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Community Programs

Isabella continues to do all that we can to help ensure the safety and well-being of our residents and staff in the face of this unprecedented crisis and also continues to follow state and federal guidelines for infection control.

Click here for the latest Isabella Center COVID-19 updates.

A Constellation of Care in our Community

Isabella offers a world of programs and services for members of the community. Families can call our Senior Resource Center to get help on applying for benefits or join one of our popular health and wellness activity programs like Walking Works Wonders. We also have an array of opportunities for the youth like summer employment and mentoring programs.

Elderly Man Smiles and Walks with Two Women

For more information about any of our community programs, please contact our office at 212-342-9245 or send us a message.

Our Programs

Programs for the Youth

Young Female Reads to an Elderly Female Patient

Open Up Your World

Isabella offers many satisfying opportunities for students to explore career possibilities, become accustomed to the world of work environments, and interact with people of other generations, cultures and backgrounds. Our programs are ideal for high school students with community service requirements.

Summer Youth Employment Program at Isabella

The Summer Youth Employment Program offers summer job opportunities for young people from the ages of 14 to 21.

Isabella encourages students from northern Manhattan to apply. For further information, see the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD). Participants must process their application through the following agencies: YM & YWHA of Washington Heights and Inwood.

Summer Mentoring Program for Children of Isabella’s Non-Union Employees

The Summer Mentoring Program for Children of Isabella’s Non-Union Employees is available to high school students aged 14 – 18. Eligible teenagers receive paid work experience in various positions at Isabella during the summer.

For further information, contact our Volunteer Department at 212-342-9351.

Summer Mentoring Program for Children of Isabella’s Union Employees

The Student Mentoring Program is available to students whose parents are members of the Hospital Workers Union (1199 SEIU).

For further information, contact the 1199 SEIU Youth Mentoring Program at 646-473-6921.

NORC Programs

A Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) is one in which there is a significant proportion of older residents.

Our NORC Supportive Services program coordinates a broad range of social and health care services to support senior residents living in these types of communities.

NORC Supportive Service programs provide social work services, health care coordination, preventive screenings and health workshops, as well as a slate of recreational and educational programs, all located in the building or immediate vicinity. Volunteer opportunities provide meaningful ways for older residents to stay active and involved for the betterment of their own community.

Older adults, housing entities and health care professionals work side by side to fulfill the seniors’ vision of a more elder-friendly community in their own building or neighborhood, turning their community into a good place to grow old.

For more information about Isabella’s NORC programs, call 212-342-9364 or send us a message.

VISTAS NORC

All residents age 60 and over who reside at 11 and 17 Ft. George Hill or at 45 Fairview Avenue are entitled to participate in Fort George VISTAS NORC social and wellness activities. The program is a formal partnership between the building’s Board of Directors, Isabella and the seniors living in the buildings. It is partly funded by New York City Department for the Aging, and New York State Office for the Aging, as well as private foundations and donations.

NORC staff work with residents to obtain the support services they may need in the event of an illness or emergency. Our wellness coordinators can do many things, such as provide information about a new diagnosis, help older residents manage their health conditions and make sure medications are covered by insurance. Social work consultations are offered to all building residents, regardless of age.

The Ft. George VISTAS NORC offers:

Free consultations with a nurse and social worker
Coordination of health care needs
Referrals as needed to:
- Legal services
- Medical providers
- Transportation
- Housekeeping services
- Home care
Applications for benefits such as SCRIE, health insurance, prescription coverage, Medicaid, Food Stamps & Meals on Wheels
Health screenings, exercise programs and relaxation activities
Educational seminars and counseling on issues in health care, finance, and legal matters such as health care proxies, etc.
Cultural trips with door-to-door transportation, recreational and social activities.
Volunteer opportunities

For more information about the Ft. George VISTAS Program, call 212-304-1064 or 212-342-9364, or click here to send us a message.

