Friendly Visiting & Programs - DOROT - Free Senior Connection, NYC

For 50 years, DOROT — Hebrew for “generations” — has brought older adults and volunteers together on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and across New York City. Its programs help older adults connect with others, stay healthy and active, and build community among people of all ages.

What to Expect

Through Friendly Visiting, older adults welcome volunteers into their homes for weekly or monthly visits that build meaningful social connection and friendship. Beyond visiting, DOROT offers one-on-one and group programs spanning author talks, concerts, creative arts workshops, film screenings, museum outings, and discussion groups — available in person, online, and by phone, so homebound elders can participate fully. DOROT makes more than 8,000 connections each year.

Who This Is For

Older adults in New York City who want more connection in their week — whether that’s a regular volunteer visitor, a phone-based class, or an outing with peers. Intergenerational programming is the heart of DOROT’s model, so participants build relationships with people of all ages.

Why Connection Works

Loneliness in later life often arrives gradually — a spouse lost, friends moved, mobility narrowed. Regular, scheduled connection reverses that drift. A familiar volunteer at the door each week provides the consistency that casual contact can’t, and group programs layer in community, learning, and purpose. DOROT’s intergenerational approach adds something more: the sense of being valued across generations, not set apart from them.

How to Connect

Explore programs and sign up at dorotusa.org, call (212) 769-2850, or email info@dorotusa.org. DOROT is located at 171 W 85th Street, New York, NY 10024.