Timebank program is up and to address city’s needs

As part of the city’s Age-Friendly initiative, Glen Cove is evaluating changes to its infrastructure to fit the needs of its aging population. Plans include changes to sidewalk curb cuts, modified crosswalks and making the city’s businesses more accessible to the disabled. These physical changes will be easy to spot, but the Center of Excellence and the Age Friendly initiative are spearheading changes to support the community’s needs in a way that’s not so concrete. 

The Center of Excellence is overseeing a Timebank, which offers a social support network with benefits that will be mutually beneficial to those enrolled. This program is different from traditional volunteer programs since it helps those looking to replace dollars and cents for various services like snow removal, piano lessons, cooking, or yardwork. Members can expect intercultural learning, a more connected community and in some cases, reducing out-of-pocket costs. The Timebank only has eight members right now, but coordinators are hoping that once the community sees its value, Timebank will become county-wide. 

Nydia DiCarali, Age Friendly project coordinator, said that Timebank members aren’t limited to anything they might find physically demanding.  DiCarali said if anyone can make a phone call to someone that's homebound, they’re still part of the Timebank. 

“I think what this will do for the Glen Cove community as a whole is get people together and bring back that sense of community that has been lacking,” she said. She added that the community will be a stronger for it.

Organizers like Carol Waldman, Age-Friendly Liaison to Nassau County, said the Timebank will be a way for seniors continue to feel valued and engaged in the community. 

 “Though they may not be able to do many things they used to do, the reality is they still have great value and still worth that great worth,” she said.

Although the program is under the Age Friendly umbrella, it’s not limited to seniors. Anyone who wants to participate can fill out an application with the senior center. The Center of Excellence hopes to grow the Timebank’s network to offer a wider variety of services to fully benefit the north shore community.   

Dr. Corinne Kyriacou, associate professor of Health Professions at Hofstra University said that timebanks across the nation face a difficult start. She’s seen a pattern for people who worry about the time they have to offer to Timebanks. “I think people who are worried about this idea can get in return some things to help manage their time,” she said.

Since the city is surrounded by parks with large open spaces and already has a diverse community, Kyriacou stressed that Glen Cove is an ideal place to start a Timebank.   

Another hurdle that Kyriacou said timebanks face is that people have a hard time recognizing, articulating, or accepting help. 

“Our society is so based on giving and not necessarily receiving that it’s a factor that makes a program like this difficult to start,” Kyriacou said. “It's focusing on valuing everybody in the community and recognizing that we all need different levels of support.” 

 Kyriacou added that with more members timebanks can better match people with varying needs and availability. 

“Some of us have very little, some have more, but we all have time, and we can use that time to help each other and ourselves to build our community,” she said. 

Christine Rice, executive director of the Glen Cove Senior Center and Age Friendly organizer believes that programs like the Timebank are vital to communities. Rice hopes that when more people are part of the Timebank, people will understand how important it is for communities.  

“We just need to make sure that we can sustain it,” she said.

“Anything that makes that community more Age Friendly, makes it more friendly for everyone,” Kyriacou said. “Aging is something we're all doing from the time