Senior Center

The Center at the Red Oak is a full service center serving older persons in the Manhattan Valley community of the Upper West Side of Manhattan, funded by the New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA).

Located at 135 West 106th Street (between Amsterdam and Columbus), the Center is open Monday-Friday 8:30 AM – 4 PM. During Heat Emergencies, the Center is a New York City Cooling Center, with extended days and hours as determined by the emergency.   Stop by or call 212-749-7015 for more information. Membership is free!

The Center serves breakfast and lunch Monday-Friday (suggested donation $1.50 for persons 60 years and older, $3.00 for persons under age 60).

Regular activities include:

  • Arts:
    • Arts and Crafts
    • Theatre Club
    • Knitting and Crocheting
    • Painting
    • Jewelry Making
    • Salsa Dancing
    • Cinema in English and Spanish
    • Quilt making
    • Crochet Flowers
    • Tree of Life Jewelry Workshop
  • Health and Wellness:
    • Yoga (three different styles)
    • Walking Club
    • Qi Gong
    • Silver Sneakers Exercise Program
    • Tai Chi
    • Healing Meditation Workshop
    • Health Screenings including blood pressure, diabetes, dental
    • Physical and Occupational Therapy
    • Healthy Living with Diabetes Workshop
    • Healthy Living with Chronic Diseases Workshop
  • Education:
    • English as a Second Language
    • Computer Classes
    • A series of Special Workshops (see below)
  • Games and Groups:
    • Mind Games in the Morning (Puzzlers)
    • Club De Los Amigos
    • Dominos
    • Social Fridays (dessert and dancing in the afternoon)
    • Bingo

Special Workshops that the Center has offered include:

  • Ayudese/Lifenet: Health Links
  • Elder Abuse
  • Preventing Falls
  • Mental Health Screening
  • Breast Cancer Awareness
  • Health Care Fraud
  • Esperanza y Vida (Hope and Life, Women’s Health)
  • West Nile Virus
  • Bedbug Prevention
  • AIDS
  • Medicare
  • Safer Sex
  • Nutrition workshops:
    • Good Fat Bad Fat
    • The importance of Water and your body
    • Heart Healthy Eating
    • How to drop those extra pounds during the holidays
    • Food & Nutrition & drug interaction

What are your interests for this year?

Recent Trips:

  • Coney Island
  • Rubin Museum of Art
  • Radio City Christmas Show
  • Brooklyn Museum
  • Big Apple Circus
  • Day Trips to Pomona Recreation Center
  • Columbia University Art Exhibit
  • Broadway & Theatre!
  • Mama Mia
  • Memphis
  • Picnic
  • In The Heights
  • Repertorio Expañol
  • Evita

Celebrations!

  • Christmas, New Years, Three Kings
  • Halloween
  • Thanksgiving
  • Puerto Rican Pride
  • Older American’s Month
  • Birthdays
  • Valentine’s Day Dance
  • Mother’s Day
  • Fathers’ Day
  • Grandparents Day
  • Volunteer Appreciation Day
  • Home Aide Appreciation Day
  • We have a party every single Friday!

Social Service Assistance:

  • Assistance with Social Security, Veteran’s Benefits, and other income sources
  • Assistance with Health Insurance: Medicare, Medicaid, Prescription Coverage
  • Assistance with Special Programs: Reduced Fare MetroCards, Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE), Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
  • Assistance with paperwork: obtaining birth certificates, health care proxies, photo identifications, passports, voter registration, credit reports
  • Assistance getting connected to Food Assistance—food stamps, food pantries, meals on wheels
  • Information and Referrals for health and mental health care, legal services, clothing
  • Assistance with connections to friends, family members, government agencies
  • Assistance with citizenship and naturalization issues
  • Disaster Assistance
  • Housing Assistance—recertifications, applications

On-site services are provided in English and Español, with additional language resources available.

New York City Cooling Center:
During Heat Emergencies the Center @ the Red Oak is a designated New York City cooling center.  In addition to regular services, the Center provides respite for people in the neighborhood.  During heat emergencies the hours of the Center are extended, including weekend hours as determined by the emergency.  In addition to regular cooling center services, the Center welcomes small pets and often provides snacks and/or meals for people who come.