Senior Connections is a library-based information and referral program that operates in a majority of the 55 libraries in Nassau County. Each library tailors its program to suit the needs of senior citizens in its community. Senior Connections has been operating a variety of programs and services at the Garden City Public Library since 1985. Senior Connections offers the following services:

• Information and Referral
  • Senior Connections is available to all who seek information or desire some help with an existing problem or a matter of concern. The Senior Connections Coordinator will connect you to the appropriate source or agency to assist you with your problem. The Library also maintains an extensive collection of information relevant to seniors.
• Public Forums
  • With the guidance of a Senior Connections Volunteer Planning/Policy Committee, a series of informative Public Forums is offered at the library. Topics include educational programs, housing and transportation services, health and medicine, elder law, recreational and fitness programs, and family life in the senior years. Forums are held on Tuesday afternoons in the Large Meeting Room on the lower level of the library. (An elevator is available.) See the Calendar of Events for details.
• Intergenerational Programs
  • Thanks to a special grant from the New York State Department of Education to Adelphi University, Senior Connections will initiate a community-wide intergenerational program of services to be known as SAY (Seniors and Youth). The public library, with its traditional sponsorship of intergenerational programs, will be central in this effort. Other agencies will be encouraged to promote SAY activities in the community, focusing on the mutual benefits of sharing village life with senior residents.
• Safety & Wellness
  • The Garden City Police Department has a Safety and Wellness Program for seniors. The program is available to all Garden City senior citizens and/or residents who have serious medical conditions. Residents who wish to take advantage of this special program for seniors are put on a list and asked to call the Police Department daily. If the resident fails to check in with the Police Department, the Department will call the resident and if there is no answer, a police officer will be sent to check on the resident. Any resident who wishes to participate in this program may call the Garden City Police Department at 465-4100 to request an application. Those who are interested can also visit the Library and pick up an application at the Reference Desk.

The Board of Trustees of the Garden City Public Library recognized Risha W. Levinson, DSW for 25 years of volunteer services to Senior Connections. The Library presented Dr. Levinson with a Certificate of Recognition on behalf of the residents of the Garden City community to thank her for her years of work with Senior Connections, which has hosted programs and provided information for seniors at the Library. Assemblyman Thomas McKevitt also recognized Dr. Levinson’s contributions to Senior Connections by presenting her with a citation on behalf of the New York State Assembly at the second fall Senior Connections forum at the Library on October 21, 2008.