1 00:00:01,639 --> 00:00:05,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to Get Connected with Nina del Rio, a weekly 2 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:09,440 Speaker 1: conversation about fitness, health and happenings in our community on 3 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:13,119 Speaker 1: one Oho six point seven Light FM. 4 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 2: Happy new Year and thanks for listening to Get Connected 5 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:20,440 Speaker 2: with affordability top of mind, top of conversation, and the elderly, 6 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 2: the fastest growing age group in the country, including in 7 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:26,159 Speaker 2: New York. We're starting the year with a conversation with 8 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 2: Gail Horowitz. She is the new CEO of JASA, the 9 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:32,919 Speaker 2: city's go to nonprofit supporting older New Yorkers. We will 10 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:36,639 Speaker 2: talk about how affordability is impacting older residents, what does 11 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:38,919 Speaker 2: she see on the horizon for housing as the need 12 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 2: grows every day, and what does retirement look like for 13 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 2: low to moderate income New Yorkers. Gail Horwitz, thank you 14 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:47,159 Speaker 2: for being on Get Connected. 15 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 3: Thank you for having me. I'm delighted to talk about 16 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 3: JASA and to start the new year on a really 17 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 3: important topic. 18 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:59,840 Speaker 2: You can find out more about the organization at JASA 19 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 2: and Gail Horwitz joins JOSA from CUNY, where she most 20 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:07,440 Speaker 2: recently served as Senior Vice Chancellor and Secretary of the 21 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 2: Board of Trustees. Since twenty sixteen. She's held various roles 22 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,399 Speaker 2: at CUNY, including Senior Advisor to the Chancellor and Interim 23 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 2: President of the Research Foundation at CUNY. So, how did 24 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 2: your life and your career lead you to JOSA What 25 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:23,040 Speaker 2: attracted you to this role? 26 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:28,400 Speaker 3: Thank you for having me, and I'm happy to answer 27 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 3: that question. I've spent almost forty years working in city 28 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 3: and state government, and I have a master's in public 29 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 3: administration and have committed myself to a career in public service. 30 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 3: So I have known of JASA for many, many years 31 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 3: because of the work that I've done, and when I 32 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 3: got the call, I knew that this was something I 33 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 3: wanted to be a part of, and so I was 34 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 3: very happy to partake in the process. And as I 35 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 3: got to know the organization more than what I had 36 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:08,359 Speaker 3: known from the outside, I couldn't resist joining such an 37 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:11,919 Speaker 3: incredible place which has a legacy of innovation, has really 38 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:15,920 Speaker 3: been at the forefront of helping seniors and older adults 39 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 3: in New York City since the sixties the late sixties. 40 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:25,360 Speaker 3: So I came to this work of real desire to 41 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 3: make a difference. And as you already mentioned, the growing 42 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:31,800 Speaker 3: population of older adults in New York City is not 43 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 3: a small issue. In fact, there are more older adults 44 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:37,520 Speaker 3: in New York City now than there are school children, 45 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 3: and we can talk about the various reasons why that's happening. 46 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 3: There are families leaving New York City and so the 47 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 3: school age population is smaller, But it's really about the 48 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:49,799 Speaker 3: fact that people are living longer and we want to 49 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 3: be sure that we can provide people with services that 50 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 3: they need all through the stages of aging. Older adults 51 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:03,079 Speaker 3: are not a monolith. They run the age from sixty 52 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:06,919 Speaker 3: on up, and we want to be sure that we 53 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 3: meet people where they are at their different stages of 54 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 3: the aging process. 55 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:15,880 Speaker 2: JOSSO supports more than forty thousand older New Yorkers every year. 56 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 2: What is the work. 57 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:20,799 Speaker 3: So what's incredible about the work that we do is 58 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 3: that it is really complex and complicated and very diverse, 59 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:28,839 Speaker 3: and so we have more than twenty programs that we're 60 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 3: offering and we provide well. We operate twelve affordable housing properties, 61 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 3: so there are more than twenty five hundred people living 62 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 3: in our buildings, which I'm really delighted and proud to 63 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 3: say are super affordable and really really nice and incredible places. 