Lifelong Services & Support

Lifelong’s TCE Tax program has finished up for the season!

Look for more information in January 2027 for next year’s tax appointments and self-prep options.

Lifelong’s Health Insurance Information Counseling & Assistance Program (HIICAP) offers free assistance to anyone navigating their Medicare coverage. If you have questions about Medicare and related insurance or are having trouble paying for premiums, deductibles, or prescription drugs, please turn to HIICAP. Trained, certified Health Insurance Counselors are available to respond to your individual insurance needs.

Medicare Basics presentations and FREE, non-biased 1:1 health insurance counseling are available at Lifelong. While in-person counseling is preferred, telephone and Zoom HIICAP appointments are available if necessary. Lifelong membership not required.

Schedule an in-person, virtual, or telephone appointment with a HIICAP counselor: 607-273-1511 or email Elaine Poley at hiicap@tclifelong.org

Access to a recorded Zoom presentation on Medicare Basics can be found HERE

Tompkin’s County HIICAP is funded by the Tompkins County Office for the Aging

Need one-on-one assistance navigating your smart phone or computer? Schedule an appointment for your FREE 1-hour consultation. Appointments are at 1:00 or 2:00 only, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Lifelong membership required.

Call 607-273-1511

Run by a dedicated group of volunteers, Wonderful Wheelchairs is a program of Lifelong which helps members of the community gain access to a wide variety of mobility equipment. We provide quality and affordable mobility devices and maintenance of those devices to those who need them. Email us at wwcith2@gmail.com or call 607-444-2817. On-site service hours in basement of Cayuga Nursing and Rehabilitation: Wed. and Fri., 9-11:30AM

For more information, visit www.wonderfulwheelchairs.info/home

Looking for a meaningful one time, seasonal, or consistent volunteer placement in our community?  Check out Lifelong’s list of nonprofits in our community who need your support by clicking below and/or attending our volunteer fair on Wednesday, April 24, 2 – 4:00.

List of nonprofits seeking volunteers

SCHOLARSHIPS AT LIFELONG- 2026

Thanks to support from the Triad Foundation, Lifelong has set aside funds to assist older adults for whom cost is a barrier to participation, to pay for programs offered by Lifelong. As long as funds are available, eligible individuals may use up to $250 a year towards Lifelong membership, semester-based classes, Health & Wellness or Creative Arts Activities, Special Events, or Day Trips. Some programs do not qualify for scholarship funds, such as extended travel and AARP classes, etc.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE? 

Tompkins County residents, age 50 and older, can qualify for scholarships with a total monthly income (from all sources) of $1956 ($23,940/year) or less for a single person, and $2644 ($32,460/year) or less for a couple. These figures are Adjusted Gross Income.  Applicants are required to provide either the prior year’s IRS tax return (Form 1040) or an IRS Tax Return Transcript. If taxes were not filed, applicants must submit an IRS Verification of Non-Filing letter and documentation of all income received.  In addition to meeting the monthly income guidelines, eligibility is also based on very limited assets and limited disposable income.

HOW DO I APPLY?  Call Lifelong’s front office at 607-273-1511 or stop by at 119 West Court Street in Ithaca for more information!

First Wednesday of the Month 5:30-7:00 PM

Conducted by trained facilitators, this caregiver support group is a safe place for care partners of those living with dementia to:

• develop a support system
• exchange practical information on challenges and possible solutions; learn about community resources
• talk through issues and ways of coping; share feelings, needs and concerns

1st Tuesday of the month, 1:00- 2:30PM

This support group for adults living with chronic medical illnesses aims to reduce isolation and empower members to better manage the emotional, psychological, and social aspects of living with a chronic condition. led by a retired licensed therapist.

2nd Saturday monthly, 1-2:30pm

Open to all lesbians who have had a wife or partner die and would like support as they grieve their loss. All ages are welcome.

1st Sunday monthly, 2:30-4pm

A monthly gathering organized by and for people in the Ithaca area with Parkinson’s Disease to share experiences, resources, ideas, and hope! Anyone diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease or experiencing Parkinsonian symptoms is welcome to attend.