The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) and Selfhelp Community Services are now offering free access to Selfhelp’s Virtual Senior Center (VSC) for any individual age 60 and older in New York State.

On a chilly fall afternoon in Far Rockaway, Queens, Deborah Otts, 75, parked her wheelchair in front of her computer monitor, clicked on a virtual music class and entered with a burst of energy. “Hi, Beverly! Hi, Janice!” she said, before naming every other member of the class. Once the class began, two musicians played guitar and sang a mix of songs, including some by Ms. Otts’s favorite artist, Neil Diamond. She swayed in her chair and announced, “Music is good for the soul.”

Older New Yorkers now have free access to a virtual hub designed to fight loneliness and keep them socially connected.

The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) and Selfhelp Community Services today announced the availability of free access to Selfhelp’s Virtual Senior Center (VSC) for any individual age 60 and older in New York State.

Sound investments in education yield big returns. Education can transform individual lives, lifting people out of poverty and setting their families on a more prosperous course within a single generation. Education also has societal benefits, improving public health and boosting economic growth.

The VSC (Virtual Senior Center) is a vibrant community of teachers, innovators, and learners combating social isolation in older adults through technology. Discover ways to be more CONNECTED at any age.

Governor Kathy Hochul today released a public service announcement on loneliness during the holiday season in partnership with Dr. Ruth Westheimer, New York’s recently-appointed honorary Ambassador to Loneliness. In the Public Service Announcement, which will be posted on social media sites, Governor Hochul and Dr. Westheimer discuss tips for individuals experiencing social isolation and urge all New Yorkers to check on friends, neighbors and loved ones who may be spending the holidays alone.

With Stonewall CDC, the VSC is able to support its own LGBTQ community, which often faces additional challenges that are not addressed by typical older adult programming and services. Recognizing that this group is often the most isolated and may lack support networks, the partnership creates a safe space for the VSC’s population to engage with the LGBTQ community.