Senior Services of Stamford has been helping elderly people for over 104 years. I am proud to count myself among the Board of Trustees of this great organization. It holds special meaning to me, considering my family settled in Stamford in the late 1800’s. Over the years, we have watched as Senior Services has evolved into the multi-faceted organization that it is today. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you about what we do.

Living on a fixed income is daunting. Many seniors are faced with the dilemma of choosing between absolute necessities like food and near-necessities like replacing a damaged set of eye glasses. Senior Services of Stamford bridges the gap between the basics and the things that improve the quality of life – like glasses and hearing aids to those who cannot afford them.

Another challenge for our seniors to overcome is getting to and from the grocery store. Seeing that need is what lead to the creation of our Friendly Shopper program. The house-bound elderly can simply make a list, and we’ll do the rest. The generous help of our volunteers makes stocking up on food within reach, even for those who are mobility-impaired.

Our Individual Assistance program offers even more services vital to keeping our seniors active and ready to share all their great memories, including:

  • Assistance with prescription drug costs
  • Obtaining small appliances
  • Door-to-door transportation to appointments (a modest $3 charge applies)
  • Providing furniture to recently displaced seniors
  • Replacing food lost due to power outages

Senior Services of Stamford also provides emergency, non-medical assistance to elderly folks who find themselves in crisis – whether it is a lack of shelter, a lack of heat or a utility shut off.

Our services are contingent on financial need, and there is only so much we can do. As an organization that bridges the gap, we work to complement programs like Social Security and Medicare, which were established to provide long-term assistance to those who have paid into the system for so many years.

From the time of our humble beginnings as a boarding house, Senior Services of Stamford has not stopped expanding the list of ways we can help seniors. A financially stable, endowed charity, Senior Services of Stamford nonetheless relies on charitable contributions to expand our outreach as the Baby Boomer population enters their 70’s. There are many ways to help, including the Annual Charity Golf Outing on Thursday May 23 honoring Ernest N. Abate. To find about ways you can help year-round, click here.

 

Judith Heft, Principal, Judith Heft & Associates is a personal financial concierge with offices in Greenwich and Stamford. She can be contacted via email at [email protected] or by phone 203-978-1858.