MISSION & HISTORY

Mission

JASA is the go-to agency serving older adults in New York City, providing critical services to over 40,000  people annually. Founded 50+ years ago, JASA is a leading expert and innovator in aging services that recognizes the diversity among the aging population and honors older adults as vital members of society.

JASA’s life-changing support services, interventions and partnerships promote aging with a purpose and provide autonomy for older adults to remain in their homes and communities. JASA operates twelve affordable housing properties, is a licensed home care agency and offers a breadth of integrative services citywide spanning free legal services, health and mental health services, home-delivered meals, social programming at senior centers and community trainings on elder abuse, peer health support, caregiver assistance and more.

History

  • 1968

    JASA was founded

  • 1972

    First Senior Center opens

  • 1973

    First Affordable Housing Complex built in Coney Island

  • 1974

    Supreme Court appoints JASA as the first social service agency in the State of New York to be a conservator for mentally impaired older adults

  • 1976

    Home-Delivered Meals program established

  • 1977

    Joint Public Affairs Committee (JPAC) founded to give older adults a voice in community change and policy

  • 1981

    Legal Services for the Elderly in Queens (LSEQ) established

  • 1982

    Sundays at JASA established

  • 1983

    (JASACare) Home Care program established

  • 1984

    First Mental Health Clinic opens

  • 1989

    Adult Protective Services established

  • 1990

    Community Guardian program established

  • 1990

    First Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) established

  • 1994

    Institute for Senior Action (IFSA) advocacy training program established by JPAC

  • 1995

    Legal/Social Work Elder Abuse Prevention Program (LEAP) opens

  • 1997

    Help Center established

  • 2000

    First Friendship House opens

  • 2002

    Caregivers Respite program established

  • 2005

    JASA is lead sponsor of the first NYC Elder Abuse Conference

  • 2013

    2013 One Stop Senior Services joins JASA, renamed One Stop at JASA

  • 2016

    Partners in Dignity Program joins JASA
    Community Health Navigator Program launched
    Care Transitions Programs established