AARP Driver Safety Course. Sign up in advance; cost is $20 ($15 for AARP members) for a one- or two-part class. Class sizes are limited. For all scheduled classes contact: area senior centers, AARP 1-877-390-8806 or aarp.org/driving27. Details: Diana MacKenzie at 203-723-0324 or email to dianamack1@msn.com.
Beacon Falls Mini-Bus Service available for seniors and disabled residents Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays on first-come basis for medical appointments and shopping trips. Funded in part by WCAAA and ConnDOT. Details: 203-729-5997 or beaconfalls-ct.org.
Connecticut Community Care identifies choices and provides services to help people of all ages, abilities and incomes to live at home. The corporate office is located in Bristol. Details: 866-845-2224, ctcommunitycare.org.
Connecticut Legal Services, at 85 Central Ave. in Waterbury, is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and has handicap access. It provides free legal assistance to area residents 60 and older. Details: 203-756-8074, connlegalservices.org.
Comprehensive Outreach Project for Elders extends services to people 60 and older in the central Naugatuck Valley. Services include information/referral, assistance in completing entitlement programs, and awareness to benefit programs available to older adults. Details: 203-575-9799, ext. 244 or 222.
“CHOICES” provides free health insurance assistance, outreach, information, referral, counseling and eligibility screening to individuals on Medicare. Trained staff provides information and assistance on the Senior Medicare Patrol program, prescription drugs and other related health insurance options and can screen individuals for more than 20 federal and state benefit programs. Details: 203-757-5449 or 1-800-994-9422.
Community Choices is an aging and disability resource center created by Waterbury’s Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging and Naugatuck’s Independence Northwest. It offers a single point of entry for those 18 and older for information and assistance on issues affecting older people, people with disabilities and families, caregivers and loved ones. Details: 1-800-994-9422.
Connecticut Statewide Respite Program offers an opportunity to purchase respite services for caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia. Applicants cannot be covered by Medicaid (Title 19) or the Connecticut Homecare Program for Elders. Details: Jessica Warner, 203-757-5449.
Dial-A-Ride and Cook’s Meals on Wheels services Plymouth/Terryville area and Newington VA Hospital. For Terryville, Plymouth and Bristol, call 48 hours in advance. Outside those areas call a week in advance. Details: 860-283-0060.
FISH (Friends in Service Here) offers Woodbury residents who do not have other transportation alternatives rides to medical appointments at no cost. Details: 203-263-4888.
Greater Waterbury Transit District Dial-A-Ride Service is a free transportation service for seniors 60 and older and persons with disabilities. Service weekday and contact telephone numbers for the eight servicing towns vary. Tuesday: Naugatuck, 203-756-5550; Watertown, 860-945-5250. Wednesday: Thomaston, 203-756-5550; Waterbury, 203-756-5550. Thursday: Middlebury, 203-577-4166; Prospect, 203-758-5300. Friday: Cheshire, 203-272-0047; Wolcott, 203-879-8100. Trips are for any purpose into all eight towns. Call the number for your town to get an application to use the service. Details: 203-756-5550, GWTD.org.
Healthy Aging for Older Adults offers information on chronic diseases, immunizations, injuries in older adults and tips for a healthy lifestyle from the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Details: 800-994-9422, cdc.gov/aging, 800-232-4636.
Maturity Works at 649 W. Main St., Waterbury, offers job training that leads to employment for workers 55 and older. It is open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Details: Patrick Murphy at 203-527-3891, pmurphy@workplace.org.
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Waterbury-UConn offers excursions to various destinations through arrangements with Friendship Tours. Departures are from the Chase Parkway Commuter Park and Ride lot in Waterbury, across from Naugatuck Valley Community College. Next trip: TBA. Details: 860-243-1630.
Senior Nutrition Services Meals on Wheels includes weekday meals served at senior community cafes through New Opportunities. Details: 203-575-9799, ext. 223 for the Waterbury area.
Southbury Senior Minibus is available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., for those 60 and older who are residents of Southbury and a member of the senior center, or disabled residents of Southbury 60 and older. Fare is $1 per ride, one way or round trip. Transportation requests must be made by telephone by noon the previous day. Details: 203-262-0651, southbury-ct.org.
VNA Health Care Response Systems provides help by allowing the user to receive assistance by pressing a button, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Details: 1-888-863-2771.
Voice Care Emergency Response System is a personal, waterproof activator that gives access to emergency or family help 24 hours per day, every day, through New Opportunities. Details: 203-575-9799, ext. 313.
Waterbury BRASS, New Opportunities, 232 N. Elm St., Waterbury, offers a wide range of free programs for Waterbury residents ages 60 and over. Register for programs such as tai chi, Zumba, chair yoga, quilting, free hair cuts, cooking and art classes, Lunch and Learn legal programs, computer training and other programs that are held at a number of locations throughout Waterbury. Waterbury BRASS is funded by the Connecticut Community Foundation and the city of Waterbury. Details: 203-575-4209.
Waterbury Hospital Be-Well Bus offers transportation to and from medical appointments at Waterbury Hospital, as well as offices of participating physicians in the immediate vicinity of the hospital. The service is available Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Reserve one day before appointment. The service is free. Details: 203-573-7711, waterburyhospital.org.
Waterbury Hospital Center for Geropsychiatry, at 88 Grandview Ave., Waterbury, provides comprehensive outpatient psychiatric services for individuals 60 and older. Details: 203-573-6525.
Waterbury Hospital Department of Managed Care Services provides discharge planning and social work services for seniors when hospitalized. Details: 203-573-7260.
Waterbury Senior Shuttle is available to Waterbury residents 60 or older. Passengers must present a “Waterbury Senior Shuttle” I.D. card. Shuttle is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for medical appointments, shopping and recreation. Details: 203-757-5355, 203-346-2607, ext. 104.
Watertown’s Senior Bus is available for residents at least 60 years old (or under 60 and disabled). Call the Falls Avenue Community Center and Senior Services for an application. Included with the application is an instruction sheet that explains the procedures for using the bus including how to reserve a ride, the hours of operation and travel destinations. Details: 860-945-5250.
Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging, at 84 Progress Lane, Waterbury, funds and coordinates programs for persons 60 and older in the 41 towns of western Connecticut, including Meals on Wheels. Some services are also available for grandparents legally raising grandchildren and younger persons with disabilities. Senior Medicare Patrol protects your personal information in the fight against health care fraud and abuse. If you suspect errors, fraud or abuse, report it immediately to the SMP at ext. 160. Details: 203-757-5449, wcaaa.org.
