Plainview-Old Bethpage Cares, a community program for seniors over the age of 60, assists residents of Plainview and Old Bethpage to find the support they need to remain in their homes and live independently.

POB Cares asks senior residents what they need and assists them in accessing services and resources available from local community organizations, businesses and social service agencies. POB Cares also brings the community together to create services that are not already available.

A survey will be distributed next month to Plainview and Old Bethpage seniors, 60 years or older. It will give them the opportunity to share what they're thinking and feeling about what they need now and in the future if they wish to remain in Plainview-Old Bethpage and continue living independently. POB Cares also wants to learn what resources, skills, talents, and knowledge residents have and may want to share.

"The purpose of the survey is to look at the formal and informal ways that people help each other to remain in the community, as people age in a community or what is called 'aging in place,'" said Linda Greenbaum, project director.

Greenbaum explained that the formal ways are by programs put in place by the government and by agencies and the informal ways are families caring for their loved ones, neighbors helping neighbors, and friendly visiting, as an example.

"There is a large part of the population in Plainview, as in other areas in suburbia, who like staying here and they don't want to move," said Greenbaum. "However, suburbia was not designed and built with people aging in mind. As people are aging, what can local communities do to help the aging population remain in their community as they age? A big problem is local transportation. Just going shopping or to a medical appointment can be a problem. In Plainview and Old Bethpage the majority of seniors are between 65 and 80 years old and they are very able-bodied and live independently. The point of the survey is not only to find out what their needs are now, but also what their needs will be five years from now."

With the survey, Greenbaum hopes to discover what resources are available in the community that can assist seniors. "We want to ask people what they are doing now and how their talents could be used in the community to help one another," she said.

Greenbaum and her staff have talked to local groups and organizations to get feedback. Through conversations and with the survey, she hopes to find out what people like to do in their free time and if they are able to find those things in Plainview and Old Bethpage or if they have to go out of the area. "We are trying to involve as many components of the community as possible," she said.

The goal of Plainview-Old Bethpage Cares is to work with the community to build partnerships and coalitions of representatives from local organizations such as the hospital, the Y, the library, synagogues, churches, the senior club, the community center, and other local groups, clubs and organizations, the business community and individuals of all ages, to identify the specific needs of the community and come together to create new ways to help seniors now and in the future.

There will be three tables set up in the community distributing the survey with volunteers there to assist in any way. There will be one table in the lobby of the hospital from May 14-16 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Another self-directed table will be in the reading room of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Library from May 6-16 during regular library hours with help available at the community services office. Another table will be in the lobby of the Mid Island Y JCC on Mondays, Tuesday and Thursdays during May 6-16 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

The survey will also be distributed to seniors through the various clubs in the community or by mail, if requested by a resident. Return postage will be included for the convenience of the resident.

In addition to the survey, Greenbaum is trying to form focus groups as conversations with seniors can add information. Any organization or group of friends wishing to participate in a focus group, please contact Plainview-Old Bethpage Cares at 249-6000.

In addition to the survey, POB Cares currently offers a variety of services. There are trained professionals to help explain Medicare and Medicaid benefits, assist in filling out applications and forms and making photocopies for personal records, making telephone calls to get needed information, advocate on the senior's behalf with community organizations, provide information about home care agencies, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, provide support groups and individual short-term counseling, help make arrangements for home care, shopping, errands and small home repair and help provide financial assistance with local transportation and home health care on an individual basis.

This is a pilot community program created in cooperation with Jewish Association for Services for the Aged (JASA), the Mid-Island Y JCC and North Shore University Hospital at Plainview for the residents of Plainview and Old Bethpage.

Please call 249-6000 for more information. All personal information is kept confidential and individuals are served regardless of income, race or religion.