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Elderly

√ NY Agencies

Department for the Aging (DFTA)

The DFTA is a city agency that provides services and support to seniors and their caregivers. It oversees a wide range of programs, including home-delivered meals, senior centers, caregiver support, and case management. Mayor’s Management Report

Human Resources Administration (HRA)

The HRA administers a number of programs that can be helpful to seniors, including Medicaid, SNAP (food stamps), and cash assistance. Mayor’s Management Report

Department of Finance (DOF)

DOF administers the Senior Citizen Homeowners’ Exemption (SCHE) program, which provides property tax relief for eligible seniors. Mayor’s Management Report

Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)

DOHMH oversees a number of programs related to public health, including those focused on preventing and treating diseases that are more common in older adults. Mayor’s Management Report

√ Reports

Department of Aging Annual Plan

Annual Statement of DFTA Programs and NYC aging population. This Plan provides a valuable opportunity for the Department to share its goals, objectives, and program planning with the aging network.

Department for the Aging Snapshot

The New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA or the Department) is a local government agency as well as the largest Area Agency on Aging (AAA) in the United States. The Department administers and promotes the development and provision of accessible services for older persons and serves as an advocate on legislative and policy issues.

A Plan to Support Unpaid Caregivers in New York City

A Plan to Support Unpaid Caregivers in New York City (2021). New York City is home to an estimated 900,000 to 1.3 million unpaid caregivers. Because of the City’s large and diverse unpaid caregiver population, as well as its growing population of older adults.

The Aging Apple: Older Immigrants a Rising Share of New York’s Seniors

Center for an Urban Future: The growth in New York’s older immigrant population is far outpacing that of the U.S. born senior population. There are now more people over the age of 65 in the city than there are children ages 10 and younger.

Housing Supports and Services for Aging Adults

A Data-driven Re-design of Housing Supports and Services for Aging Adults who Experience Homelessness in New York City. This study focuses on the shelter and health care use of older homeless adults in New York City.

Keeping Pace with an Aging New York State

New York State’s older adult population is booming, with more residents ages 65 and above—nearly 3.5 million—than the entire population of 21 states. An expanding share of the state’s older adults are immigrants and people of color. Alarmingly, older New Yorkers living below the poverty line increased by 37 percent over the past decade. Source: Center for an Urban Future: Keeping Pace with an Aging New York State, 2023.

What 50+ New Yorkers Deserve

What older adults need most from the City is support to reduce food insecurity, increased services for family caregivers, expanded NORCs, more accessible transportation, support for older workers seeking employment and an ageism-free city that protects older adults from age discrimination, particularly in the workplace, among others. Source: Center for an Urban Future: Keeping Pace with an Aging New York State, 2023.

Department of Aging Annual Plan

Annual Statement of DFTA Programs and NYC aging population. In this plan, the department shares its goals, objectives, and program planning with the aging network.

Department for the Aging Snapshot

The New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA or the Department) is a local government agency as well as the largest Area Agency on Aging (AAA) in the United States. The Department administers and promotes the development and provision of accessible services for older persons and serves as an advocate on legislative and policy issues.

A Plan to Support Unpaid Caregivers in New York City

A Plan to Support Unpaid Caregivers in New York City (2021). New York City is home to an estimated 900,000 to 1.3 million unpaid caregivers. Because of the City’s large and diverse unpaid caregiver population, as well as its growing population of older adults.

The Aging Apple: Older Immigrants a Rising Share of New York’s Seniors

Center for an Urban Future: The growth in New York’s older immigrant population is far outpacing that of the U.S. born senior population. There are now more people over the age of 65 in the city than there are children ages 10 and younger.

Housing Supports and Services for Aging Adults

A Data-driven Re-design of Housing Supports and Services for Aging Adults who Experience Homelessness in New York City. This study focuses on the shelter and health care use of older homeless adults in New York City.

Keeping Pace with an Aging New York State

New York State’s older adult population is booming, with more residents ages 65 and above—nearly 3.5 million—than the entire population of 21 states. An expanding share of the state’s older adults are immigrants and people of color. Alarmingly, older New Yorkers living below the poverty line increased by 37 percent over the past decade. Source: Center for an Urban Future: Keeping Pace with an Aging New York State, 2023.

What 50+ New Yorkers Deserve

What older adults need most from the City is support to reduce food insecurity, increased services for family caregivers, expanded NORCs, more accessible transportation, support for older workers seeking employment and an ageism-free city that protects older adults from age discrimination, particularly in the workplace, among others. Source: Center for an Urban Future: Keeping Pace with an Aging New York State, 2023.

