Town of Greenwich

Peter J. Tesei, First Selectman
Greenwich Town Hall 
101 Field Point Rd. • Greenwich, CT 06830
For information: 203-622-7700

Commission on Aging

Appointed to help meet needs of older residents by: identifying and documenting needs; planning and coordinating services to meet needs; providing education, information and referral about elder issues; advocating for elder issues at local, state, national levels.

299 Greenwich Ave. ( Senior Center) • Greenwich, CT 06830
203-862-6710 • Fax: 293-862-6701 • Hours: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Director • Samuel E. Deibler

Programs include: SENIOR SERVICES DIRECTORY, comprehensive directory of local and regional programs available to Greenwich seniors. Published by Commission and available at its office or online. Other important Greenwich-specific reports and resource directories also available on senior transportation, housing, legal access, respite care and discounts in stores and businesses.

• The Savvy Senior Newsletter, published quarterly and mailed to senior households.
• Health Insurance Counseling Program makes volunteer counselors available on free, confidential basis for individual counseling on Medigap and Long-Term Care Insurance.

Department of Social Services

Under policy direction of Board of Social Services seeks to ”protect and promote the welfare of the most vulnerable individuals in the community through support and services of the highest quality that maximize competency, independence and quality of life.”

Town Hall, 3rd Floor • 203-622-3800 • Fax: 203-622-7762
Office Hours: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Commissioner • Victoria Anyikwa, Ph.D. MSW
Division of Senior Services Director • Carol Cherry • 203-622-3800
Seniors’ Casework Unit • Carol Cherry • 203-622-3802
Homemaker Service • Rick Weiner • 203-622-3719

Division programs include:

 • Casework Services for senior citizens and their families provided by social work professionals five days a week at Town Hall and Mondays and Wednesdays at Senior Center. Services include: Protective Services for people 65 and over in danger of abuse, exploitation or neglect; assisting families to apply for conservatorship through Probate Court when needed; help for seniors with applications for benefit and entitlement programs; information and referral on wide range of matters relating to seniors; follow-up and monitoring via telephone or home visits of client referrals from community agencies and families; education and counseling of seniors and their families about home care and residential placement; Friendly Visitor Mentor Program for isolated, homebound elderly.

 • Community-Based Residential Care (CBRC) provides intensive services to frail elderly, enabling them to remain safely at home or in congregate community residence or to be referred to Adult Day Care or helped move to home for aged. Staff evaluates needs, arranges for necessary services, provides on-going home visits to monitor changes. Financial subsidies for Meals on Wheels and Lifeline arranged for CBRC participants who need but cannot afford these services. Escorted transportation available for medical and other appointments and errands when other transportation services not adequate. Arrangements made with Homemaker Service as necessary.

 • Homemaker Service assists elderly and disabled who have difficulty with everyday activities or need help during times of illness. Assistance may include companionship and help with dressing, bathing, light housekeeping, laundry, shopping, meal preparation, temporary child or dependent care. Service also available to families of elderly and disabled. Referrals taken from all sources. Sliding scale of fees charged, but no one denied service because of inability to pay.

Senior Center

Operates as one of number of Facility-Based Programs of Greenwich Commission on Aging. Free to residents 55+ able to function without assistance.
Motto: “Life: Be-in-It.”
299 Greenwich Ave. • Greenwich, CT 06830
203-862-6700 • Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Administrator • Laurette Helmrich
Programs and services include: luncheon and “lunches to go”; newsletter; trips; health forums; classes (from Arts & Crafts to History and French); day trips; line dancing; singing with chorus or popular Silvertones touring group; tax service for seniors; Share-the-Fare Taxi Program books; more. Available on premises: social worker; public health nurse practitioner; offices of Commission on Aging; Utilize Senior Energy (USE); SeniorNet Computer Center. Nominal fees for some programs.
Senior programs (some for free, some for fee) also take place at other Parks and Recreation Department
facilities.

Supportive Services for Families and Caregivers

• Commission on Aging’s SENIOR SERVICES DIRECTORY contains information on number of public and private agencies and facilities in the Greenwich area providing for-free or for-fee alternative care for patients in need of temporary substitute care to allow family members respite—short times away—from their caregiving duties.

