AARP advocates have released a sweeping report of policies designed to make New York a more friendly city for senior residents — furnishing a roadmap for city officials to confront a host of challenges, from age discrimination to perilous streets.
The “What Older New Yorkers Deserve: NYC Blueprint for Action 2.0” report is the second of its kind, and contains over 90 recommendations for lawmakers and would mark a significant overhaul of how the city functions — all to the much-needed benefit of residents over the age of 50.
“This policy compendium should serve as the cornerstone for all New York City elected officials and policymakers to grasp the challenges faced by our neighbors aged 50 and older,” said Beth Finkel, AARP’s New York State director.
Making up nearly a third of New York City’s populace, people aged 50 and above is a swiftly burgeoning demographic — as the 65-and-over population alone surged by 36% over the past decade, and now exceeds 800,000 individuals. That comes while the rest of the population saw a decline of nearly half a million, according to the report.
And while the older population accounts for a growing proportion of the Big Apple makeup, the laws governing the city have largely failed to keep up, the report argues.
In response, AARP created the document to purpose concrete plans that would forge a more age-friendly city — targeting areas like affordable housing, workplace discrimination, technology access, food insecurity, transportation, social isolation, caregiving, and healthcare services.
“The report stands as an invaluable resource for policymakers to ensure that New Yorkers aged 50 and older can continue to thrive in the city they call home,” Finkel said.
As New York City readies for the future, Finkel says that AARP’s blueprint offers a comprehensive framework to foster inclusivity and bolster the well-being of its older residents across diverse communities.
The organization urges city…
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