Aging in Place also means navigating New York and its transportation system.

NYC's Department of Transportation has a publication geared to older New Yorkers as part of its Vision Zero initiative. Below are some takeaways to help stay safe.

Another transportation resource that is close at hand, it the Columbia University shuttle, free for older adults. For information, routes and schedules, please click here.

Doughnut holes, Part D, Advantage HMOs. ACA & Obamacare.  How does anyone keep it all straight?  BAiP has presented speakers in past panels to make it all make (more) sense.  One of the best resources out there is the Medicare Rights Center.  Please see the links below.

Medicare Rights Center
Medicare Interactive
NYC Health Care Coverage Options (2012)

To sign up for the Medicare Rights Center's newsletter, click here.

It's hard to know when it’s time to seek caregiving help, and perhaps even harder to find it. Then begins the process of determining what is covered by insurance.

See the downloadable document below for information and a list of resources.

This information was presented at our June 25, 2009, panel "Help! Do You Need a Caregiver?"

Entitled "Smart Seniors," the downloadable guides in English and Spanish (links below) from the NYS Office of the Attorney General have important tips about protecting yourself from identity theft and financial fraud as well as information meant to keep us all alert and avoid becoming a victim of scam artists as we age. More information from the AG is available here.

The New York County District Attorney's  office has resources for victims of elder abuse here.

In the face of increasing data breaches, we are all more vulnerable.  One recommendation that might be right for you is to freeze your credit reports with the three major credit reporting companies.  The FTC has answers about how to do this here.

Our Panels committee has presented scam safety topics twice, once at our October 26, 2017, panel "Scams: Learn How to Avoid Being a Victim" and once at our October 18, 2012, panel "How To Be a Street Smart Senior."  Both presentations were given by Gary S. Brown, Statewide Elder Abuse Coordinator, Assistant Attorney General-in-charge, New York State office of the Attorney General, Westchester Regional Office.  The documents below were handouts at the 2017 panel.

This section is for resources pertaining to Medicaid.

At our panel on November 15, 2017, the Medicare Rights Center spoke about Medicaid Long-Term Managed Care. The powerpoint file is below.

Many older adults make time for travel.  Here we offer resources we've collected on topics such as solo travel, traveling with disabilities, affinity group travel, as well as educational and volunteer-experience travel.

Solo Travel
In March 2016, the article "Traveling Alone? How to Find a Local Guide" ran in the New York Times.

Is "stuff" taking over your life?  Is it filling every corner of a friend or family member's space and getting in the way?  Are you wondering if there is something of value in your possessions or how to sell things you no longer need?

Use the downloadable documents below to guide you in your efforts to organize and winnow your paperwork and possessions and to find the best outlets to sell your things.  Learn where to donate or sell furniture, books and clothing.  And find a list of auction houses so that you can appraise and sell things of value.

And when selling your things, keep in mind some advice:

●    Obtain a second opinion for appraisals and auctions.

●    Opinions and appraisals cost money, the amount depends on the type of appraisal requested. If the appraiser is going to be legally obligated by the appraisal, it will be more expensive. Appraisals also differ according to the purpose: insurance, estate, retail, etc. Insurance appraisals will usually give a higher value than retail appraisals.

●    Supply and demand drive value.

●    As a rule, 90% of a collection's value derives from just 20% of the content.

●    It’s possible to send photographs of items you'd like to sell to most auction houses to learn if they are interested in listing them.

●    Expect varying upfront costs and buyers’ premiums for bringing something to auction and selling it thereafter. Find out what these costs are beforehand. All of these costs should be spelled out in the contract that you sign with the auction house.

●    Books are very hard to liquidate.  For a book to be considered old by a dealer, think 400 years or more!  And for other kinds of objects, age does not always spell value.

●    Hallmarks are very important. And so is condition. But beware of refinishing antiques, a process that can negatively affect value.

●    Gold or silver in an object is not always indicated. It may have gold or silver content even if that is not clearly labeled; have an expert examine it.

●    Signatures on artwork such as paintings, drawings, lithographs and tapestries are not always discernible, but they can often be detected by the expert eye.  A signed piece can make all the difference in valuation.

●    Antique clocks have value, as do “mid-century modern” items.


This information was presented at two BAiP panels.  The March 24, 2011, panel "Getting Past the Clutter" featured Rita Golub, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Professional Geriatric Care Manager, and Kenny Weinberg, a professional apartment organizer.  The March 22, 2012, panel "What's My Stuff Worth," featured George Lowry, Chairman of Swann Auction Galleries, and Michael Capo and Monique Merrill of Capo Auction Fine Art and Antiques.

With child-bearing postponed until later in life and with increased life expectancy, the generation in the middle can find itself tending simultaneously to aging parents and grandparents as well as to rearing children.  This is the dilemma of the "Sandwich Generation."

A list of resources for adults experiencing "Sandwich" issues may be downloaded below.


The information comes from “The Sandwich Generation’s Dilemma,” a panel presented on February 28, 2013, featuring Debra Drelich, LMSW, ACSW, CMC, of New York Elder Care Consultants LLC; Rita Golub, LCWS, CMC, of RMG Associates LLC; Wendy Panken, LCSW; Director of Caregiver Support at the Alzheimer's Association; and Livia Yanowicz, Founder, Complete Elder Care.

When, how, and whom to ask for help may be questions we have as we age in place.  What help to request, the psychological and emotional barriers to seeking help or coping with change are covered in the downloadable document below.  Facing the future with confidence and staying in control when accepting help from others are ways to ensure you remain independent.  It is important to plan by preparing advance directives (wills, healthcare proxies, powers of attorney), by planning for long-term care, and/or spending down to Medicaid eligibility thresholds. 

More information on these topics as well as some elder law contacts are available in the downloadable files below.

Whether still working or completely retired, who doesn't love a wonderful free or low-cost recreation or activity in our fair city?  From tips to find free music at Lincoln Center's Rubenstein Atrium or Juilliard School to a list of times when you can enjoy the city's museums completely free of charge, this downloadable document has tips to keep your wallet fat and your brain full of new experiences.

This information was presented at our April 18, 2013, panel “New York for a Song: Free and Low-Cost Recreational and Cultural Activities.”