MesoRC: Mesothelioma Resource Center

Department of Veterans’ Affairs

A website dedicated to help State of New York veterans, their families and survivors to improve their health and economic well-being through quality benefits information, advocacy, education and long term health services. For nationwide information visit the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Website: veterans.ny.gov
Phone: 888-838-7697

New York State Veteran’s Benefits

The State of New York provides several veteran benefits.  This web site provides links to further information about each of the benefits and other services that are provided to veterans in the State of New York.

Website: www.military.com

The New York American Legion

American Legion is a congressionally chartered mutual-aid veterans’ organization of the U.S. armed forces founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period.

Website: www.ny.legion.org

Disabled American Veterans – Department of New York

The Disabled American Veterans has been dedicated to a single purpose of building better lives for America’s disabled veterans and their families. Whether these veterans need a voice on Capitol Hill, a nationwide service program, a transportation network or rehabilitation opportunities, DAV has focused its attention and resources to meet those needs.

Website: www.davmembersportal.org
Phone: 516-887-7100

New York Veteran Organizations Directory

Here you can find a listing of veteran organizations in the state of New York, along with information about the services that can be provided and a link to the organization’s website, if available.

Website: www.vetfriends.com

Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of New York

Here you can find information about the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization, in the state of New York. Included is information pertaining to schedules of events, membership benefits, and links to other veteran resources.

Website: www.vfwny.com
Phone: 518-463-7427

The Department of Health for the State of New York also provides listings of providers and information for the following services in the state:

Adult Care  Learn More>

Assisted Living Facilities  Learn More>

Patient Safety Center  Learn More>

Home Care Services  Learn More>

Nursing Homes & other Long-Term Care Services  Learn More>

Disability & Health Learn More>

 The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks

The Elks is a fraternal organization with just under 1 million members in more than 2,000 lodges across the United States. The group creates and participates in many programs to improve local communities, including veterans programs.

Website: www.elks.org or Click Here for New York specific Elks information.
Phone (Grand Lodge): (773) 755-4700

Rotary International

Rotary is a worldwide organization of more than 1.2 million business, professional and community leaders.  Members of Rotary clubs, known as Rotarians, provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. There are 33,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas.

Website: www.rotary.org or www.nyrotary.org for the New York Rotary Club Association.
Phone: (847) 866-3000

Knights of Columbus

The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic fraternal benefit society that includes more than 13,000 councils and 1.7 million members and provides a variety of volunteer-driven community services.

Website: www.kofc.org or Click Here for New York specific information.
Phone: (203) 752-4000 

Loyal Order of Moose

The Loyal Order of Moose is a fraternal and service organization founded in 1888, with nearly 800,000 men in roughly 1,800 Lodges, in all 50 states and four Canadian provinces, plus Great Britain and Bermuda.

Website: www.mooseintl.org or Click Here to find a lodge in New York.
Phone: (951) 526-2718

New York 211

New York residents can call 2-1-1 to connect with someone who can help them find the information and human services that they are in need of. This service is expanding and is available in most counties currently.

Website: www.211ny.org
Phone: (518) 462-2522 or 211

New York Department of Health

Provides extensive information on all health topics including daily health, hospital information, emergency services and long-term care.

Website: www.health.state.ny.us

NYC Health

All available information related to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene can be found here.

Website: www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/home/home.shtml

Veterans Health Administration

VA NY/NJ Veterans Healthcare Network is comprised of 5 VA Medical Centers, a domiciliary and over 30 outpatient clinics and vet centers which provide comprehensive care to veterans in New York and New Jersey.

Website: www.nynj.va.gov

Health & Human Services

Site has many different links for health programs the city offers and information that is pertinent.  Such links that are offered are the Department for the Aging, Housing, Senior Centers and Services, General Resources for disabled residents, veteran services, and home care services.

