join.  Materials for the Arts is sponsored by the NYC Departments of Cultural Affairs, Sanitation and Education.

Learn more about Materials for the Arts

Elders Share the Arts (ESTA) provides a broad range of arts programming for older adults. Pricing varies depending on the program, training or presentation desired. ESTA will work with you to set up a program, training, presentation or special project to meet your members’ unique needs.

Learn more about Elders Share the Arts

Creativity Matters: The Arts and Aging Toolkit explains why and how older adults benefit from participating in professionally conducted community arts programs and offers detailed advice and examples on program design and implementation.

Download Creativity Matters: The Arts and Aging Toolkit

Art Connects New York is a non-profit that works with curators to permanently place work donated by New York artists in social service organizations, including senior centers, throughout the five boroughs. Ownership of the artwork transfers from the artist to the organization.

Learn more about Art Connects 

Creative Aging Teaching Artists Roster is a free, online, searchable directory of professional teaching artists who are qualified to design and deliver arts programs for older adults. All you have to do is register your organization with Lifetime Arts, log in and search the roster for artists by discipline, location and language. After you’ve reviewed artists’ individual profiles, you directly contact the artist(s) you’ve chosen.

Learn more about Lifetime Arts Teaching Roster 

The Brooklyn-Queens Conservatory of Music offers music therapy programs to Brooklyn and Queens senior centers. Techniques include active musical improvisation, drumming, singing, group listening, sharing music interest, song writing and other experiences to foster creative expression. The Conservatory will work with you to set up a program. Call 718-622-3300, ext. 16.

Learn more about BQCM’s Music Therapy Outreach Program

Sweet Readers is an organization that partners with senior centers, social and medical day care programs, assisted living facilities and nursing homes to provide intergenerational programming for persons with early stage Alzheimer’s Disease. The organization will customize their programming for groups from 5-12.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) offers a free pedestrian safety video and Facilitator's Guide for showing at senior centers and other congregate programs for older adults. Also available: Walking Wisely: Pedestrian Safety Tips for Older Adults and Walking Wisely Checklist.

Learn more about available DOT materials

The New York Fire Department offers an extensive Senior Citizens Fire Safety series upon request. Topics covered include arson, home fire safety, smoke detectors and what to do in case of fire, burns and other emergencies. Call 718-281-3870.

Learn more about Fire Safety Programs 

Through an arrangement with the Department of Education and DFTA, school buses can be booked by DFTA community partners to take seniors on shopping and other trips between the hours of 9:30 – 1:30, October through May when school is in session. “Market Ride” takes seniors to supermarkets, Farmers Markets and other greengrocers where they can purchase nutritious food. Trips must be booked four weeks before trip date. Call 212-442-1174.

The Council of Senior Centers and Services (CSCS) established a group purchasing program, The Marketplace, in 2004 to help DFTA-funded programs save on purchases.  Some of the products and services covered by the program are food, milk, office supplies, FedEx, janitorial supplies and disposables, kitchen equipment, computers, insurance, copiers and printers, phone systems and phone service plans. 

For further information about how The Marketplace can help save you money, call the Council of Senior Centers and Services at 212-398-6556 Ext. 221.