What Is Age-Friendly New York?

Age-Friendly New York—often called Age-Friendly NYC—is a long-running public–private initiative that aims to make New York City a place where older adults can thrive. Launched in 2007 by the Mayor’s Office, the New York City Council, and the New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM), the program works to ensure that people can remain active, engaged, and supported as they age.

Origins and Framework

The program began with a citywide assessment that gathered input from more than 1,500 older New Yorkers, professionals, and community organizations. This early research also included literature reviews and mapping efforts to identify assets and barriers across the city.

Age-Friendly New York is grounded in the World Health Organization’s Global Age-Friendly Cities framework, which identifies eight domains of livability that shape how communities can better support people of all ages:

• Community and Health Care
• Transportation
• Housing
• Social Participation
• Outdoor Spaces and Buildings
• Respect and Social Inclusion
• Civic Participation and Employment
• Communication and Information

While the WHO framework served as the foundation, New York City adapted it into four key local domains—Community & Civic Participation, Housing, Public Spaces & Transportation, and Health & Social Services—to focus efforts on priorities identified through local input and conditions.

Age-Friendly NYC's Four Key Domains

Age-Friendly NYC initiatives were structured around four key domains:

🏘️ Community & Civic Participation

• Employment Support: Programs were established to assist older adults with limited work histories in obtaining employment, thereby qualifying for Social Security benefits.
• Volunteer Opportunities: Timebanking initiatives were introduced, allowing older New Yorkers to exchange services and skills, fostering community engagement.
• Cultural Engagement: Artists were recruited to conduct programs in senior centers, and partnerships between senior centers and libraries were formed to encourage lifelong learning.
• Information Accessibility: Efforts were made to redesign the Department for the Aging’s website to be more user-friendly and to publicize citywide opportunities through an older adult-focused NYC & Co. website.

🏠 Housing

• Affordable Housing Development: The city targeted housing funds and streamlined processes to build low-income housing suitable for older New Yorkers.
• Home Improvement Support: Programs were initiated to engage home improvement contractors in best practices for the older adult market and to provide loan assistance for home repairs.
• Rental Assistance: Section 8 vouchers were allocated to vulnerable older adults at risk of eviction, and access to the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) program was improved.

🚶 Public Spaces & Transportation

• Safety Enhancements: Street intersections were redesigned at key locations citywide to improve safety for older pedestrians.
• Transportation Access: A taxi voucher program was developed for older New Yorkers unable to use public transportation, and bus services were provided to supermarkets to increase access to healthy food options.
• Environmental Engagement: Environmental stewardship workshops were offered, engaging older New Yorkers in planting trees as part of PlaNYC and MillionTreesNYC.

🩺 Health & Social Services

• Health Initiatives: A citywide falls prevention initiative was implemented, and fitness club discounts were established for older New Yorkers.
• Emergency Alerts: The Silver Alert system was added to Notify NYC to assist in locating missing older adults.
• Access to Services: Bus services were provided for older New Yorkers to access essential services, and the ACCESS NYC online platform was promoted to help identify eligibility for various benefit programs.

These initiatives were part of a broader strategy to make New York City more livable and inclusive for its aging population, recognizing the valuable contributions of older adults to the city's social and economic fabric.

Key Milestones

• 2009: The city announced 59 targeted initiatives to improve older New Yorkers’ quality of life, involving multiple agencies and departments (NYC report).
• 2010: The Commission for an Age-Friendly New York City was established to guide sustained improvements and foster partnerships with businesses, schools, and neighborhoods.
• 2017: The program expanded to nearly 90 initiatives under Age-Friendly NYC: New Commitments for a City for All Ages. City agencies from Housing to Emergency Management joined in implementing policies that support aging in place.

Partnerships and Broader Impact

NYAM partnered with CUNY’s School of Public Health (SPH) to advance evidence-based healthy aging interventions and address disparities in urban aging. This partnership has strengthened the program’s ability to apply research to real-world improvements.

The initiative embraces an “age in everything” approach—embedding age-friendly principles into public policy, education, neighborhood design, technology, cultural programming, and disaster preparedness. These principles are now part of NYC’s broader OneNYC strategic plan for equity and sustainability.

Why It Matters

New York City is home to more than 1.1 million adults aged 65 and older, a number that will grow significantly in the coming decades. By integrating age-friendly policies across sectors, the city aims to help residents live not just longer, but better—remaining connected to their communities and able to access the resources they need.