New Elderplan office helps seniors navigate health benefits

For older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers in Sunset Park, navigating healthcare benefits can be challenging, especially when paperwork is confusing, services are unfamiliar or help is not available in a language they understand.

A new Elderplan/HomeFirst Community Office in Sunset Park aims to make that process easier by giving residents a place to receive in-person assistance with health coverage, benefits and enrollment.

The Brooklyn Community Office, located at 6405 Seventh Avenue, is open to everyone, including current Elderplan members and their caregivers as well as people interested in learning about Elderplan/HomeFirst plans.

According to Frank Polanco, senior vice president of business development and growth at Elderplan/HomeFirst, members can visit the office for face-to-face support with health plan coverage, access to benefits and Medicaid recertification. Prospective members can also learn about health plans, check their eligibility and receive enrollment assistance.

The need for this assistance is something Council Member Susan Zhuang, chair of the New York City Council’s Committee on Aging, said she sees regularly in her work with Sunset Park residents.

“People do not know what they qualify for, and the paperwork is not in their language,” Zhuang said.

Zhuang said Sunset Park is home to many older adults, working families and immigrant families, which makes accessible, in-person support super important.

She recalled a recent constituent whose family was struggling financially after the father became unable to work. The family did not know that he could potentially apply for programs including Social Security Disability, food assistance and home care.

Even when residents know which benefits they may qualify for, Zhuang said navigating government agencies and online systems can be challenging. Applications can require residents to download forms, upload identification and complete multiple steps online.

She said her own office’s caseworkers can sometimes spend an hour or more helping a resident complete something as basic as a food assistance renewal form.

Language can add another barrier. Zhuang said many Sunset Park residents speak Chinese or Spanish in addition to English and emphasized the importance of being able to receive assistance in a person’s own language.

The new Elderplan/HomeFirst office offers face-to-face assistance in English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Spanish, according to Polanco.

“Navigating health care can be confusing!” Polanco said. “Our new Brooklyn community office is trying to make it easier for community members by offering face-to-face support in a range of languages.”

For Zhuang, in-person assistance is especially important for older adults who may not be comfortable using online systems or may not have access to smartphones or other technology.

She said some seniors who visit her office still use flip phones, making online-only services difficult to access.

Zhuang also said that in-person spaces can provide social connection for older adults who may otherwise spend much of their time alone. She said seniors sometimes visit her office simply to talk about their lives and families.

Along with assistance with health coverage and benefits, the new office will offer health and wellness activities for Elderplan members and their caregivers.

Polanco said activities will focus on keeping members active and engaged, including programs that stimulate the brain and encourage mobility and hand-eye coordination. Planned activities include art projects and musical performances.

Zhuang said she hopes the new office will help residents access healthcare and find services that allow them to remain healthy, independent and connected to their community.

She encouraged Sunset Park residents who have questions about available resources to visit the office and ask for help.

“I want every single older adult, person, or person with disability, or caregiver in Sunset Park to know they have a trusted place where they can get guidance,” Zhuang said.

The Elderplan/HomeFirst Brooklyn Community Office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with weekend appointments available.