Senior Services

Welcome to the Westcott Community Center Comprehensive Senior Day Services
Whether you are seeking friendship, exercise, educational programs or recreational and leisure activities the Westcott Community Center is committed to providing these opportunities for residents of the City of Syracuse. We welcome you to check out the various programs and activities we offer posted below and in the Community Room at our Center. You are also invited to stop by the Westcott Community Center to see our facilities firsthand, and we encourage you to share your ideas about what we can do to enrich your experience with us.

Daily Breakfast

Start your morning socializing with a hot cup of coffee and a continental breakfast. Breakfast served at 9:30 a.m. M-TH.

Daily Lunch

A delicious, hot meal is provided Monday through Thursday from 12:00pm to 12:30pm. Lunch is served promptly at noon. This program is designed so that seniors 60+ can enjoy a well-balanced meal in a friendly comfortable setting. Come early to play games, do arts & crafts, listen to music, watch the news, and socialize. Suggested contribution is $3.50 per person (no one is turned away due to an inability to make a contribution) and Guest Meals are $7.00. You will find the menu in our monthly senior newsletter, at the Center, and online at Senior Nutrition Program | PEACE, Inc. (peace-caa.org).

Recreational and Leisure Programs/Activities

Throughout the year we offer activities and programs that will expand your knowledge, teach you a new skill or help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. Monday through Thursday following lunch from 12:45pm to 1:45pm we offer a variety of activities including games such as Bingo and Jeopardy, various seminars and educational programs, health screening clinics, wellness support, exercise programs, movies, tea-time and more.

Neighborhood Advisor

Services are free and confidential for adults 60+.  Our Neighborhood Advisor is a trained Senior Services Professional that assists older adults in obtaining the services they need in order to remain independent in their home setting. They promote awareness of community services, make referrals, connect older adults with services and follow-up to ensure they received services.  Appointments are available in the senior’s home or at our center.

Our Neighborhood Advisor can help you:

• Complete medical applications and other forms.
• Locate needed services, such as Health Care, Legal Advice, Transportation, Housing, Nutrition, Exercise, Socialization, and Caregiver Information.
• Provide information about income stretching programs, such as SSI (Social Security Income), SNAP (Food Stamps), EPIC, HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program), and IT-214 Form Property Tax Reduction.

To see if this program can be of help to you, a family member, friend or neighbor, contact Meghan McClendon (Eastside Neighborhood Advisor) by calling 315.400.2844 or emailing at meghanm@westcottcc.org .

Food Pantry

Basic Needs Pantry is held twice monthly on Mondays from 1-3 pm and is available to residents of the 13210 and 13224 zip codes or any older adult who participates in our Senior Services program.  To be eligible, you must self attest to the Food Bank of CNY specified income guidelines and complete the required registration forms.  For more information about our Basic Needs Pantry, call Myshi Mackey at 315.400.2225 or stop in.

Senior Companion

Senior Companions are volunteers who provide assistance and friendship to adults who have difficulty with daily living tasks, such as shopping or paying bills. Senior Companions help these adults remain independent in their homes instead of having to move to more costly institutional care. Senior Companions give families or professional caregivers a much-needed time off from their duties, run errands, and often provide friendship for their clients. There is no cost to have a Senior Companion. For more information about having a Senior Companion visitor, contact Meghan McClendon by calling 315.400.2844 or emailing meghanm@westcottcc.org. This program is offered through a collaboration with InterFaith Works.

Transportation Program (United We Ride)

Transportation services are available free of charge for all adults age 60+. Adults aged 18 or over with diagnosed disabilities may also utilize the transportation services. Please note, we do not have a wheelchair accessible vehicle but can accommodate most walking aids.  Transportation to and from our daily lunch program, doctor appointments, weekly grocery shopping, and other occasional outings are some of the services provided by this program.  All passengers must be 18 years or older and able to step in and out of the agency van with minor assistance.

Transportation services are available Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more information on this service, please call our Transportation Coordinator Michael Messina-Yauchzy at 315.400.0389.

Disposable Briefs Bank

A supplemental program that supplies free disposable briefs for older adults distributed twice monthly at the center or via DoorDash delivery.  Contact Meghan McClendon at 315.400.2844 for more information.

Senior Technology Program

iPad classes, computer & mobile device support available upon request.  For more information, contact Elise Cominsky at 315.400.0982.

Virtual Senior Center

Access to numerous games, activities, exercise classes and learning opportunities, virtual travel and more within an online platform that you can access from home.  For more information, contact Elise Cominsky at 315.400.0982.

Various Senior Exercise Programs

We are currently offering two exercise classes.  Yoga takes place on Mondays at 1pm with Cassie and strength & balance takes place on Wednesdays at 1pm with Kinyorda.  Classes are free to all participants.

Our concern about the frequency and serious consequences of falls in older people led us to find a successful intervention (muscle strengthening and balance retraining). Risk factors for falls considered the most readily modified are muscle strength, flexibility, balance and reaction time.