Spanish Speaking Elderly Council - RAICES

RAICES currently operates nine senior centers, five in Brooklyn and four in Queens, N.Y.  All of the senior center staff enthusiastically embrace the responsibility they have with the community in providing its members with information, education, services and programs that will help them live positive, healthy and independent lifestyles.  Similarly, all senior centers offer its members a sense of family, friendship and fellowship.

The goal of the senior centers is to focus on enriching the participants' lives, building upon their skills, knowledge, and unique abilities and strengths. This is achieved by providing the members with innovative health and wellness activities that include, but are not limited to: arts and crafts, musical entertainment and sing-a-longs, health and wellness activities, chair-aerobics, tai-chi, discussion groups, holiday and birthday celebrations, local outings and educational discussions and presentations on various topics such as Elder Abuse, Crime Prevention, Health Management and Fire Safety.

​In addition, all senior centers provide its members with an array of case assistance, advocacy, information and benefits and entitlements assistance with such services as Medicaid-Medicare and Medicare Part D, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security (SSA), Medical Insurance Counseling, Food Stamps, Senior Housing Issues, Senior Citizens Rent Increase Exemption Program (SCRIE), and Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).

All centers serve older adults 60 years of age and older and have a dedicated bilingual staff that provide culturally competent services in English and Spanish.