UWS Senior Center Starts Classes Over The Phone Amid Coronavirus

UPPER WEST SIDE, MANHATTAN — An Upper West Side senior center has shifted to classes over the phone after canceling all of its in-person services due to the coronavirus pandemic, the center announced.

DOROT, which has been serving the neighborhood for 40 years, shared a details Thursday about dozens of classes that will become part of their "University Without Walls" program, or classes offered without the physical walls of their West 85th Street center.

The classes will let seniors call in over the next three months to classes about everything from music and the performing arts, to news and current events, to discussions about museums. They are offered in three languages.

Each class will be taught by educators from cultural institutions, medical and legal authorities, academic experts, social workers, volunteers or retirees with particular expertise.

The by-phone classes are one of many ways social service organizations are adapting to guidelines to contain the coronavirus pandemic, which had more than 4,000 cases in New York City as of Friday.

It comes as Gov. Andrew Cuomo issues a drastic stay-at-home order that requires all New Yorkers to stay inside except for essential activities like getting groceries, medication or solitary exercise. The order is most stringent for those 70 years and older, who are especially vulnerable to the virus.

Seniors can find out more or enroll by calling (877) 819-9147, emailing at uww@dorotusa.org or visiting the full list of classes.

Here's a look at some of the offerings:

Generations: A Look at Modern Art through Relationships NEW
5 Fridays at 1 PM, March 27 – May 1 (no session on April 10)
Jennifer Katanic, MoMA Educator, Museum of Modern Art

MoMA has re-opened and returned to UWW! Our focus is on intergenerational relationships and conversations in modern art. Let’s take a fresh look at our favorite artists with a twist. Each session pairs three well-known artists with newer painters and sculptors influenced by them. Monet, Picasso, Matisse, Frida Khalo, Chagall and others join Alma Thomas, Faith Ringgold, Brice Marden and many more.

Ordinary Objects, Extraordinary Meaning
1 Friday at 10 AM, March 27
Alison Tretter, Exhibition Developer, 9/11 Memorial and Museum

A shoe, a bandana, a deck of cards. What stories can everyday objects tell us about a person or an event? Together we will discuss how the 9/11 Memorial Museum uses its collection to commemorate the lives of those lost in the terrorist attacks of 2001, and we will explore how we give emotional meaning and resonance to our own mementos. Materials will be mailed prior to the session. Materials will be mailed prior to the discussion.

Piet Mondrian: Visible Ideals NEW
4 Fridays at 12PM, May 1 – May 22
Karen Bergman, Access Programs Associate, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

Let’s explore Piet Mondrian’s artwork in the Guggenheim Collection. Spanning art movements and styles, the pieces we will examine are a window into his interests, studies, and ideals. We’ll discuss the various aspects of his work and examine together what changed and what remained. Materials will be mailed prior to the discussion.

Edith Halpert and the Rise of American Art
2 Tuesdays at 11 AM, May 5 -12
Liliane Yurkofsky, Docent, The Jewish Museum

Learn about the life and legacy of Edith Halpert (1900–1970), the first significant female gallerist in the United States. We will explore how she propelled American art to the fore at a time when the European avant-garde still enthralled the world. Materials will be mailed prior to the first discussion.

Short Story Discussion Group
2 Tuesdays at 12 PM, March 10 and May 12
Michael Messina, Senior Librarian, Adult Services, New York Public Library

Read and enjoy discussion on a different short story each month. Stories will be mailed to participants prior to the start of the sessions.

The Corner of Casablanca and Sunset Boulevard
6 Mondays at 11 AM, April 13 – May 18
Tom Kertes, Retired Newspaper Columnist and Film Critic

Let's meet there! These sessions will discuss the greatest movies in Hollywood history – the stars, directors, screenplays, and all of the fascinating stories behind the often tumultuous process of creation. What goes into making a classic Hollywood movie? What accounts for the fact that these films are still talking to us loud and clear today, perhaps with more urgency than ever before? In short, these sessions will be about "Everything You Always Wanted to Know about the Movies (but were Afraid to Ask)".

Classic Musicals
6 Thursdays at 2 PM, April 23 – June 4 (no session May 28)
Leo Schaff, Singer; Songwriter

Fiddler on The Roof, Music Man, and Fiorello. Great stories, great songs. Let’s enjoy the original Broadway cast recordings and discuss each show, share our memories, and appreciate the talent behind the words and music.

Sing-Along Broadway
6 Thursdays at 3 PM, April 23 – June 4 (no session May 28)
Leo Schaff, Singer; Songwriter

Join your voice with others to sing along with some of Broadway’s greatest hits. Listeners always welcome! We’ll enjoy selections from My Fair Lady, Finian's Rainbow, Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on The Roof. As a "conference call chorus" we'll sing along with great recordings of such memorable tunes as “I Could Have Danced All Night”, “The Rain in Spain”, “Glocca Morra", "Luck Be A Lady", "Sunrise Sunset", "If I Were A Rich Man", etc.! Lyrics will be mailed prior to the start of the sessions.


Progressive Relaxation with Guided Imagery
5 Mondays at 4 PM, March 9 – April 6

Linda Lee Davida, Holistic Health Counselor, Certified Private Meditation Instructor
Through meditation and imagery, you can live a healthier and more meaningful life. Let’s breathe, visualize and heal our minds, bodies and spirits.

LGBT Health for Older Adults NEW
1 Wednesday at 10 AM, March 11

Dr. Zachary Wikerd, Geriatrics Fellow at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
You can get the access to the care and the resources you need for better health. Together we will discuss the unique challenges older adults in the LGBT community face when pursuing physical and mental healthcare and share useful information that will help you get what you need.

Brain Health: How to Maintain What You’ve Got
1 Monday at 12 PM, April 27

Dr. Zaib Khan, Geriatrics Fellow, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
There are things you could be doing (or taking) to maintain your cognitive abilities. Let’s discuss every-day strategies that may help you remain sharp as you age.

Know Your Rights
Medicare 2020 Updates
2 Thursdays at 2 PM, March 12 - 19

Michelle Berney, Benefits Outreach Consultant, NYC Department for the Aging
Get the latest information on changes to Medicare. We will discuss the choices in Medicare, cost sharing, and protections, as well as programs to save on Medicare costs.