Aging is something we are all going to do, whether we like it or not. For some, the retirement years mean newfound freedom to travel or live life to its fullest. For others the sudden drop in income can be devastating, especially when combined with the rising costs of everything around us. This page will provide links to services that are geared toward helping the seniors in our community to live healthy, active, and to be as independent as possible.
This page lists programs and services for seniors living in the state of Connecticut in alphabetical order. Since this list is always growing we have also created the links below, these lead to pages where you can search by your location. Select your county to begin.
Bristol Health – Senior Behavioral Health: Our Senior Behavioral Health Unit serves those 65 and older, as well as younger adults who may have early onset Alzheimer’s or dementia or other disorders common in seniors. The unit is specially designed to provide a safe and secure environment that is also attractive, comfortable and full of natural light.
Location: Bristol, CT
Connecticut Transit – Senior / Disabled Reduced Fares Program: For Senior Citizens (65 years or older) or Persons with a Qualifying Disability. Reduced fares also apply to one-way tickets for Shore Line East, Hartford Line, the Metro-North New Haven Line and the Danbury, New Canaan, and Waterbury branch trains except westbound morning peak hour trains. Metro-North Peak fares apply to weekday trains that arrive in Grand Central Terminal (GCT) between 5:00am and 10:00am.
Senior Citizens: If you have a Medicare card, you are entitled to ride for a reduced fare. Simply show your Medicare card to the operator when you board the bus. Your local transit provider is required to accept the Medicare card for a half fare.
Location: State Wide Access
AARP – LGBT Pride: The American Association of Retired Persons’ dedicated page to LGBT issues and concerns.
Dial-A-Ride – is a locally-operated transportation service for older adults and individuals with disabilities. Most Connecticut towns offer Dial-A-Ride programs either through direct operation, in a collaborative with other entities or by contracting with another provider.
The service is “demand-response,” meaning that the ride must be booked in advance. Hours of operation are typically limited to Monday to Friday during daytime hours. Contact your local Social Services Office, Senior Center or Municipal Agent for Elderly for information in your Town.
Each local Dial-A-Ride program establishes its own eligibility and application process. Typically, the service is available to older adults and people with disabilities who reside within that community. Each local Dial-A-Ride program established its own fee structure and scope of service. Because it is specific to the communities that it serves, each program operates differently.
Other towns may offer similar programs under different names with different requirements. The links below represent 98 cities and towns. The Bridgeport Transit site is currently undergoing an overhaul so a portion of southwestern Connecticut links are unavailable, we will update this ASAP
Locations: Ansonia – Ashford – Avon – Barkhamsted – Bethany – Bethel – Branford – Bristol – Brookfield – Brooklyn – Burlington – Canaan – Canterbury – Canton – Chaplin – Chester – Clinton – Colebrook – Columbia – Cornwall – Coventry – Danbury – Deep River – Derby – Durham – Eastford – Ellington – Enfield – Essex – East Haddam – East Hartford – East Haven – Falls Village – Farmington – Glastonbury – Goshen – Guilford – Haddam – Harwinton – Hamden – Hampton – Hartford – Hebron – Kent – Killingly – Killingworth – Lebanon – Litchfield – Lyme – Madison – Manchester – Mansfield – Meriden – Middletown – Milford – Morris – New Britain – New Fairfield – New Hartford – New Haven – Newington – Newtown – Norfolk – North Branford – North Haven – Old Lyme – Old Saybrook – Orange – Plainfield – Putnam – Pomfret – Ridgefield – Salisbury – Scotland – Seymour – Sharon – Simsbury – Shelton – Southbury – Thompson – Tolland – Torrington – Vernon – Wallingford – Warren – Waterbury – Westbrook – West Hartford – West Haven – Wethersfield – Willington – Wilton – Winchester – Windham – Windsor – Winsted – Woodbridge – Woodstock
Institute on Aging – Friendship Line: is the only accredited crisis line in the country for people aged 60 years and older, and adults living with disabilities. We also make on-going outreach calls to lonely older adults.
While there are other organizations that respond to the needs of people who may be contemplating suicide, none provides the type of services that IOA’s Friendship Line offers to respond to the public health problem of suicide among the elderly. Knowing that older people do not contact traditional suicide prevention centers on a regular basis even if they are considering suicide, we created the only program nationwide that reaches out to lonely, depressed, isolated, frail and/or suicidal older adults. Our trained volunteers specialize in offering a caring ear and having a friendly conversation with depressed older adults.
Location: Statewide Access: Call Toll Free 24-hour 1-800-971-0016
LGBT Aging Issues Network (LAIN) a constituent group of the American Society on Aging, works to raise awareness about the concerns of LGBT elders and about the unique barriers they encounter in gaining access to housing, healthcare, long-term care and other needed services. LAIN has an excellent Website with a great deal of information including a The LGBT Aging Resources Clearinghouse.
Location: State Wide Access / Online
Meals on Wheels Connecticut: operates in virtually every community in America through our network of more than 5,000 independently-run local programs. While the diversity of each program’s services and operations may vary based on the needs and resources of their communities, they are all committed to supporting their senior neighbors to live healthier and more nourished lives in their own homes.
Click HERE to search by zip code
Sharon Hospital – Behavioral Health: Sharon Hospital’s newly renovated Senior Behavioral Health Unit offers psychiatric care designed to meet the specific needs of geriatric patients (55 years and older). Our unit provides acute care for short-term stays with a goal of returning patients to their optimal level of functioning outside of the hospital.
Many of our patients have not had any prior mental health issues before coming to our program; their admission may be a result of factors relating to the aging process. Others have been living much of their lives with psychiatric conditions, which can be exacerbated as they grow older. If you or someone you love is experiencing any of the following symptoms, you can feel confident that the in-patient Senior Behavioral Health Unit at Sharon Hospital is here to provide a caring and supportive experience:
Attempts or threats of suicide – Changes in sleeping patterns – Confusion, disorientation and memory changes – Inability to care for self at home – Abrupt changes in behavior – Isolation and withdrawal from friends and family – Inability to concentrate or sudden decrease in intellectual functioning – Expressions of helplessness/hopelessness – Impaired understanding of reality, such as seeing or hearing things that no one else sees or hears – Abuse of drugs, medication or alcohol – Difficulty with impulse control – Uncharacteristic anger, irritability, agitation and increased or decreased appetite
Location: Sharon, CT
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Veyo is the Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) is a limited transportation benefit that is provided to eligible Medicaid members in Connecticut who have no other way of getting to their medical, behavioral health or dental appointments. Veyo is the NEMT contractor selected by the State of Connecticut to arrange transportation for HUSKY Health members.
Location: State Wide Access
VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT (VOCA) – Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies: Case management program provides holistic supportive services for victims of crime to encourage safety and resiliency. VOCA Case Managers support the personal growth and emotional healing of victims.
Providing support for the following victims:
Adults Sexually Abused/Assaulted as Children – Adult Physical Assault – Bullying (Cyber, Physical, or Verbal) – Burglary – Child Physical Abuse and Neglect – Domestic and/or Family Violence – DUI/DWI Incidents – Elder Abuse/Neglect – Hate Crime (Racial/Religious/Gender/ Sexual Orientation/Other) – Human Trafficking: Sex/Labor – Identity Theft/Fraud/Financial Crimes – Other Vehicular Victimization – Stalking/Harassment – Survivors of Homicide Victims – Teen Dating Victimization
Location: Rocky Hill, CT