The Heart/El Corazón NORC

El Corazón Neighborhood NORC is a program for adults over the age of 60 living in the geographical area of W. 171^st Street to W. 173^rd Street between Ft. Washington Avenue and St. Nicholas Avenue, and W. 169^th Street to W. 171^st Street between St. Nicholas Avenue and Audubon Avenue. El Corazón includes seniors living in 43 buildings with its base of operation located in Isabella’s Senior Resource Center, a comfortable storefront with a “clubhouse” feel.

The NORC works with other local providers and community organizations to address the needs of the seniors in this vibrant community with its lively Latino heritage and mixed ethnic population.

Our program includes:

Assistance with government programs and entitlements
Coordination of health care needs
Health and wellness screenings
Diabetes management workshops
Home safety assessments
Educational seminars and lectures
Volunteer opportunities
Recreation activities such as crochet classes and social events
Exercise programs such as yoga
Support groups
Day trips

Individuals participate in a variety of ways. Family members and friends are encouraged to contact us about a loved one they may be concerned about who resides in El Corazón.

El Corazón Neighborhood NORC is partly funded by New York State Office for the Aging, private foundations and donations. For more information about Isabella’s NORC program, call 212-342-9364 or 212-342-9367, or click here to send us a message.

River Terrace NORC

With New York City Council Department for the Aging discretionary funding, Isabella’s River Terrace NORC Supportive Service program provides free social work assistance, health care services and coordination, linkage to needed services and organizations, and educational and other programming for adults age 60+ who reside in the River Terrace Apartments located on Riverside Drive West at 156^th Street.

Our services include:

Assistance with eligibility and applications for government benefits to maximize income
Linkage and advocacy to obtain needed services to remain at home
Supportive counseling
Health screenings, information and coordination of health care needs in partnership with your doctor
Home visits and assessment of your strengths and needs
Crisis intervention
Educational workshops
Escorts to doctor appointments
Celebrations and special events

The River Terrace NORC program supports and facilitates successful aging in place, at every stage of older life, allowing you to live in your home as long as possible, stay engaged, healthy and enjoy a high quality of life.

Educational Programs

Isabella is committed to supporting the well-being of our community by providing access to education resources and opportunities for growth. To that end, we offer two free training programs and the prospect of employment upon successful completion of the program.

Certified Nurse Aide Training

Isabella offers a free program that trains individuals to work as New York State Certified Nurse’s Aides (CNAs) within a medical setting.

The Certified Nurse Aide Training Program consists of 100 hours of classroom and practical training and a 24-hour internship in meeting the needs of the elderly.

To become eligible to work as a CNA, one must pass a New York State licensing examination. The training course includes preparation for successfully completing the examination. Isabella also pays registration fees for the licensing exam.

Isabella sponsors two CNA Training Programs each year. Ten students are admitted to each training program. Graduates of our program are free to work anywhere. Many CNAs become employees of Isabella Geriatric Center or other medical facilities within our community.

Eligibility Requirements:

Must be 18 years of age or older
Must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent
Must have successfully completed an admission exam in English, mathematics and composition.
Must have proof of ability to work in the United States
A physical exam is required by your physician
Must provide a photo ID and an original Social Security Card

For more information about the Certified Nurse Aide Training Program, call 212-342-9650 or click here to send us a message.

Case Management For Seniors (UMPSI)

Do you need help identifying services you may be eligible for?

The Upper Manhattan Partnership for Senior Independence (UMPSI) was developed as a grassroots partnership of leading service providers caring for seniors in the northern Manhattan community. Under the leadership of Isabella, the consortium provides free case management services to older adults living in Inwood, Washington Heights, and Central and West Harlem (Community Boards 9, 10 and 12).

If you or someone you know is 60 years of age or older and lives in the neighborhoods identified above, we can help assess your needs and link you with an array of supports and services such as Home Care, Social Day Care, shopping and chore services, counseling and home-delivered meals.

We are dedicated to helping New York’s senior population of various ethnic, racial, social and economic backgrounds enjoy healthier, safer and more satisfying lives in their own homes and within their communities.

Our partners include: