Andrus on Hudson's Betsy Biddle Enters Senior Citizen Hall of Fame

Executive Director of Andrus on Hudson Betsy Biddle was recently inducted into the Westchester County Senior Citizen Hall of Fame for her 38 years of service to the county’s elders.

“The Hall of Fame is a special tradition that honors seniors who have given their time and energy to improve the quality of life in their communities or the county at large,” County Executive Rob Astorino said.  

Biddle was inducted on Friday, Dec. 6 Betsy Biddle at a luncheon at the Westchester Marriott Hotel in Tarrytown. It was the 31st year for the awards.

As a humanitarian as well as in her position as executive director, Biddle has helped make Andrus on Hudson, located in Hastings-on-Hudson, a “beacon” in the storm. During Hurricane Irene in August 2011, she opened Andrus on Hudson’s doors to 36 elderly nursing home residents that were evacuated from Menorah Home in Manhattan Beach.  

She once again answered the call in October 2012, when Hurricane Sandy came knocking, as she endured the prolonged loss of electricity and services to open Andrus on Hudson facility as a shelter for the local residents, and provided hot meals for the volunteer fire department.

In addition to her role as a caretaker, Biddle has also proven to be a strong and fearless advocate for her elders. When the Berger Commission threatened to close Andrus on Hudson and displace 190 elders, Biddle “took on” the State of New York Department of health in Federal District Court, ultimately winning a favorable resolution to keep the facility open.

Andrus on Hudson is currently Westchester’s only Medicare and Medicaid certified skilled nursing and short-term rehabilitation resource offering all private rooms with bath. It specializes in skilled nursing, palliative care, hospice and short-term rehabilitation. Patients experience the security of a high quality life with "a range of exceptional support from a trained staff where one can recuperate, recondition, or age gracefully in an ideal setting."

That reputation figures to continue for the foreseeable future under Biddle’s Hall of Fame leadership.