NYAM’S Age-friendly Neighborhoods Fund to support technology, social connection & more
NEW YORK (October 26, 2020)—In response to the pressing needs of older adults during COVID-19, The New York Academy of Medicine, through its Age-friendly Neighborhoods Fund, has made $2,500 grants to nine groups that serve diverse populations of older adults across Brooklyn and Manhattan—from Bedford-Stuyvesant to the Lower East Side to Harlem—with support from The New York State Health Foundation and UJA-Federation of New York. The Age-friendly Neighborhoods Fund was established in 2017 through a generous gift from an anonymous donor and supports projects to improve the health and well-being of older New Yorkers.
“NYAM established the Age-friendly Neighborhoods model in 2010 to develop targeted solutions to neighborhood-level issues and to support emerging grassroots initiatives driven by older people to make their communities more age-friendly,” said NYAM President Judith A. Salerno, MD, MS. “As we continue this work in partnership with the Borough Presidents’ Offices in Brooklyn and Manhattan and with community leaders and organizations, we are grateful to the New York State Health Foundation and UJA-Federation of New York for helping us support on-the-ground efforts to serve and connect older adults during the pandemic.”
The awards will be used to provide information and opportunities for social engagement to older people who are experiencing social isolation as a result of physical distancing. The supported initiatives include purchasing tablets for isolated older adults, providing tech support and training online and over the phone, hosting remote support groups and cultural programming, and disseminating digital and hardcopy newsletters to thousands of older adults to share healthy aging tips, ways to stay safe during COVID-19, and free community resources.
The grants are part of a larger NYAM initiative supported by NYSHealth, and in partnership with the Manhattan and Brooklyn Borough Presidents, to virtually convene over 30 Age-friendly Neighborhood leaders to connect with their peers and share innovative strategies for serving their communities during COVID-19.
“Every month since July, we have gathered leaders from Age-friendly Neighborhoods throughout New York City to discuss ways that we can take care of ourselves and our neighbors during this challenging time,” said Elana Kieffer, Program Officer in the Center for Healthy Aging at NYAM. “We anticipate that these local efforts will help facilitate connections and ideas that lead to improved health and well-being of these leaders and their communities.”
Manhattan Grant Recipients:
Lifeforce in Later Years (LiLY)
Harlem Advocates for Seniors
Sirovich Center for Balanced Living (part of the Educational Alliance)
East Harlem Village (part of Public Health Solutions)
The Marseilles (part of West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing-WSFSSH)
Brooklyn Grant Recipients:
Bay Ridge Center
BWICA (Brooklyn-wide Interagency Council on Aging)
Age Friendly Central Brooklyn, Inc.
Shorefront YM-YWHA
“Thanks to NYAM’s generous support of our newsletter Third Chapter Living, we can continue to offer messages of hope and re-commitment to our membership,” said Selma Jackson, President of Age Friendly Central Brooklyn, Inc. “Since the onset of COVID-19 and the need to social distance, it is imperative we stay connected to help combat the social isolation experienced during this global health pandemic. It is through our newsletter that we share our stories and lift our spirits to keep our members encouraged and engaged.”
“The impact of COVID-19 on our community forcing seniors to stay-at-home and shelter in place without the use of technology has been thrust into the limelight. And never more so for our seniors, who in many cases lack the technical equipment, the hands-on training to utilize the equipment, and the capacity to afford Internet/ broadband service,” said William Hamer, Executive Director of Harlem Advocates for Seniors. “This award will allow HAS to implement a unique hands-on mobile computer lab training for seniors at several sites. Providing easily accessible hands-on training at their residential location will provide the basic training and ease the anxiety for many of our seniors and encourage them to become more involved in the virtual world.”
“As the pandemic and physical distancing requirements persist, it remains critical to combat social isolation and loneliness among older people,” said David Sandman, PhD, President and CEO of NYSHealth. “NYAM and Age-friendly Neighborhood leaders are mobilizing communities themselves to implement practical solutions to keep their older neighbors healthy, safe, and socially connected.”
“UJA-Federation is thrilled to partner with NYAM to support Shorefront Y and the Educational Alliance to provide funds for tablets and virtual programming for older adults,” said Briana Hilfer, Planning Executive, Caring Department, UJA-Federation of New York. “UJA is deeply aware of the alarming effects of prolonged social isolation on the older adult population, particularly during the COVID pandemic. It is our hope that as the pandemic persists, older adults will be able to engage in meaningful programming and connection with the use of technology such as these tablets.”
About The New York Academy of Medicine
The New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) tackles the barriers that prevent every individual from living a healthy life. NYAM generates the knowledge needed to change the systems that prevent people from accessing what they need to be healthy such as safe and affordable housing, healthy food, healthcare, and more. Through its high-profile programming for the general public, focused symposia for health professionals, and its base of dedicated Fellows and Members, NYAM engages the minds and hearts of those who also value advancing health equity to maximize health for all. For more information, visit nyam.org and follow @nyamnyc on social media.
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