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The Center for Healthy Aging conducts mixed-methods research to better understand the impact of healthy aging interventions on older people and their communities.
Age-Friendly Boroughs
Aging Well in the Bronx
This first report from our Aging Well in the Bronx initiative is the result of a collaboration with the Bronx Borough President’s Office and NYAM. Our 2023 survey captures insights from nearly 700 older adults on access to transportation, housing, and healthcare, offering recommendations to make the Bronx more age-inclusive. We thank our partner organizations and supporters, including Council Members Eric Dinowitz and Marjorie Velázquez, for their contributions.
Age-Friendly Brooklyn Taskforce
Following the Age-Friendly Booklyn report published in 2019, the Age-Friendly Brooklyn Taskforce was created, including 30 community-based organizations, who collaborated to inform the recommendations in this report. The work of the task force was made possible with the support of Mayor Eric Adams, during his tenure as Brooklyn Borough President, and the office of Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.
Age-Friendly Manhattan
City Council Member Gale A. Brewer, during her tenure as Manhattan Borough President, and The New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) collaborated on the Age-Friendly Manhattan initiative to address the issues faced by older New Yorkers in the borough of Manhattan. The initiative solicited feedback from older New Yorkers to inform city planning and policy and mobilized older people and their providers to advocate for local age-friendly improvements. Age-friendly Manhattan's initial report, Steps to a More Age-friendly Manhattan, surveyed over 1,000 older Manhattanites beginning in October 2019 about their attitudes and experiences with regards to everything from transportation to housing to community support and health services.
Extreme Heat in East Harlem Research
With City Council Discretionary Funding, CHA is carrying out research to explore the utilization and accessibility of the public services that older adults in East Harlem use during times of extreme heat. We are conducting and facilitating semi-structured focus groups at different older adult centers across the neighborhood. The primary objective is to gain insights into the impact of extreme heat on older individuals and their adaptive strategies, with particular emphasis on the utilization of public services. Furthermore, the research aims to identify areas for potential enhancement or augmentation of existing services. After analyzing collected data, a report will be created to share with local elected officials and community-based organizations working to combat extreme heat.
Infection Prevention & Control in Nursing Homes
Sponsored by Saraya Co. LTD, a global leader in hygiene and healthcare products, and in partnership with Yale University School of Nursing, NYAM worked identify the burden of and opportunities for infection prevention and control in long-term care facilities and developed an educational toolkit with instructional modules to improve infection prevention and control practices within these settings.
NYAM synthesized the evidence base, surveyed infection control policies and guidelines, and solicited perspectives from the long-term care workforce and other stakeholders, using New York City as a case study. NYAM also hosted a virtual roundtable to elevate the discussion and facilitate global cross-fertilization of ideas.
Evaluation of Exhale, a Respite Initiative for Family Caregivers
CHA is providing support regarding aging and caregiver policy for the evaluation of Exhale, which is being conducted by NYAM's Center for Evaluation and Applied Research (CEAR). Exhale is a program created to support the development and implementation of innovative respite opportunities for caregivers of older adults. Funded by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York and the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation—and working in collaboration with The Philanthropic Initiative—the program is focused on Western New York State and Washtenaw County, Michigan. CEAR is evaluating the overall initiative and provides ongoing evaluation support to Exhale grantees, working collaboratively with stakeholders to meet the evolving needs and priorities of the program.