NYC Department for the Aging Celebrates 2025 Accomplishments

NYC Department for the Aging Celebrates 2025 Accomplishments

Over the last three years, NYC Aging advanced efforts to eliminate ageism and ensure that older adults live safely and stay active in their communities.

New York, NY - Over the last several years, New York City established several programs and initiatives that have ensured the city's growing older adult population remains at the forefront of policy discussions so they could thrive in their communities. These initiatives, along with the growth of the Department for the Aging (NYC Aging), have helped the city prepare for its future.

In 2025, NYC Aging continued its mission allowing older adults to live the quality of life they deserve, working to reduce ageism and food insecurity. New data was also released to help identify what older New Yorkers need to age in place, and we continued to collaborate with our sister agencies on discussions about what it means to age in every borough.

"We took office with a simple promise: to 'Get Stuff Done,' and, four years later, our administration can say we delivered that every day for working-class New Yorkers," said Mayor Adams. "We drove shootings to record lows and pushed jobs and small businesses to record highs. We rewrote the playbook on homelessness and mental health to finally get New Yorkers living on our streets the help they need, and, after decades of half-measures, passed historic housing legislation to turn New York into a 'City of Yes.' We overhauled the way our students learn to read and do math, cut the cost of childcare, and forgave medical debt. We eliminated taxes for low-income families, launched free universal after-school programming, and took steps to reduce ageism by putting older adults at the center of policy decisions through the Cabinet for Older Adults and increasing access to caregivers, healthy meals, and benefits. We got scaffolding off our buildings, trash bags off our streets, and opened up new public spaces for New Yorkers to enjoy. The haters may have doubted us, but the results are clear. On issue after issue, we brought common-sense leadership to create a safer, more affordable city, and our work has changed our city for the better; it will stand the test of time because we made New York City the best place to live and raise a family."

The agency's core programs remained strong, with the average daily number of participants at older adult centers rising by more than one thousand in Fiscal Year 2025. Also in Fiscal Year 2025, NYC Aging's providers served 10,279,767 meals - the third year in a row that over 10 million meals have been served. To promote the healthy and nutritious foods at older adult centers, the inaugural Plant-Based Cookoff was held, featuring nine chefs from older adult centers who showcased the creative plant-based meals they serve.

Building upon the age-inclusive policies that had already begun, this year 3,000 members of the NYPD were trained on what elder abuse is and the resources available through the City to support older adults who need these services.

We were also recognized for our efforts to fight ageism. Two intergenerational programs were designated as Programs of Merit by the national organization Generations United. NYC Public Schools Anti-Ageism Resource Guide equips teachers with tools and resources to educate their students about ageism. This past school year, more than 1,800 students participated, and Next50 awarded $400,000 to the program so it can be expanded citywide. The second program, My NY Story, brings older and younger New Yorkers together at 10 NYCHA communities that host both Department of Youth and Community Development cornerstone programs and NYC Aging older adult centers. These residents cultivate and build intergenerational communities while combating ageism and social isolation by sharing lived experiences. In 2025, 100 residents participated in the program and engaged in more than 100 storytelling hours.

NYC Aging continued to advance the public discussion around ageism and what it means to age in the city. A report was released called The State of Older New Yorkers, one of the most comprehensive studies the agency has ever conducted, revealing what older New Yorkers and caregivers said they need to age in place. Already, it has changed the way policymakers think about the new policies they want to implement, to ensure they are age-inclusive.

But we also involved even more New Yorkers in discussions about what it means to age in the city. This year the agency's official podcast launched, called Aging Out Loud. Guests have already included high level government officials, experts in aging and those who work every day with older adults, so people have a better understanding of the sector and the important role it plays in our communities. A major advertising campaign was also launched called Ageism Stops With You. New Yorkers saw it on television, subways and buses, LinkNYC kiosks, social media platforms and in their local papers. This campaign educated the public about what ageism is and that it can affect anyone at any age.