64 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 3: And we provide services on location, we have a licensed 65 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 3: home care agency, and we have a real breath of 66 00:03:56,920 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 3: what we call integrative services across the city, spanning free 67 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 3: legal services, health and mental health services, home delivered meals, 68 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 3: social programming at our senior centers, and community training on 69 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 3: elder abuse, pure health support and caregiver assistance, and so 70 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 3: much more. So. Really, wherever you are, whatever you need, 71 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 3: whether it's in your home, whether it's outsiding community, and 72 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:28,279 Speaker 3: whatever is happening to you right in this moment, we 73 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 3: will be able to help you. 74 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 2: As you mentioned before we started this conversation, you've been 75 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 2: in this role for about six months, so you're getting 76 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 2: your feet wet and finding out what's going on the 77 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:42,680 Speaker 2: last year. The last couple of years have been tremendously 78 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:46,600 Speaker 2: challenging for everybody. For older New Yorkers of course, what 79 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:49,480 Speaker 2: does retirement and aging look like for older New Yorkers 80 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:51,160 Speaker 2: right now who are less affluent. 81 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:56,360 Speaker 3: So it's really interesting. I think that this fall we 82 00:04:56,720 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 3: really experienced with the pause on the snap benefits, I 83 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:06,720 Speaker 3: think that people don't understand really kind of the percarity 84 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 3: of everyone's situation. And so the minute that was pulled back, 85 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 3: the affordability issue and the food in security issues for 86 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 3: seniors is not a small thing. So you live on 87 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:22,160 Speaker 3: your Social Security check comes, you have a very specific 88 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 3: amount of money. You have to make decisions about getting 89 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 3: medication or food, and then all of a sudden, your 90 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 3: food benefits are paused and now the decisions are very, 91 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:35,280 Speaker 3: very complicated. And so what it did was laid bare 92 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 3: how many many older adults having to make traconian choices 93 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 3: every day about what they're going to how they're going 94 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 3: to use their limited resources. And so what we were 95 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 3: able to do actually is pivot very quickly. Well, we 96 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:55,560 Speaker 3: already provide meals some close to a million meals a 97 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 3: year through our home delivered meals and at our eighteen 98 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:02,360 Speaker 3: older adult so there's a hot meal every single day 99 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:05,559 Speaker 3: at an older adult center. And the home delivered meals 100 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 3: are for people who are not able to get out 101 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 3: and cook their own meals. But we actually started an 102 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:20,239 Speaker 3: emergency food drive and set up our own food pantry, 103 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:23,039 Speaker 3: and we have food pantries that come to our older 104 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:26,599 Speaker 3: adult centers. We also have an incredible program with school 105 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:31,039 Speaker 3: age children where they're growing produce and this huge hydro 106 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:36,359 Speaker 3: hydroponics program and then they're bringing the fresh produce to 107 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 3: our older adult centers. So there's the interaction with the 108 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 3: younger generation and the older adults, and everybody's getting fresh produce. 109 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 3: I think it was some thirty five hundred pounds of 110 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:53,040 Speaker 3: fresh produce last year. But what we really put a 111 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 3: word out to raise money and raise funds so that 112 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 3: we can can continue to provide meals and extra food 113 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:06,120 Speaker 3: and food pantry items so people can cook for themselves. 114 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 3: But there it is a challenge for a lot of 115 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 3: older adults. 116 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 2: I want to get back to that in just a moment, 117 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 2: but let's let her know who we're speaking with. Gail Horowitz. 118 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 2: She is the CEO of JASA, the city's go to 119 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 2: nonprofit supporting older New Yorkers. Found it over fifty years ago, 120 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:25,559 Speaker 2: JASA is New York City's largest nonprofit manager of senior 121 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 2: affordable housing and a leading expert and innovator in aging services. 122 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 2: Their website is JASA dot org. You're listening to get 123 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 2: connected on one six point seven light FM. Sticking with 124 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 2: food for just a moment before we move on to housing. 125 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 2: You're talking about hydroponic gardens and all these different shifts 126 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 2: and ways to sort of cover the gap. But you're 127 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 2: not the only organization working with seniors and not the 128 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:54,440 Speaker 2: only organization working with people who are hungry, et cetera. 