NYC Aging Hosts Second Annual Healthy Aging Fair

NYC Aging Releases The State of Older New Yorkers

Survey results show what services and supports older adults need most to age in place

Highlights caregivers and the help they need to look after loved ones

New York, NY - The NYC Department for the Aging (NYC Aging) has released The State of Older New Yorkers: Building an Age-Inclusive Future, a new report that highlights what older adults say they need to continue living and thriving in New York City. This is the first report based on results from the department's comprehensive Service Needs Assessment Survey, launched last summer to help identify the most pressing needs of older New Yorkers, consider service gaps, and further inform advocacy efforts on their behalf.

"Older New Yorkers are the heart and soul of our communities, and we must make sure they have the resources they need to continue thriving," said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. "The results of this survey will help further the progress we've made in the last three years through the Cabinet for Older New Yorkers, making our city safer, reducing ageism, and improving access supports and services so older adults can live with the dignity and respect they deserve."

"We asked older New Yorkers and caregivers across all five boroughs, representing different cultures and in multiple languages, what they need to lead socially active and healthy lives" said NYC Aging Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez. "These results will help us serve not only today's older adults, but also those who are soon to become older residents. With this population continuing to grow, the time is now to take meaningful steps to prepare for our future. This survey gives the City and the aging sector the data needed to make informed decisions that improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers."

Key findings from the survey include:

• 41% of older adults reported difficulty paying at least one bill;
• 30% reported trouble purchasing healthy food;
• Nearly 30% of caregivers under 60 indicated they care for both an older adult and a minor;
• 55% of caregivers (<60) reported spending more than 15 hours per week on caregiving responsibilities;
• Nearly 27% of older adults indicated they do not have stable housing;
• More than 36% of older adults said they had at least one limitation to leaving their home;
• More than one in five older adults said they experienced age discrimination.

Over the last few years, New York City has taken several steps to address the needs that older adults and caregivers identified in the Service Needs Assessment. The Adams Administration created the Cabinet for Older New Yorkers which has reduced silos between agencies and established new initiatives - some of which received national attention - addressing public safety, affordability, and ageism. With this success and the growing population of residents 60 years of age and older, the Cabinet was codified into law so it can continue its work building an age-inclusive city. Some of the recent initiatives include:

• An Older Adult Liaison has been assigned to every NYPD Precinct and Service Area to support older adults who have experienced a crime, so they can be connected with the supports and programs available for them;
• In the City's Fiscal Year 2025, 54,943 older New Yorkers received help signing up for the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption and/or Disability Rent Increase Exemption, helping them afford to stay in their communities.
• The City Commission on Human Rights has been educating residents participating in NYC Aging's Older Adult Workforce Program about age discrimination and what the City offers if they experience it in the workforce;
• Two intergenerational programs were launched aimed at reducing ageism with NYC Public Schools and the Department of Youth and Community Development, that were recently designated national Programs of Merit by Generations United;
• The Department of Transportation has engaged older adults about what they believe would make their streets safer and easier to traverse, so traffic calming measures can be implemented;
• Community health workers from NYC Health + Hospitals and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene have been going through trainings to learn about the opportunities other agencies provide for older adults, making these opportunities more accessible for their patients.

The Service Needs Assessment Survey was distributed in the 11 most spoken languages among older adults and caregivers. NYC Aging promoted the survey at community events, on social media, and in partnership with community-based organizations. In total, 8,600 New Yorkers responded, most of whom do not currently access NYC Aging services or programs.

The State of Older New Yorkers is the first in a series of reports based on the survey. A new webpage on NYC Aging's website has been launched, where residents can read the full report and explore the data. Additional reports to be released later this year will focus on the well-being of older adults, including topics such as elder justice, health and wellness, and borough specific findings.

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About NYC Aging:

The NYC Department for the Aging's (NYC Aging) mission is to eliminate ageism and empower older adults to live independently in their communities. NYC Aging provides vital programs and resources to nearly 1.8 million older New Yorkers, fostering their physical and mental well-being.