The World Health Organization launched the Global Age-friendly Cities project in 2007 as a result of the accelerating trends of urbanization and an aging population. With NYC designated the first Age-friendly City, WHO enlisted 35 cities to engage their older residents about the opportunities and challenges of actively participating in society and maintaining healthy and fulfilling lives as older adults. Julie Netherland, Ana Krieger, and Ruth Finkelstein—all of NYAM—contributed to the initial WHO report “Global Age-friendly Cities: A Guide” through data collection and analysis. Also in 2007, NYAM joined with the NYC Office of the Mayor and the Speaker of the City Council to initiate an Age-friendly New York City program guided by the WHO Age-friendly Cities Framework that established eight key areas for assessment and action:
- Community and Health Care
- Transportation
- Housing
- Social Participation
- Outdoor Spaces and Buildings
- Respect and Social Inclusion
- Civic Participation and Employment
- Communication and Information
In its report, WHO stated that functional capacity may decrease as one ages, but individual and public policy measures play an important role in determining the rate and speed of that decline. The report cited the benefits for all urban populations when cities build urban infrastructure and implement public policies that enable older adults to take advantage of volunteer and employment opportunities, receive community and health resources, and participate in local economies.
Today, NYAM’s Center for Healthy Aging builds upon and extends the work NYAM contributed over a decade ago to the Global Age-friendly Cities project. The Center for Healthy Aging organizes its work around some of the priority areas highlighted by the Global Age-friendly Cities Framework, including social, physical, and economic participation and access to excellent health care and services.
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