Website: www.nyc.gov

Hospice care is a way of caring for individuals who are facing a life-threatening illness such as mesothelioma. Hospice services generally are provided using a team-oriented approach that includes expert pain and symptom management, along with emotional and spiritual support. Many patients receive hospice care in their own homes, although it can also be provided in other facilities.

New York Department of Health

The Department of Health for New York State offers a list of hospice providers by county.

Website: http://homecare.nyhealth.gov 
Phone: (800) 628-5972

New York Hospice Care Services

The New York Care Planning Council offers a list of hospice care services.

Website: www.carenewyork.org
Phone: (800) 989-8137

Hospice & Palliative Care: Association of New York State

The Hospice and Palliative Care Association of New York State (HPCANYS) is a not-for-profit organization representing hospice and palliative care programs, allied organizations and individuals that are interested in the development and growth of quality, comprehensive end-of-life services.

Website: www.hpcanys.org
Phone: (518) 466-1483

Hospice of New York

Hospice of New York provides care, employs staff, and offers volunteer opportunities regardless of race, religion, creed, color, gender, national origin, disability, age, diagnosis, or sexual orientation.

Website: www.hospiceny.com
Phone: (718) 472-1999

Hospice Foundation of America

Hospice Foundation of America provides leadership in the development and application of hospice and its philosophy of care with the goal of enhancing the U.S. health care system and the role of hospice within it.

Website: www.hospicefoundation.org
Phone: (800) 854-3402

Visiting Nurse Service of New York

VNSNY Hospice Care is the largest hospice program in the New York metropolitan area.

Website: www.vnsny.org
Phone: (800) 675-0391

ElderCarelink

ElderCarelink offers a list of providers from its network of eldercare providers who offer transportation services for the elderly.

Website: www.eldercarelinkdirectory.com

Disability Transportation New York

Ahava Access Inc can provide all disabled persons disability transportation needs in New York. Ahava Access Inc. has been in the business of providing disability transportation services since 1986.

Website: www.coolpix360.com/ahava
Phone: (800) 244-AHAVA

New York Disability Transportation Links

A list of links to services in New York that can provide transportation services for the disabled and sick.

Website: www.disability.gov/transportation/state_&_local_resources/new_york

American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society may assist ambulatory cancer patients with limited transportation to medical appointments. Call for information at 800-ACS-2345; an operator will transfer you to the correct office in your area.

Phone: (800) ACS-2345

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Asbestos Occupational Hazards: Workers

Since asbestos is naturally present in air, water, and soil, most people are exposed to low levels of it at some point in their life.  Typically, this limited exposure is not enough to cause injury or illness.  However, when workers are exposed to asbestos on the job—either through prolonged direct contact or environmental contact—the risk for asbestos-related illness increases dramatically.

Millions of American employees have been exposed to asbestos since its use became widespread during World War II. Government regulations and improved workplace safety standards have lowered the risks for today’s workers. Unfortunately, the damaging effects of asbestos exposure often go undetected for many years, and new cases of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases are still being discovered in people who were exposed decades ago.  

Jobs with a High Risk of Asbestos Exposure

Following are some of the occupations at highest risk for asbestos exposure and asbestos-related illness.

Automotive workers – Studies performed in the 1970s found automotive workers to be at increased risk for asbestos exposure. The major source of exposure for automotive workers occurs when compressed air is used to blow dust from the brake lining assembly and during replacement of clutch assemblies. Auto workers may also be exposed during spray applications and when handling asbestos-contaminated cloths and supplies.

Electricians - Asbestos added to insulating materials in electrical wire and cabling provides strength, flexibility, and heat- and fire-resistance. Electricians employed in shipbuilding and repair as well as in construction and building maintenance are at high risk for asbestos exposure. This is because their work often takes them into confined spaces where poorly maintained asbestos can often be found. Electricians may work in areas where asbestos was applied, and they may also be exposed while pulling wire through the infrastructure of a ship or building. This activity can increase the airborne asbestos concentration by 500 times.