129 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 2: Doing these things. So what's the long term play when 130 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 2: you're facing cuts and administrative disruptions from the government. 131 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 3: Well, it's actually really interesting. I think that one of 132 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:11,720 Speaker 3: the great things about New York City's nonprofit community is 133 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 3: that we all come together when there's a crisis. And 134 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 3: so while there's a limited pot of government funding either 135 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 3: through federal, state, or city, and we all have our 136 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 3: contracts and we're trying to provide services, we will come together. 137 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 3: So Meals on Wheels and all these different organizations we 138 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:35,079 Speaker 3: figure out how to make sure that we can cover 139 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 3: who needs to be covered. And we also started to fundraise. 140 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 3: We had a huge campaign this fall, as we do 141 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:47,200 Speaker 3: normally in the fall, but we had an emergency food 142 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 3: drive and people started to really step up and donate. 143 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 3: We have something called Jazza Eats where we are trying 144 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 3: to get the word out about our home delivered meals 145 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:02,200 Speaker 3: and really through private donations helping out and volunteer work 146 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:04,680 Speaker 3: and all kinds of things, we are trying to fill 147 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:07,600 Speaker 3: the gaps where government is not always able to do 148 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 3: that and with our other our fellow nonprofits helping working together, 149 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 3: and I think it's an incredible aspect of life in 150 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:17,400 Speaker 3: New York City. 151 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 2: I visited a soup kitchen for seniors in the Theater 152 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:22,720 Speaker 2: District just before the holiday, and people were there to eat, 153 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:25,480 Speaker 2: but it was more notable to me how the staff said, 154 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 2: the clients will stay all day for the activities and 155 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:30,559 Speaker 2: the community. Can you talk about the significance of that. 156 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 2: I'm sure you'res the same. 157 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 3: It's the same thing at our older adult centers. They're 158 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:38,920 Speaker 3: incredible places because you'll come for a hot meal, but 159 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 3: it's really you're going to stay all day. And so 160 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 3: I've been to several older adult centers. One of them 161 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 3: actually serves breakfast also, so they calm, they have breakfast, 162 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:52,360 Speaker 3: they sit and they many of them are there to play. 163 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 3: They love to play cards. Many many of them have 164 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 3: exercise classes and dancing. And so when I go and 165 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:02,560 Speaker 3: ask people at all the older adult centers, what else 166 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:04,280 Speaker 3: can we do for you? What do you want more of? 167 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 3: What do you want less of? How can we make 168 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:12,280 Speaker 3: this a better experience? Universally, everyone says more line dancing, 169 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:15,040 Speaker 3: which I think is so awesome and if you go 170 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:18,320 Speaker 3: on our website, you will see video after video there's 171 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:21,480 Speaker 3: so much dancing, and it really just show us that 172 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:24,680 Speaker 3: there's so much joy and people want to come together 173 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 3: and share that, and they want to get moving, they 174 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 3: want to exercise, they want to dance, they want to 175 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 3: be part of something greater than themselves. We have some 176 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:38,080 Speaker 3: places there aren't as many men, right, they're just the 177 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 3: men don't live as long. I mean, it is what 178 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 3: it is. But what I love is that in some 179 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 3: of our centers, and we have what's called a naturally 180 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:50,319 Speaker 3: occurring retirement community up in co Opsidio is there one 181 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:53,439 Speaker 3: day and there was a group of men who come 182 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 3: and they play dominos and there's a tournament that's been 183 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:01,080 Speaker 3: set up so that they and they play their game, 184 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:04,080 Speaker 3: and there's a nurse that comes once a week. And 185 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:07,080 Speaker 3: so while they're coming every day, the nurse sees them 186 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 3: once a week, and there's that check in so that 187 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:13,240 Speaker 3: we can be sure that they someone is really kind 188 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 3: of paying attention. So we get them in playing dominoes, 189 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:19,760 Speaker 3: but they're getting other services. And that's really really important, 190 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:22,480 Speaker 3: and that happens at all of our through all of 191 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 3: our programming, is that we're really trying to bring all 192 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 3: of the services and have them overlap. One of our 193 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 3: Older Adult centers out in stare At City, when I 194 