Peer Support Line provides empathetic support for 101-year-old NYSUT retiree

This confidential helpline is available free to all NYSUT members and their loved ones.

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Dorothy "Dolly" Krumenacker, a 101-year-old NYSUT retiree from Long Island, NY currently living in an assisted living facility in Georgia, has been utilizing the Peer Support Line for the past six weeks.

This confidential helpline is available free to all NYSUT members and their families, whether you're dealing with a specific stressful issue or would just like an empathetic ear to listen.

Dolly learned about the Peer Support Line after contacting NYSUT Member Benefits with a question about a publication. Christina Bangel from the Peer Support Line has been calling Dolly on a weekly basis to see how she is doing and provide empathetic support to her -- one of many services offered through the line.

Christina looks forward to their weekly calls on Monday evenings and is amazed at how sharp Dolly remains at 101 years old. “I so look forward to speaking with Dolly each week; she is an endless source of insight and inspiration,” said Christina. “I have told her that her life reads like a novel."

Dolly also anticipates her weekly phone calls with Christina and still enjoys reading fiction and detective books on a regular basis; she remains a huge proponent of her union sisters and brothers as well. “I didn’t realize how large our union is and was surprised to hear how many members are in NYSUT,” said Dolly. “I think it’s wonderful there are so many active retirees still involved.”

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