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News & Events

Leo M. Asen, seated, and Milton Greidinger appear before the NYC Council’s Aging Committee.

Selfhelp Testimony to the NYC Council’s Aging Committee Hearing

Leo M. Asen, Selfhelp’s Vice President of Senior Communities, testified before the New York City’s Aging Committee on October 28, 2011.  The hearing, on the oversight of seniors and technology, provided Selfhelp the opportunity to share...  Read More

 

Stuart Kaplan, CEO of Selfhelp (right), Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Willie Rapfogel, CEO of Met Council, discuss H.R. 2786 during a congressional briefing on October 26.

Advancing our Historic Mission:  Selfhelp Hosts Congressional Briefing on Caring for Survivors   Read More

“Selfhelp’s Maspeth Senior Center offers seniors a place to heal”  Read the article from the Queens Chronicle
 

New Telehealth Monitoring thanks to Enterprise Community Partners

Message from the CEO
 
Dear Friends,
 
We are delighted to announce that Enterprise Community Partners has awarded Selfhelp a $50,000 grant to install telehealth kiosks at our Martin Lande House (Flushing) and Scheuer House of Bayside residences. The grant will enable Selfhelp to demonstrate how telehealth kiosks can be used in congregate settings to improve health literacy and wellness among the residents.
 
Program participants will be able to self-monitor their vital information such as blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, and weight and then securely transmit their bio-metrics electronically for review.  These kiosks will be an especially important addition for those suffering from chronic conditions such as respiratory problems, hypertension, arrhythmia, and congestive heart failure.
 
Partnering with Selfhelp in this new venture is Jewish Home Lifecare, who will monitor the information.  When an alert is triggered the individual, as well as our community nurse and social worker, will be notified.  The telehealth nurse will also call the resident to discuss the alert and offer a health education consult.  When needed, a Summary Sheet and Trend Report can be printed to enhance a visit to the doctor.
 
Community Nurse Brenda Gaines (right) assists
Ceil Lifton in learning how to use one of the new
telehealth kiosks.
 
In a telehealth pilot program Selfhelp conducted a few years ago in cooperation with New York State Department of Health, we quickly saw the health benefits that such a program could offer.  Thanks to the telehealth monitoring system, and superior coordinated teamwork, we routinely averted medical crises and visits to Emergency Rooms.
 
"We are delighted to partner with Jewish Home Lifecare on this initiative.  Their experience and success in health literacy, wellness promotion and reduced hospitalization are in line with our key goals of developing innovative, supportive senior housing initiatives,"  said Leo Asen, Vice President, Senior Communities.  "We sincerely thank Enterprise for their confidence in us and their investment to develop yet another model to support seniors to live safely, comfortably, independently and with dignity in their homes."

Sincerely,
Stuart C. Kaplan
CEO
Selfhelp Community Services

 
 

On August 12, 2011, Selfhelp Community Services led 41 organizations in filing an amicus or "friend of the court" brief supporting the New York City Medicaid Program, run by the Human Resources Administration ("HRA") which the U.S. Department of Justice has charged with filing "false claims" for its approval of 24-hour personal care services.  For more information see http://wnylc.com/health/news/12/
CRAIN'S Health Newsletter August 17th
 

New York Daily News columnist Denis Hamill asks the public to consider what will happen to The Greatest Generation if non-profit organizations that focus on the plight of the elderly poor, such as Selfhelp Community Services, continue to suffer from governmental cutbacks and reduced grants from foundations.

August 11, 2011  Hamill: Our Greatest shame

           

In an interview on WFAN Radio, citing examples, Valerie expands further on the legal issues facing low-income seniors.

Valerie Bogart , Director of E Frank Legal Resources Program on WFAN  - August 6, 2011
Click Here for Podcast

Selfhelp advocates for those in need, keeps abreast of the changes in Medicare and Medicaid, monitors changes in HIV/AIDS care and speaks out often on a variety of issues that affect frail, elderly and/or disabled New Yorkers. Click on the links below for recent news or view our archive filled with items from previous years.

Update on Selfhelp’s Virtual Senior Center

Symposium on Caring for Survivors Set
JTA, The Global News Service for the Jewish People, 3/28/11

Selfhelp celebrates the $43 million renovation of K-I and K-II, two senior affordable housing developments in Flushing Read press release.

Selfhelp breaks ground on K-VII, a new green apartment building for affordable independent living.  Read press release

K-VII Groundbreaking in the news:

Selfhelp Newsletter Spring 2011

Survivor (Ruth) in Flatbush and talks about Selfhelp's sponsorship of the coffee house gatherings.
http://video.sinovision.net/?id=1707
[ translation ]

Staten Island Resident David Goldfarb To Be Honored  
Staten Island Advance, 2/24/11

Threatened closing of 100+ senior centers, and interviews
NY1, February 23, 2011

Threatened closing of more than 100 senior centers and footage from the press briefing at Selfhelp senior center, interview with Ms. Meng and more
Sino Nightly News, February 22, 2011 

Selfhelp Senior Center
WPIX, 2/22/2011

Interview of Leo M. Asen, Vice President Senior Communities
Queens Campaigner, February 22, 2011 

French Minister Visit 
Demotix, 2/22/2011 

Survivor (Ruth) in Flatbush and talks about Selfhelp's sponsorship of the coffee house gathering

Selfhelp Lauds Congressional Support for Holocaust Survivors
Selfhelp Community Services applauds the unanimous passage of a Congressional resolution Wednesday to support programs that meet the distinct needs of aging Holocaust survivors.
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Selfhelp Community Services leads 75 organizations in demanding withdrawal of federal lawsuit attacking NYC Medicaid personal care program
On January 14, 2011, Selfhelp led 75 local, state, and national organizations in demanding that the United States Attorney withdraw a lawsuit against New York City that would result in denying...
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U.S. Attorney Sues New York City for Medicaid Fraud
PHI, 01/27/11

	

As New York City Defends Medicaid Approvals, Fear of Suit’s Fallout Grows


The New York Times, 01/11/11