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 3: was speaking with them, they have mental health services once 195 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:40,199 Speaker 3: a week that come on site at the center and 196 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 3: they said that it fills up. It's one of their 197 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:46,360 Speaker 3: most popular It's a group discussion and it's one of 198 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:49,520 Speaker 3: the most popular things that they have. The other great 199 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 3: thing at our Older Adult centers is technology, as you 200 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:57,080 Speaker 3: can imagine, so some places where we have technology classes 201 00:11:57,160 --> 00:12:00,359 Speaker 3: and then the most popular thing is one on one 202 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:03,079 Speaker 3: so people come and they need help with their iPhone, 203 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 3: they need help with their iPad, they want to be 204 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:09,080 Speaker 3: able to interact and so those are services that we 205 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 3: also have at our Older Adult centers, just as some examples. 206 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 2: And by the way, this is also an opportunity to 207 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:18,080 Speaker 2: get into volunteering, to find out more ways to sort 208 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:20,600 Speaker 2: of pitch in for the average person. There's more on 209 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 2: the website JASA dot org. We only have about three 210 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:27,000 Speaker 2: minutes left, so I want to talk about housing. JASA 211 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:31,200 Speaker 2: is the city's largest nonprofit manager of senior affordable housing. 212 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:35,439 Speaker 2: What does the best affordable senior housing look like and 213 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:37,720 Speaker 2: how much do we have versus how much do we need? 214 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:42,199 Speaker 3: Well, we just don't have enough housing for everybody right. 215 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:44,920 Speaker 3: In fact, I think last year the number was close 216 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 3: to twenty seven thousand people applied for housing with us, 217 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 3: and we have units, so a little under three thousand, 218 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:57,960 Speaker 3: probably about twenty five twenty six hundred apartments that we're managing. 219 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 3: And we've been doing this for a very very long time. 220 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 3: And our buildings are immaculate and they the great thing 221 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:10,000 Speaker 3: about our buildings is they're built for seniors. So if 222 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:12,320 Speaker 3: you go into one of our buildings, you'll notice that 223 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 3: there are hand railings in every hallway because you might 224 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:19,480 Speaker 3: not be very stable and you might need help. There 225 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 3: are the stairwells, and the floors are all color coded 226 00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:26,960 Speaker 3: because you don't always as your memory's going, you don't 227 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:31,720 Speaker 3: necessarily always remember what's the number, but you'll recognize the color. 228 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:34,320 Speaker 3: This is my floor. I'm on the red floor. So 229 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:38,200 Speaker 3: there are all kinds of sensitive things. And also inside 230 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:41,600 Speaker 3: your apartment it's designed for a senior. It's designed to 231 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:44,160 Speaker 3: roll in a wheelchair should you need that, and make 232 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:48,839 Speaker 3: the bathroom accessible. The same thing in the kitchens as 233 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:53,199 Speaker 3: they're all accessible, and so the are is a sensitivity 234 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:58,640 Speaker 3: to the needs of seniors and it's extraordinarily affordable. And 235 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:03,000 Speaker 3: we then also have on site services so that if 236 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 3: you need help with your benefits, you need help, you're 237 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 3: having reant issues, you have health issues, you need a 238 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:13,240 Speaker 3: home care aid. We have daily services, and we have 239 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:16,680 Speaker 3: offices to be able to provide those kinds of things. 240 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 3: And in some of our buildings we also have our 241 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 3: older adult centers, so you can go right downstairs and 242 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 3: partake in all of those kinds of services. 243 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 2: We also have a new mayoral administration which out of 244 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:30,680 Speaker 2: the gate seems to be focused on affordable housing as promised. 245 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:33,160 Speaker 2: Youwer thoughts on what you've seen so far and how 246 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:35,160 Speaker 2: you might be able to work together to increase the 247 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 2: housing stock for seniors. 248 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 3: I think that what's great is the focus on wanting 249 00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:44,880 Speaker 3: to build more housing and wanting to build more affordable housing. 