Tarrytown, NY. Governor David A. Paterson unveiled support for an initiative today to help older New Yorkers remain in their homes and communities of choice, rather than relocating. To mark the "Livable Communities: A Vision for All Ages – Connecting People and Places” conference in Tarrytown, the Governor announced that “Livable Communities” initiatives in New York State, including work being conducted by the New York State Office for the Aging, are vital to ensuring New Yorkers of all ages continue to live and thrive in their homes and communities. The State Office for the Aging is assisting local communities plan for the changing demographic shift that will be playing out across communities here and across the nation over the next several decades. The conference was convened by Westchester County’s Department of Senior Programs and Services and the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging.
Michael J. Burgess, Director of the New York State Office for the Aging shared the Governor’s interests and support with the conference participants. The conference, attended by a variety of consumers, professionals, elected officials, organizations, businesses and institutions covering a wide range of disciplines across the aging services industry is bringing together local and national experts to discuss livable communities and includes a series of workshops designed to empower people to work within their own communities to develop and sustain more livable communities.
Burgess noted that for far too long, New York has witnessed a migration of its younger retirees to other states, primarily in the Sun Belt, only to see these same individuals return to New York in later years when their health fails and they need to return to communities in New York from where they left, or to where they may have family still in place. Often these transitions are difficult and take place when health factors and financial resources already limit their ability to live as independently as they once did. The State is working with localities to help them plan their communities so that they are more desirable to citizens of all ages throughout their life time.
According to a recent AARP report, over 90% of older adults surveyed want to remain in their homes and communities. By the year 2025, the population of New Yorkers age sixty and over is projected to grow from 3.5 million to 4.9 million, a 39 percent increase, making up 24 percent of the general population. Not only will group be 50 percent larger than the existing older adult population, it will also be more ethnically and culturally diverse.
The focus of the “Livable Communities” initiative is to provide a better quality of life for people of all ages and to enable seniors to remain in their homes as they age with dignity, independence and civic involvement. Key features of livable communities are health and wellness programs, education and cultural events, support services such as transportation, personal safety, consumer protection and advocacy for affordable housing and safe sidewalks and roads.
The work being conducted by the State Office for the Aging includes providing technical assistance and training to planners, community organizers, government officials and others interested in advancing initiatives livable community principles and practices at the local level. The Office for the Aging has already established a web site that contains information for planners and others interested in working within their communities to address the needs of the rapidly increasing aging population through innovative best practices from around the nation and within the state.
Director Burgess noted “The State Office for the Aging will provide a focal point for planners, government officials, interested citizens, business leaders and others a place to go to get information and to share information about practices that are working in communities across the state and nation to make local communities more livable for citizens of all ages.”
Local conference organizer, Mae Carpenter, Commissioner of the Department of Senior Programs and Services said, “The conference offered a unique opportunity for people to learn about vital issues and provided a framework for them to act.”