 • Department of Social Services Homemaker Service available to families of elderly and disabled residents. Department’s Senior Caseworkers’ Unit also assists families to apply for conservatorship through Probate Court when needed.

Transportation Services

• Access Ambulance Company, Inc.
111E. Putnam Ave. • Riverside, CT 06878
203-637-2351
Cooperative effort between Greenwich EMS and Stamford EMS to provide non-emergency medical transportation by ambulance or Invalid Coach. Hours: 24/7 by appointment.
 • Call-a-Ride
37 Lafayette Place • Greenwich, CT 06830
203-661-6633 • Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
 • Easy Access
13 Riverside Ave. • Riverside, CT 06878 • 203-637-4345
Hours: Mon.-Sat., 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
Door-to-door transportation service available to anyone disabled and unable to use public bus service. Fee charged. Users must be certified eligible.
 • Red Cross Motor Service
203-869-8444 • Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; Fri., 7:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Free transportation to medically related appointments in Greenwich (or to Stamford for dialysis) for ambulatory clients who have no other means of transportation.
 • Share-the-Fare Taxi Program
299 Greenwich Ave. (Commission on Aging offices in Senior Center) • For information: 203-862-6700
Office Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Reduced taxi fares for persons 62 and over with coupon book available from Senior Center, Mon.-Fri.,
9 a.m.-2 p.m. For taxi service, call 203-869-6000, Mon.-Fri., 5:30 a.m.-1:30 a.m.
• TAG (Transportation Association of Greenwich)
13 Riverside Ave. • Riverside, CT 06878 • 203-637-4345
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat., 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Transportation provided for eligible elderly or disabled to programs, hospitals, medical appointments and recreational activities. Fee charged.

Tax Relief Programs

Town Assessor receives applications between February 1 and May 15 for tax relief for certain property owners over 65 under Elderly Homeowners’ Tax Relief Act (State program) and Elderly Property Tax Relief (Town program). Assistance offered to new applicants.
Town Hall, 1st Floor • 203-622-7885 • Fax: 203-618-7655 • Hours: 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Assessor • Tom Gwartney

Department of Social Services receives applications for Renter’s Rebate Program under State’s Elderly Renters’ Tax Relief Act. Applicants can make appointment to receive information about and assistance in applying.

Greenwich Library System

Library system has four components--three public and one independent. Main Greenwich Library is town’s pre-eminent information and knowledge resource. Branch Libraries meet local community needs and facilitate access to collection and services of Main lIbrary. Independent Perrot Library strongly oriented to Old Greenwich community. System operates bookmobile to Senior Center, other sites. Books, audiobooks mailed to homebound on request.

Library System Acting Director • Barbara Ormerod-Glynn

Main Greenwich Library
101 W. Putnam Ave. • 203-622-7900
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

In Community Answers program trained volunteers give answers to wide range of questions and provide information and referral to those with problems.

Probate Court

Town Hall, First Floor • 203-622-7873 • Fax: 203-622-6451
Hours: Sept.-June, Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; July/Aug., Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
Judge • David W. Hopper

CALL 911 FOR ALL EMERGENCIES.

 Police Department

Headquarters: 15 Havemeyer Place • Greenwich, CT 06830
Main phone (non-emergencies): 203-622-8000 • Fax: 203-618-8866
Chief • David C. Ridberg • 203-622-8010

Fire Department

Office: 75 Holly Hill Ln. • Greenwich, CT 06830
Main phone (non-emergencies): 203-622-3950 • Fax: 203-622-8062
Office Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Chief • Peter Siecienski

Greenwich Emergency Medical Service, Inc. (GEMS)

GEMS is independent not-for-profit organization providing emergency medical services 24/7 by highly trained teams utilizing emergency response vehicles (including three ambulances) based at four strategically located stations. GEMS raises about half of its own financing.

Main Business Office: 1111 E. Putnam Ave. • Riverside, CT 06878
Non-emergencies: 203-637-7505 • Fax: 203-637-1762

Other Important Phone Numbers

Animal Control • 203-622-8299

Health Dept. • 203-622-6488

Parks & Recreation Dept. • 203-622-7814

Public Works • 203-622-7740

Registrars of Voters • 203-622-7890 and 203-622-7889

Tax Collector • 203-622-7891

Town Clerk • 203-622-7897

Greenwich’s Population by Age