250 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 3: So we are ready, willing and able as a partner 251 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:51,960 Speaker 3: to participate in any way that we can. We've worked 252 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 3: with lots of developers over the last couple of years 253 00:14:55,960 --> 00:14:59,239 Speaker 3: to build newer housing. Some of our housing is original 254 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:03,640 Speaker 3: to JASA, going way back to the early eighties, and 255 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 3: now we are also being brought in on what's called 256 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 3: SARAH programs. The Sarah program are formerly homeless seniors and 257 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 3: so the developer and we will co develop in some instances, 258 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 3: but we can also be brought in as the service provider, 259 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 3: so the building gets built, the ser we'll provide services 260 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 3: for the formerly homeless seniors. We find that everybody comes 261 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 3: down to our office, whether you were formerly or homeless, 262 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:36,920 Speaker 3: everyone needs help. We don't turn anyone away, so we're ready, 263 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:41,040 Speaker 3: willing and able to partner and participate as the city 264 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 3: decides to and how they're going to expand housing. So 265 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 3: it's a great thing for everyone. 266 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 2: As you start this job, I can tell that you're 267 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:51,800 Speaker 2: excited about it. You seem excited about this job. What 268 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 2: kind of gets you going and what are you most 269 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 2: looking forward to? 270 00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 3: What gets me going is actually when I'm out meeting 271 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 3: our clients, in talking to staff, and I'm on site, 272 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:09,560 Speaker 3: I will leave you with an incredible story and that 273 00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:13,360 Speaker 3: makes me very proud. We have an incredible program out 274 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:18,400 Speaker 3: in Brooklyn, our care Transitions program at my Monotes Hospital. 275 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:22,280 Speaker 3: We will meet you bedside when you're discharged from the hospital. 276 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 3: It's very complicated. You've just you're in congestive heart failure, 277 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 3: you've had some major trauma, you're discharge from the hospital, 278 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 3: you have very complicated medications, complicated instructions, oftentimes not in 279 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 3: your native language. It's all done in English, and you're 280 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:41,840 Speaker 3: going home with prescription bodels and all kinds of things. 281 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 3: We meet you bedside, we help you through those instructions, 282 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:49,280 Speaker 3: and then within forty eight hours when you get home, 283 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 3: we will help you with a home visit. We'll be 284 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 3: there with equipment to take your blood pressure, to your pulse, 285 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 3: all these kinds of things, and we give you a 286 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 3: chart on how to manage your medica in your language, 287 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 3: if whatever your native language is. We had a situation 288 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:09,440 Speaker 3: where there was a woman who went home and she'd 289 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:13,800 Speaker 3: been visited by one of our we have international medical 290 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 3: school graduates, really doctors, and Chinese was her native language, 291 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 3: and she wasn't feeling well. She took her blood pressure, 292 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 3: she knew something was off. She called our staff person 293 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:31,000 Speaker 3: and they went over there immediately and basically saved her life. 294 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:33,399 Speaker 3: Got her to the hospital. She was in the middle 295 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:36,560 Speaker 3: of having a heart attack, and she knew where to call, 296 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:39,159 Speaker 3: she felt comfortable to call, and we were able to 297 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:42,720 Speaker 3: intervene and for me I'm very proud of the fact 298 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:45,640 Speaker 3: that we can do that, that our staff is very 299 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:49,720 Speaker 3: talented and making those connections, making people feel comfortable and 300 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:51,920 Speaker 3: knowing that they have a place to call. We're here 301 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:53,480 Speaker 3: and what we do matters. 302 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:56,439 Speaker 2: For older adults and caregivers listening right now. What's the 303 00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:57,879 Speaker 2: best way to get help from JOSSA. 304 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:01,560 Speaker 3: So, we have a help center that's open seven days 305 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:04,159 Speaker 3: a week, and I can give you the phone number. 306 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:08,840 Speaker 3: It's two one two two seven three five two seven two. 307 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 3: Call us anytime with any questions and we'll be sure 308 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:15,679 Speaker 3: to help you and direct you in the right place. 309 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:20,320 Speaker 2: You can also visit the website Jasa dot org. Gale 310 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:22,880 Speaker 2: Horwitz of JOSA, thank you for being on Get Connected. 311 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:25,520 Speaker 3: Thank you so much. You know, it's very nice to 312 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 3: be with you. Pappy to you. 313 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 1: This has been Get Connected with Nina del Rio on 314 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 1: one oh six point seven light Fm. The views and 315 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:36,280 Speaker 1: opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views 316 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:38,359 Speaker 1: of the station. If you missed any part of our 317 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:40,760 Speaker 1: show or want to share it, visit our website for 318 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:43,880 Speaker 1: downloads and podcasts at one oh six to seven lightfm 319 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:46,000 Speaker 1: dot com. Thanks for listening.