Senior Citizen Resources

Kosher Meals on Wheels

Seniors over 60 and persons with disabilities who are unable to shop, cook or prepare their own meals are eligible for the Kosher Meals on Wheels program. Up to five Kosher meals per week are available, at a cost of $5 per meal. Each meal includes a beverage, bread and margarine, salad and salad dressing, meat or fish, vegetable, starch and dessert. The Kosher Meals on Wheels program is sponsored by Jewish Family & Children's Service of Greater Mercer County and serves residents of Hightstown, East Windsor, Plainsboro, Princeton Borough, Princeton Township and West Windsor.

For more information or to apply for meals, contact Julie Feibush (julief@jfcsonline.org) or Barbara Goodman (barbarag@jfcsonline.org), or call the center at (609) 987-8100.

Greater Mercer Ride Provide (formerly ITNGreaterMercer)

Same Great Service, New Name

The Greater Mercer TMA’s nonprofit transportation service for seniors in Mercer County, originally known as ITNGreaterMercer™ has changed its name to Greater Mercer Ride Provide. The service will continue to provide transportation to the seniors (65+) and visually impaired adults of any age in Mercer County. “We are committed to providing quality, caring rides for all our members, so that they remain connected to their communities,” said Executive Director Sandra Brillhart. “We feel that a locally developed and supported program best enables us to fulfill our mission.”

The new Ride Provide service will continue to use volunteers to transport customers in private automobiles. All passengers must be members of the Greater Mercer Ride Provide service. Annual membership fees are $35 for individuals or $50 for families. Ride Provide fares are based on a zone system, ranging from $6.00 to $15.00 per one way ride. Members can receive discounts by sharing rides with others.

“Since we began offering service in October, we have provided over 1,000 rides,” Brillhart said. “We take people to work, the gym, shopping, to their medical appointments or to their hairdresser or barber. Treating all ride requests equally is what sets us apart from traditional seniors and the visually impaired transportation services. We have been very successful to date but are now looking for more volunteer drivers to meet the growing demand for rides.” Volunteer schedules are flexible. Volunteers are able to choose the days, hours and driving area they prefer. You do not have to commit to the same schedule each week. Drivers are needed for mornings, afternoons, evenings and weekends. For more information or to sign up to drive, call Greater Mercer Ride Provide at 609-452-5140.

Visit the Senior Center!

Through an interlocal agreement with East Windsor Township, Hightstown seniors are eligible to participate in activities at the East Windsor Senior Center, located on Dutch Neck Road. The Center offers a wide variety of activities, including bingo, crafts, card games, movies, health talks and more, as well as blood pressure screenings and regular outings. Lunch is available at the Center through the Mercer County Nutrition Project, and local bus transportation is offered as well.

For more information, contact Amy Baumann, Director, at 371-7192.

SENIOR GOLD Prescription Discount Program

Senior Gold is a pharmaceutical assistance program designed to serve senior citizens and disabled residents of New Jersey who do NOT qualify for Medicaid or the Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD) program.

The Senior Gold Prescription Plan provides prescription drugs, insulin, insulin supplies and diabetic testing material to eligible New Jersey residents for $15 per prescription plus one half of the cost of the prescription. To be eligible, a NJ resident must be at least 65 years of age or older, or receiving Social Security Title II disability benefits. An applicant must have an annual income between $19,739 - $29,739 if single and $24,203 - $34,203 of combined income if married.

The Senior Gold beneficiary pays $15 plus 50% of the remaining cost of the drug. Senior Gold participants with out-of-pocket prescription costs exceeding $2,000 a year if single and $3,000 a year for married couples will have 100% of their prescription costs paid after paying the $15 co-payment per prescription.

Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program

Must be age 65 or older or receiving Social Security Disability Benefits.
Income eligibility for Senior Gold will be $19,739 - $29,739 for singles and $24,203 - $34,203 for married couples. Income limits will be adjusted upward annually, tied to the increase in the cost-of-living.
Senior Gold participants will be able to receive their prescription drugs at the pharmacy of their choice. The total cost of the prescription to the Senior Gold Beneficiary will be a $15 co-pay plus 50 percent of the remaining cost of the drug.
Senior Gold participants with prescription costs exceeding $2,000 a year if single and $3,000 a year if married will have 100 percent of their prescription costs paid for after paying the $15 co-pay per prescription.
Integrates the New Jersey Ease Program into the Senior Gold Program by charging the county Ease agency with assisting senior and the disabled to find a prescription drug program which best fits their needs and financial resources.
Pharmacies would be reimbursed at the same rate as under the existing Pharmaceutical Assistance for the Aged and Disabled program.
Currently in New Jersey senior citizens and disabled individuals with income below $19,739 for singles and $24,203 for married couples are eligible for the Pharmaceutical Assistance for the Aged and Disabled program.
Information and applications for Senior Gold and other PAAD benefits programs that are offered by the Division of Senior Benefits and Utilization Management are available on the web at http://www.state.nj.us/health/seniorbenefits.

DID YOU KNOW ....?

The Hightstown Pharmacy offers free prescription delivery to senior citizens. They accept Medicare, PAAD and most other insurance plans. Call 371-9000 for more information.