√ Data sets

New York City Department for the Aging

The New York City Department for the Aging collects and publishes data on a variety of topics related to the elderly population in New York City, including demographics, health, housing, and services utilization.

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene collects and publishes data on health and well-being indicators for the elderly population in New York City, including chronic disease prevalence, hospitalizations, and mortality rates.

New York City Housing Authority

The New York City Housing Authority collects and publishes data on public housing units that are designated for elderly and disabled residents.

U.S. Census Bureau

The U.S. Census Bureau collects and publishes data on the elderly population in New York City, including demographic information, income, poverty rates, and housing characteristics.

New York City Community Health Survey

The New York City Community Health Survey collects and publishes data on health behaviors, health status, and health care access among adults in New York City, including the elderly population.

Older Adult Health and Well-being Survey

The New York Academy of Medicine conducted a survey of older adults in New York City to assess their health and well-being, including physical and mental health, social connectedness, and access to services.

√ Data visualizations

New York City Department for the Aging Annual Plan

The New York City Department for the Aging produces an annual data report that includes a variety of data visualizations related to the elderly population in New York City. The report includes charts and graphs that illustrate demographic information, service utilization, and health indicators.

Aging with Dignity: A Blueprint for Serving NYC’s Growing Senior Population

This report by New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer puts forward a number of policy proposals that, combined with long-range strategic planning from City agencies, could form the backbone of such a blueprint. It features relevant charts and maps.

IMAGE NYC - The Interactive Map of Aging

The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) has published a comprehensive 2021 Annual Report. An open-source map of New York City’s current and projected population age 65 and older, IMAGE: NYC provides overlays of available resources, services, and amenities. Designed for government agencies, elected officials, health care and social service providers, planners, funders, and researchers, IMAGE:NYC is a critical tool to support funding, planning, advocacy and direct services.

√ STATISTICS

NYC Older Adult population

million, DFTA

Older Bronxites living in Poverty

%

Center for an Urban Future

Increase in older new yorkers 2011-2021

%

Center for an urban future

Demographics

The population of adults aged 65 and older in New York City in 2022 is estimated to be more than 1.7 million.Source: DFTA

Population Increase

The number of older New Yorkers increased by 31 percent from 2011 to 2021. Queens experiencing the fastest growth 39.3 percent. Source: Center for an Urban Future

Poverty
One in every four older adults in the Bronx is living in poverty, the highest rate in the state, while the poverty rate for older adults is over 15 percent in both Brooklyn (20.9 percent) and Manhattan (16.3 percent) Source: Center for an Urban Future
Diversity

The Bronx has the most diverse U.S.-born older adult population in the state, 82 percent non-white. Source: Center for an Urban Future

NYC Older Adult population

million, DFTA

Older Bronxites living in Poverty

%

Center for an Urban Future

Increase in older new yorkers 2011-2021

%

Center for an urban future

Demographics

The population of adults aged 65 and older in New York City in 2022 is estimated to be more than 1.7 million.Source: DFTA

Population Increase

The number of older New Yorkers increased by 31 percent from 2011 to 2021. Queens experiencing the fastest growth 39.3 percent. Source: Center for an Urban Future

Poverty
One in every four older adults in the Bronx is living in poverty, the highest rate in the state, while the poverty rate for older adults is over 15 percent in both Brooklyn (20.9 percent) and Manhattan (16.3 percent) Source: Center for an Urban Future
Diversity

The Bronx has the most diverse U.S.-born older adult population in the state, 82 percent non-white. Source: Center for an Urban Future

√ Census & American Community Survey

Age distribution
The ACS provides data on the age distribution of the population in New York City. This includes information on the number and percentage of residents who are aged 65 and older.
Household characteristics
The ACS provides data on the household characteristics of elderly residents in New York City, including living arrangements and homeownership rates.
Income and poverty
The ACS provides data on income and poverty rates among elderly residents in New York City. This includes information on median income, poverty rates, and access to public assistance programs.
Education
The ACS provides data on educational attainment among elderly residents in New York City.
Disability and health status
The ACS provides data on disability status and health indicators among elderly residents in New York City. This includes information on limitations in activities of daily living, as well as self-reported health status.
Language and immigration status
The ACS provides data on language and immigration status among elderly residents in New York City, including English proficiency and country of origin.
Age distribution
The ACS provides data on the age distribution of the population in New York City. This includes information on the number and percentage of residents who are aged 65 and older.
Household characteristics
The ACS provides data on the household characteristics of elderly residents in New York City, including living arrangements and homeownership rates.
Income and poverty
The ACS provides data on income and poverty rates among elderly residents in New York City. This includes information on median income, poverty rates, and access to public assistance programs.
Education
The ACS provides data on educational attainment among elderly residents in New York City.
Disability and health status
The ACS provides data on disability status and health indicators among elderly residents in New York City. This includes information on limitations in activities of daily living, as well as self-reported health status.
Language and immigration status
The ACS provides data on language and immigration status among elderly residents in New York City, including English proficiency and country of origin.