There were also budget wins. With COVID-19 stimulus funds ending, $81.5 million was restored to NYC Aging's budget to ensure the agency's services would not be reduced. Reimbursement rates for home-delivered meals also increased from $9.58 to $14.78 per meal. And just last month, over $9 million dollars in additional funding was provided to the agency's caregiving, transportation and case management programs, as well as Aging Connect.

These accomplishments would not have happened without what had already occurred over the last several years to institutionalize age-inclusive policies. In 2022, Mayor Eric Adams created the Cabinet for Older New Yorkers, bringing dozens of City agencies together, whether they directly or indirectly worked with older adults to ensure residents sixty years and over were at the forefront of policy discussions across the city. Since its creation, the NYPD has placed an Older Adult Liaison in every police precinct and service area. These Liaisons educate older adults about crimes in their community and how to stay safe. They also collect information to determine trends in the community, so officers can take proactive steps to prevent them and inform older adults about them. To ensure they have the knowledge to help older adults, 36,465 members of the NYPD have been trained on how to identify elder abuse and where to refer an older adult to the supports the City has available.

To make our streets easier to traverse, the Department of Transportation conducted 30 walkability audits with more than 930 older adult center members to hear directly from them and determine what traffic-calming measures could improve the safety of their community. Remaining healthy has also been a part of the Cabinets goals, which is why around 1,900 frontline health workers at NYC Health + Hospitals have been trained on the community-based aging services available throughout the city for their patients. These trainings also helps to change the way medical professionals think about treating older adults to ensure they receive the same treatment just like anyone else. And to advance equality in the workplace, the NYC Commission on Human Rights educated more than 600 older adults enrolled in NYC Aging's Older Adult Workforce Programs about age discrimination so they know their rights. To ensure this progress continues, last year the Cabinet was codified into law.

The Cabinet's work has only enhanced what NYC Aging and its providers do year-round. Caregiving will continue to be an area families will have to navigate, but over the last three fiscal years, the agency's Caregiving Program provided 207,411 hours of respite to residents looking after a loved one, giving them a break from their caregiving responsibilities. And during the Adams administration, the Health Insurance Information, Counseling, and Assistance Program (HIICAP) served about 3,241 individuals, accounting for the majority of Medicare signups in New York State, saving residents approximately $102 million.

Over the last seven years, NYC Aging's budget has nearly doubled to accommodate the growing population of older adults. Several new programs and events were also launched to reduce ageist stereotypes and help improve their overall well-being. In 2022, a new workforce program called Silver Stars was launched for City retirees, allowing them to share their experiences, knowledge, and skills while earning extra income. Today, 136 Silver Stars are working in the City government, and it has become a model for other sectors on how to create intergenerational teams in the workforce. To support older adults in need, in 2023, NYC Aging's Elder Abuse Program was expanded to serve even more older adults. This year alone, 2,185 New Yorkers accessed the Elder Abuse Program services.

Several public programs and events were also established to reduce ageism and help older New Yorkers' voices be heard. Mayor Eric Adams organized a series of Older Adult Town Halls, giving older adults an opportunity to share their concerns with him and representatives from City agencies. Over three years, 28 Older Adult Town Halls were held, and approximately 3,500 people attended. To show older adults can entertain audiences as well as anyone else, the Talent is Timeless competition was created, showcasing older adults' abilities and creativity. And two Healthy Aging Fairs were organized, informing New Yorkers about the City's services available to help keep their bodies and minds sharp.

NYC Aging has also influenced policies across the country and cities around the world. Last year, NYC Aging organized a national conference, Boom! A Silver Dawning in American Cities, where leaders in the aging sector came together to share insights and best practices. There were 260 attendees representing over 10 cities in the United States, in addition to London and the United Nations.

To help other cities and municipalities in the United States better support older adults living in their communities, the Age-Inclusive American Cities guidebook was released, capturing best practices across the country. NYC Aging has also participated in several national aging conferences as well as international conferences, including in the United Kingdom, France, and the United Nations sharing New York City's leadership and perspectives on aging services.

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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. Through a network of more than 300 older adult centers and naturally occurring retirement communities, NYC Aging provides vital programs and resources to nearly 1.8 million older New Yorkers, fostering their physical and mental well-being.