Janitors – Many of our older schools and other public buildings have fallen into disrepair. Janitors or custodians who work in those buildings may come in contact with exposed asbestos in the course of their daily duties. Studies have found an increased risk of pleural plaques and reduced lung function in groups of janitors who work under such conditions.

Maintenance Workers – As buildings age, asbestos-containing components like tile, flooring, wiring and insulation may begin to crumble or fray, while some buildings undergo extensive, proactive asbestos removal programs. Maintenance workers may be exposed to asbestos dust in several ways, from performing routine maintenance and repairs to removing insulation.

Mill and Factory Workers – Asbestos is commonly found in steel and iron mills, where high temperatures require the use of insulation for personal protective gear and heat efficiency. Until the late 1970s, the paper industry also used asbestos in the felt belts on which paper products were processed. Exposure to asbestos typically occurred when fabrics and other materials were torn or otherwise damaged, releasing asbestos fibers into the air. Numerous studies have found an increased incidence of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illness in mill and factory workers.

Navy Veterans – The increased use of asbestos during World War II was mainly due to a wide range of asbestos-based products used on U.S. Navy ships. Thousands of sailors and civilian workers were inadvertently exposed to deadly asbestos dust while cutting, shaping and manipulating insulation products, and many of them developed mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases as a result. Although risks were higher for those who worked in fire and engine rooms, veterans who worked anywhere on board a ship or on the docks were subject to possible asbestos exposure. 

Pipefitters and Plumbers – Pipefitters and plumbers frequently come into contact with asbestos in pipe insulation, gaskets, and other materials used in their work. Many of these materials have to be cut to size, and because pipefitters and plumbers commonly work in enclosed spaces, they may be exposed to high concentrations of asbestos. The danger increases if workers do not wear a face mask or other personal protection equipment.

Plasterers – Asbestos was a common component of plaster used for decorative or acoustic purposes in buildings constructed from the 1940s through the 1980s. Mixing and installing the plaster created a hazardous situation for the plasterers of that time. Plasterers today may risk inhaling the dust created by the removal of old plaster.

Ship Builders – Asbestos products were used extensively on American ships from the early 1940s through the late 1970s. Common applications included insulation of steam and hot water pipes, boilers, and tanks in machinery space, as well as ceiling tile and fire-resistant sheets in bulkheads. Workers employed in shipbuilding and those involved in converting, repairing, or overhauling ship operations where asbestos-containing components were used often came in contact with asbestos.

On a ship, as in other industrial settings, the biggest danger for asbestos exposure comes when asbestos is damaged or removed. Thoroughly wetting asbestos prior to removal can help to limit exposure to asbestos-contaminated dust. However, wet removal is not permitted in nuclear reactor compartments because of the possibility of radiation contamination.

Were You Exposed to Asbestos on the Job?

If you believe you were exposed to asbestos while working at your place of employment, you may wish to speak to your physician. He or she will be able to identify early signs of asbestos-related disease and advise you on an appropriate path of medical treatment.

If your loved one has succumbed to mesothelioma, a death certificate may provide the clearest and most definitive way of determining a cause of death and provide guidance on whether you may have a case. However, even if the death certificate does not list mesothelioma as the cause of death, this does not mean you should stop pursing a case. Let us help you determine the best course of action. You can find instructions on obtaining death certificates in the state of New York below.

• Complete the Death Certificate Application form
• A $30.00 standard fee is required
• Checks can be made payable to New York State Department of Health and can be mailed to the following:

New York State Department of Health
Vital Records Section / Certification Unit
P.O. Box 2602
Albany, NY 12220-2602

OR if using an overnight courier service please use the address listed below:

New York State Department of Health
Vital Records Section / Certification Unit
800 North Pearl Street - 2nd Floor
Menands, NY 12204

*Requests may take up to 2-3 weeks to be processed

If you have any further questions, email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  or Click Here for more information

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