√ Journal Articles

"New York City Senior Centers: Who Participates and Why?"
“New York City Senior Centers: Who Participates and Why?” Manoj Pardasani, Cathy S. Berkman, 2020, J Appl Gerontol. Senior centers are focal points of services and programs. Study aims were to describe the frequency of and benefits of attending senior centers and nonmembers’ reasons for nonattendance.
"Strategic Planning for Smart City Development: Assessing Spatial Inequalities in the Basic Service Provision of Metropolitan Cities "
“Strategic Planning for Smart City Development: Assessing Spatial Inequalities in the Basic Service Provision of Metropolitan Cities ” By Mengbing Du, Xiaoling Zhang, Luca Mora
"The Growing Epidemic of Opioid Use Disorder in the Elderly and Its Treatment: A Review of the Literature"
“The Growing Epidemic of Opioid Use Disorder in the Elderly and Its Treatment: A Review of the Literature” Jaya Sri Konakanchi, MB, BS,a and Roopa Sethi, MD. US demographic trends show an increasing proportion of adults aged > 65 years old, approximately 1 million of whom are living with an opioid use disorder (OUD).
"Unhoused Reentering Elders: Addressing Statutory, Regulatory, and Discretionary Barriers to Federal Housing Assistance for Seniors with Criminal Records"
“Unhoused Reentering Elders: Addressing
Statutory, Regulatory, and Discretionary Barriers to Federal Housing Assistance for Seniors with Criminal Records” Melissa A. Hammer. As the population of people age fifty-five and older in prison is increasing, advocacy to release seniors from incarceration is also growing.
"Health-Related Quality of Life and Health Behaviors in a Population-Based Sample of Older, Foreign-Born, Chinese American Adults Living in New York City"
“Health-Related Quality of Life and Health Behaviors in a Population-Based Sample of Older, Foreign-Born, Chinese American Adults Living in New York City” Laura C. Wyatt, MPH et al. Although the New York City Chinese population aged ≥65 years increased by 50% between 2000 and 2010, the health needs of this population are poorly understood.
AGE OF OPPORTUNITY: A Blueprint for Expanding & Improving Services for "New York’s Rapidly Growing Older Adult Population"
Christian González-Rivera, Jonathan Bowles, Eli Dvorkin, 2020. The 63 policy recommendations in this blueprint are part of a forthcoming
report on expanding and improving older adult services in New York City.

√ Key Issues

Healthcare access and affordability
Older adults often have higher healthcare needs and may face challenges accessing affordable healthcare services. This is particularly true for older adults who are low-income or uninsured.
Housing affordability and accessibility
Many older adults in New York City struggle to afford and access safe, affordable, and accessible housing. This is especially true for older adults who are low-income or have disabilities.
Social isolation and loneliness
Older adults may be at risk of social isolation and loneliness, which can have negative impacts on their physical and mental health. This issue has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting social distancing measures.
Caregiver support
Many older adults rely on family members and other caregivers for support with daily tasks, healthcare needs, and other needs. Caregivers may face challenges accessing support and resources, which can lead to stress and burnout.
Elder abuse
Elder abuse, including physical, emotional, and financial abuse, is a significant issue facing older adults in New York City. Older adults who are socially isolated or have cognitive impairments may be particularly vulnerable to abuse.
Workforce development for eldercare workers
There is a growing demand for eldercare services in New York City, but there are challenges in attracting and retaining a skilled and well-compensated eldercare workforce.

√ Social Media Accounts

NYCAGING

This is the official Twitter account of the New York City Department for the Aging, which provides updates on programs and services for older adults in the city.

Citymeals

This is the Twitter account of Citymeals on Wheels, a nonprofit organization that delivers meals to homebound elderly individuals in New York City.

LiveOnNY

This is the Twitter account of LiveOn NY, an organization that advocates for the rights of older adults in New York City and provides information on services and resources available to them.

seniorplanet

This is a Twitter account that provides information on technology and social media for older adults, including events and workshops taking place in New York City.

AARP

This is the Twitter account of the American Association of Retired Persons.