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The joyous sound of splashing, music and enthusiasm amid the beautiful summer weather was the highlight of a pool party for East Harlem’s older adults at Thomas Jefferson Pool on Thursday, July 7, 2011. The party, which drew more than 120 older adults, was part of a launch of the pool’s new designated senior hours. Older adults will have use of the pool from 9-11 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday during the summer months.
The event, which was hosted by NYC Parks and Recreation in partnership with The New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM), the East Harlem Aging Improvement District and the office of New York City Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito, is part of Age-friendly New York City, 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 NYAM. Age-friendly NYC has several Aging Improvement Districts, neighborhood-level projects aiming to make improvements for older adults. The city's first is in East Harlem.
New York City Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito, who was on hand to greet the older adults, said the new designation of pool hours represents an opportunity for older New Yorkers to enjoy the benefits of their community without the large crowds of people. She said this effort could not have taken root without the support of Mayor Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and Commissioner Benepe.
"Our local seniors spoke up and we listened," Mark-Viverito said. “They wanted to take advantage of the benefits of swimming at Jefferson Park, but were intimidated by the crowds of children and families at the pool throughout the summer. These special designated senior hours are just one example of how we can make our neighborhoods more livable and enjoyable for older adults. It is my hope that it can ultimately be replicated at other public pools. I also want to thank The New York Academy of Medicine and our other local partners who are all working to make our community more age-friendly."
Seniors enjoyed music, free food, water safety classes, and a special performance by the Harlem Honeys and Bears, a synchronized swimming group for adults 50 and older.
NYAM President Jo Ivey Boufford, MD, emphasized both the physical and social benefits of the new initiative.
“The designated pool hours offer a wonderful opportunity for older adults to exercise and remain active right in their own communities,” Boufford said. “Moreover, these types of events help us to engage our older community in a way that enables them to make new friends and strengthen their social networks. Linking exercise and community building is a perfect formula for active and healthy living.”
Posted on July 7, 2011
Contact:
Andrew J. Martin
Director of Communications
The New York Academy of Medicine
1216 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10029
212-822-7285
amartin@nyam.org
Reporters: to arrange interviews with NYAM medical and urban health experts, contact
Andrew J. Martin, Director of Communications
212-822-7285 / amartin@nyam.org
The 2012-2013 Duncan Clark Lecture - The Affordable Care Act: An Insider’s View
Featured Speaker: Sherry Glied, PhD, former Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
November 19, 2012 - The NYAM Section on Health Care Delivery welcomes Sherry Glied, PhD, former Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, who will deliver the 2012-2013 Duncan Clark Lecture on "The Affordable Care Act: An Insider's View."
Learn more »
The New York Academy of Medicine with support from the New York State Heath Foundation released a new report, Federal Health Care Reform in New York State: A Population Health Perspective.
This report identifies opportunities that build on both the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act (ACA) and New York’s ongoing efforts toward improving the health of its 19 million residents.
Read press release
Read report
