About Us

New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg (podium) announces the City's 59 Age-friendly New York City initiatives at a 2009 press conference. Looking on are members of the Commission for an Age-friendly New York City; (from left) Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, Commissioner, New York City Department for the Aging; Robin Willner Vice President, IBM's Global Community Initiatives; Linda Gibbs, Deputy Mayor, New York City Health & Human Services; Christine C. Quinn, Speaker New York City Council and Jo Ivey Boufford, President, The New York Academy of Medicine.

Of the 8 million people who live in New York City, more than 1 million are over the age of 60. In line with global trends, over the next 20 years, this number is expected to increase by nearly 50 percent—the most rapid increase in history. This dramatic demographic shift presents a unique opportunity and challenge to urban centers, including New York City.

Age-friendly New York City is a collaborative effort to respond to and benefit from this population change, led by the Office of the Mayor, the New York City Council, and The New York Academy of Medicine.

The initiative seeks to make New York City a better place to grow old by promoting an "age-in-everything" lens across all aspects of city life. The initiative asks the city’s public agencies, businesses, cultural, educational and religious institutions, community groups, and individuals to consider how changes to policy and practice can create a city more inclusive of older adults and more sensitive to their needs.

The initiative is a part of the World Health Organization’s Age-friendly Cities project.