By Jeff Lipton
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rockville Centre recently finished converting the fourth floor of Mary¹s Manor on Doughty Boulevard into enriched senior housing after making use of a $2 million assisted living conversion grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The top floor of Mary¹s Manor, an existing Catholic Charities-sponsored housing development, was turned into state-of-the-art enriched housing specifically designed for the frail elderly, officials said.
Residents are expected to occupy the first four apartments in the next few weeks, and officials at Catholic Charities are actively seeking other low-income seniors from the five boroughs and Nassau and Suffolk counties to fill the remaining apartments. Officials said 14 one-bedroom and 14 studio apartments are available.
Conversion of the apartments began about a year ago, and Roslyn Savings Bank also provided a grant toward the project, officials said.
³The target is local, to keep seniors in the community,² said Barbara McCaffrey, housing specialist with Catholic Charities, who added that applicants will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis.
Those eligible must be 65 years of age and older, have Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and be in need of minimum supportive care in daily activities. The Medicaid-eligible seniors must be in need of assistance with at least two activities of daily living.
The enriched housing is one of the first in New York, suiting seniors who are not quite ready for assisted living facilities but can no longer live independently either. The facility recently received a New York State Department of Health enriched housing license.
The bathrooms are equipped with roll-in showers and fold-down tub seats and the apartments have low-pile, no-trip carpeting and shatter-proof light bulbs, ³minimizing tenant vulnerability while maximizing their opportunities for independence,² Catholic Charities officials said. All apartments have a kitchen, stove, microwave, refrigerator and air conditioning.
Officials said what makes the program truly distinctive is the social services umbrella it provides low-income seniors. A full-time coordinator is dedicated to the physical and spiritual well-being of residents, arranging two nutritious meals daily, visits with personal care aides, entertainment and many recreational activities. The convenience of in-house services is geared toward helping residents take better care of themselves while stretching their fixed incomes to allow for more attentive care, officials said.
Given the amenities and first-class accommodations at no out-of-pocket cost, ³we should have a waiting list a mile long, but we don¹t,² McCaffrey said.
³I feel this is a great opportunity for low-income seniors,² said Mary Coyle, an administrator and program coordinator for Catholic Charities. ³These apartments are really beautiful and greatly needed. It¹s based on a social model, not a medical model. It¹s for seniors who need a little help.²
She called the enriched housing ³a dignified and safe place² for seniors to live.
She said seniors who receive no more than $692 a month from SSI are the ones who will occupy the apartments. If they qualify, they will be asked to sign over their SSI and will receive a $150 personal-care allowance.
³It¹s hard to find people [who would do this],² said Coyle. ³Some are more than grateful while others are reluctant.²
The idea for enriched housing at Mary¹s Manor was first hatched about four years ago. Fourth-floor residents were relocated in the building if they wished while renovations took place. Officials said some were extremely reluctant to leave, but did once they saw what Catholic Charities had planned. The first three floors of the building, comprising 122 apartments, are occupied by seniors who are independent.
³What we envisioned was a Œcontinuum of care,¹² said Laura A. Cassell, chief executive officer of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Rockville Centre. ³We wanted to offer the elderly a series of affordable housing options that progressively matched the needs of their changing health. But we were also absolutely committed to these transitions being as uncomplicated and stress-free as possible. The last thing a frail senior needs is the anxiety associated with uncertainty, be it with housing or health.²
Those who are eligible may call (516) 371-1376 for more information.
Comments about this story? Jlipton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
