Celebrating 50 Years of Service for Westchester’s Older Adults

“Keys to Safe Driving” is a series of five, free programs to be presented by Westchester County’s Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS) during Older Driver Safety Week from Dec. 3 to Dec. 7.

The sessions are sponsored by the department’s Older Driver Coalition. Each will explore concerns of older drivers, risk factors and steps that older drivers and their families should take to ensure safety. The programs will also discuss the sensitive subject of when it is time to stop driving, and what alternative transportation services are available if a senior does decide to relinquish the keys.

Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino said it is crucial that seniors know what to do behind the wheel to protect both themselves and others.

“I encourage seniors and family caregivers to attend this valuable program,” Astorino said. “Being able to drive can give seniors enormous mobility and enhance their quality of life. However, we want to make sure everyone is safe.”

Occupational therapy students from Mercy College will discuss adaptive devices that seniors can use for comfort and safety as well as medically based driving evaluations. Medical evaluations are needed, for example, if a senior is recovering from a stroke and wants to drive again.  

The students will also discuss CarFit, a program where professionals do a 20-minute check about how well the senior and their vehicle work together. CarFit was created by the American Society on Aging and developed in collaboration with the American Occupational Therapy Association and AARP.
Lawrence Cunningham from the Westchester County Department of Public Works and Transportation will be at each session to help seniors sign up for MTA’s Reduced Fare MetroCard.  

DSPS Commissioner Mae Carpenter said that when seniors can drive it helps to prevent isolation and to keep their important connections to the community at large.

“But it’s also essential for seniors and their families to know when it is time to stop driving and relinquish their keys,” Carpenter said. “Being prepared and knowing what to expect can help ease the transition and enable the senior to find alternate ways to get around.”

Seniors and their families can attend as many sessions as they wish by calling the director of each program, as listed below. Pre-registration is encouraged but walk-ins are welcome.

• Monday, Dec. 3 – Port Chester Senior Community Center, 222 Grace Church St., Port Chester, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Contact Carol Nielsen, director, at (914) 939-4975.  Mary Ellen Burns from the county Department of Public Works and Transportation will facilitate the program with Marianne Kim, an OT student from Mercy College.
  
  
• Tuesday, Dec. 4 – Theodore Young Community Center, 32 Manhattan Ave., White Plains.  10 a.m. – 11 a.m.  Contact Marianne Madden, director,   at (914) 989-3639. Kathleen Golisz, OTR, OTD, from Mercy College will facilitate with Mercy OT student Umbareen Kahn.  
  
  
• Wednesday, Dec. 5 – Yorktown Senior Center, 1974 Commerce St., Yorktown, 11 a.m. – 12 noon.  Contact Mary DeSilva, director, at (914) 962-7447.  Anna Wyganowska from Public Works and Transportation will facilitate the program with Mercy OT student Meghan Torres.  
  
  
• Thursday, Dec. 5 – Mount Vernon Armory, 144 N. Fifth St., Mount Vernon, 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Contact the Office for the Aging at (914) 665-2315. Beverly Carter from Senior Programs and Services will facilitate with Mercy OT student Malgorzata Haluda.
   
• Friday, Dec. 7 – Joseph Caputo Community Center, 95 Broadway, Ossining, 11 a.m. – 12 noon. Contact Kathy Asaro, director at (914) 762-1350. Janet Weinstein from Lighthouse International will facilitate with Mercy College OT students Diane Booth and Maribel Cuevas.  

Many grandparents raising their grandchildren often lack the extra money to buy them holiday presents. That’s where the Grandparents Coalition of Westchester County’s Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS) comes in.

Again this year, the coalition is looking for sponsors – including caring individuals, social organizations and corporations - to buy a gift for a particular child or children. People age 55 and older who are caregivers for young relatives are eligible for the holiday gift program as well. Last year, the coalition was able to provide gifts to 125 children. For some children, that was the only present they received.

Often the grandparents find themselves parenting for the second time because of a variety of circumstances. Many struggle to support their grandchildren with their basic needs but there is often no money left over to buy presents.

The Grandparents Coalition meets every other month at various locations. It is unique because it brings together agency professionals and grandparents who are on the front lines of raising grandchildren. The professionals help the coalition members with advocacy issues, coordinating activities and organizing educational programs. Contact program administrator Corina Sonara for more information about the coalition or to join at (914) 813-6393 or send her an e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

To make a financial contribution write to Sonara by Dec. 17, c/o the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services, 9 S. First Ave., 10th floor, Mount Vernon, 10550. Also contact Sonara to donate a toy or other gift.

Would you like a luxurious vacation in a sunny location – a relaxing getaway from winter’s wind and snow? If so, consider donating $10 for a raffle ticket to win a week at a timeshare in Florida.

The raffle is sponsored by the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services and will benefit its Grandparents Coalition, which helps grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. The donation for the seven-day stay at the Blue Tree Resort is $10 per ticket.

The Public/Private Partnership raises money to supplement programs of Westchester County’s Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS). The date of the drawing has been extended until May 17.

The timeshare has two bedrooms and can sleep six to eight people. Just some of its amenities are four swimming pools, a children’s pool, a playground, a fitness center, a bilingual staff, free wireless Internet service and many restaurants in walking distance. The resort also offers free transportation to Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld as well as discounts on golf. To learn more, visit Blue Tree Resorts or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The winner must use the timeshare within two years; transportation to Orlando is not included. The cost will be an additional $169 if the winner prefers a timeshare in another location in the United States or in another country.

To donate money for a raffle ticket, contact Corina Sonara, the DSPS liaison to the Grandparents Coalition, at (914) 813-6393 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Make checks payable to the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services and mail them to the partnership at 9 S. First Ave., 10th Floor, Mount Vernon, N.Y. 10550. Volunteers willing to sell tickets should also contact Sonara. Download and print the flier.

The Grandparents Coalition sponsors events throughout the year including fund-raisers to help grandparents buy school supplies for their grandchildren in the fall and holiday gifts in December.

Grandparents raising grandchildren find themselves parenting for the second time because of a variety of circumstances. Many give up their jobs to care for their grandchildren. They struggle to support them with their basic needs but often no money remains for extras.

The Grandparents Coalition meets every other month at various locations. It is unique because it brings together agency professionals and grandparents who are on the front line of raising grandchildren.

The professionals help the grandparents with advocacy issues, coordinate activities and organize educational programs.

A new service has been launched to connect businesses and foundations looking to sponsor projects for seniors with not-for-profit organizations and agencies that serve seniors and are looking for funds.

The online Sponsorship Opportunities Catalog is a collaboration of the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services and Westchester County’s Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS). The partnership has raised funds for DSPS programs for more than 20 years.

Community and not-for-profit groups can apply for free listings in the catalog to tell about their events. Businesses and foundations can then browse through the catalog to look for programs they may want to sponsor.

The groups can list the amount of funding they need, how it will benefit the seniors as well as data to support the need for their request, be if for a one-day program or an ongoing series. They can also describe volunteer opportunities with their organization.

Experienced service providers will review applications before they are included in the catalog. That will ensure the catalog’s quality standards and assure businesses that they are dealing with trusted service providers.

“This is a service that is needed at any time but is especially needed now because of the economy,” said DSPS Commissioner Mae Carpenter. “Many agencies have seen their funding cut back. And businesses, in turn, want to be sure that their contributions go to where they will have the most impact.”

To receive an application form, contact Annette Alve in DSPS at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..