About PSPS
In 1985, Mutual Redevelopment Houses, Inc. (also known as Penn South) sponsored a survey that showed that 70% of the Penn South households had at least one resident age sixty years or older.
Seeing that the overwhelming majority of these seniors had no desire to leave their homes for assisted living or a nursing home, a group of Penn South residents formed Penn South Social Services (PSSS) and subsequently Penn South Program for Seniors (PSPS) to help support the community’s older adults achieve their goal of remaining at home in their community.
PSPS became the first supportive on-site community-based program of its kind and established the first Naturally Occurring Retirement Community-Supportive Service Program (NORC-SSP). With over 2,234 adults aged sixty years and older currently in the Penn South community, this cohort is poised to expand with an additional 730 residents aged fifty to fifty-nine years of age. |
PSPS serves Penn South and other local residents sixty years of age and older—without regard to race, religion, color, creed, gender, or sexual orientation.
PSPS provides free social services, including advocacy, information and referral, home care coordination, and long-term care assistance to seniors living in the co-op. The PSPS program addresses service needs and affirms the strengths and skilled contributions of older adults of all capabilities. In addition to providing care and support, PSPS offers health promotion classes such as Senior Fitness, Yoga, Meditation, and educational and recreational activities such as art, drama, film, and writing classes. Trips to local spots like The Highline and the New York Botanical Garden, as well as celebrations of holidays round out the offerings. |
The PSPS Staff includes social workers, nurses, activity specialists, and part-time instructors with wide-ranging expertise. A dedicated corps of volunteers from the Penn South community also supports the program to make the extraordinary variety of services possible. PSPS invites the experience and talents of everyone living in Penn South to enhance our community. To become a member of our corps of volunteers, complete the PSPS Volunteer Registration form.
Our pioneering model has set the standard by which millions of seniors can live safely and independently in their homes. We are proud to work with Penn South Social Services to continue creating legislation that provides public support for state and city funding to build these programs. |
Penn South Program for Seniors is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday (except for national holidays and certain Jewish holidays), and on two Wednesdays per month until approximately 8:00 PM for special events. We’re located at 290A Ninth Avenue (within the complex) in a clearly identified, street-level accessible space.
