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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline AUGUST 08, 2025 | The Indian Eye 30

NYC Aging Releases Landmark Report

on the Needs of Older New Yorkers

Survey identifies urgent gaps in housing, caregiving, affordability, and access to services

NEW YORK, NY

he NYC Department for the Aging (NYC
Aging) has released a new report, The State
Tof Older New Yorkers: Building an Age-In-
clusive Future, offering the most comprehensive
picture yet of what older adults across the five bor-
oughs say they need to continue living healthy, in-
dependent lives in their communities.
Based on the department’s first-ever Service
Needs Assessment Survey, launched last summer,
the report draws on responses from 8,600 New
Yorkers—most of whom currently do not access
NYC Aging services. The findings highlight both
the challenges and opportunities involved in sup-
porting one of the fastest-growing populations in
the city.
“Older New Yorkers are the heart and soul of
our communities,” said 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 so
older adults can live with the dignity and respect
they deserve.”
NYC Aging Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-
Vázquez emphasized the diverse voices repre-
sented in the survey, noting that older adults and
caregivers from all five boroughs, speaking multi-
ple languages and coming from different cultural
backgrounds, shared what they need to lead social-
ly active and healthy lives. She said the results will aison has been appointed to every NYPD precinct Health + Hospitals and the NYC Department
help serve not only today’s older adults, but also and service area to ensure seniors affected by crime of Health and Mental Hygiene have undergone
those who are approaching later life. Given the can access the supports and programs available to training to better understand and share informa-
growing size of this population, Cortés-Vázquez them. In the current fiscal year, 54,943 older New tion about the wide range of programs available to
emphasized the urgency of using the data to make Yorkers have received assistance signing up for the older adults.
informed decisions for a better future. Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption and/or To ensure broad participation, the Service
Among the key findings, 41 percent of older the Disability Rent Increase Exemption, helping Needs Assessment Survey was distributed in the
adults reported difficulty paying at least one bill, them remain in their communities. eleven most spoken languages among older adults
while 30 percent struggled to afford healthy food. The NYC Commission on Human Rights has and caregivers. NYC Aging promoted the survey
Nearly one in four indicated they do not have sta- been actively educating participants in NYC Ag- through community events, social media, and part-
ble housing, and 28 percent said they had at least ing’s Older Adult Workforce Program about age nerships with community-based organizations.
one limitation that makes it difficult to leave their discrimination and informing them of their rights This newly released report is the first in a se-
homes. Age discrimination also emerged as a ma- and available support in the workforce. The city ries. Future reports, to be published later this year,
jor concern, with one in four older adults reporting also launched two intergenerational programs, will focus on elder justice, health and wellness,
personal experiences of it. one with NYC Public Schools and the other with and borough-specific findings. A new webpage has
The report also sheds light on the pressures the Department of Youth and Community Devel- been launched on the NYC Aging website, where
faced by caregivers. Nearly 30 percent of caregiv- opment. These efforts to reduce ageism were re- residents can access the full report and explore the
ers under the age of 60 said they care for both an cently recognized as national Programs of Merit by survey data.
older adult and a minor. Furthermore, 54 percent Generations United. About NYC Aging: The NYC Department for
of New Yorkers under 60 reported spending be- In the area of public safety and infrastructure, the Aging (NYC Aging) works to eliminate age-
tween 15 and more than 30 hours per week on the Department of Transportation has engaged ism and empower nearly 1.8 million older New
caregiving responsibilities. older adults in discussions about how to make city Yorkers to live independently in their communi-
In response to these and other concerns raised streets safer and easier to navigate, leading to the ties. The department provides essential programs
by the survey, New York City has already imple- implementation of new traffic calming measures. and resources that support physical and mental
mented a range of initiatives. An Older Adult Li- Meanwhile, community health workers from NYC well-being across all five boroughs.

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