Older Americans Month: Communities of Strength
May is Older Americans Month and this year’s theme,
“Communities of Strength”, is fitting since we had to rely
on community more than ever during this pandemic.
In the early stage of this unprecedented pandemic,
we relied on our community of first responders to
provide safety and comfort and we were united in
our celebration of their efforts every day at 7pm — the
true essence of community. And in a year in which
strength and resilience were required, older adults
led the charge. They maintained community ties by
quickly adapting to this “new normal” and learning new
technology that kept them connected to friends and
family. They were also among the first populations to
roll-up their sleeves and get vaccinated, protecting
themselves and those around them.
It is important to recognize and honor older adults’
contributions by keeping communities strong and
vibrant. And as such, we need to ensure they can thrive
and live in the same communities they built in a safe,
supported and dignified manner. The Department
for the Aging (DFTA) and the Mayor are working to do just that by creating and investing in a
breakthrough five-year Community Care Plan that will help older adults age-in-place with their
family, neighbors, and friends while receiving an array of vital community support.
New Yorkers prefer to live in their home rather than go to institutions or nursing homes. Those
who do remain in their community experience better health and mental outcomes than those who
live in nursing homes. Equally important, they shop, worship, volunteer and continue contributing
to the community. In this first year of the five-year Community Care Plan, the Mayor provided $49
million to increase the number of Older Adults Centers (OAC) and Naturally Occurring Retirement
Communities (NORC) and meet the needs of the city’s growing multicultural older adult population.
There will be 25 additional centers. This is the first expansion and largest investment in 20 years.
We are very excited about this plan because it adds more adults centers and NORCs, which are
the hubs of all community services. It addresses today’s needs, looks into the future, and lays a
pathway for future community care investments.
In years two to five, it will increase case assistance services, home delivered meals and home
care assistance that provide a safety net for those older adults who remain in their homes.
Older adults at the E. Roberts Moore Neighborhood Senior Center in the Bronx in 2018. This month,
some senior centers began offering grab-and-go meals as a low-risk, outdoor activity.
and participants that have not been vaccinated. Grab-and-go service will provide us with the
opportunity to help even more older adults get vaccinated, such as by having mobile vaccination
sites or on-demand transportation services available at centers where
vaccination rates are lower and require more direct outreach and support.
We are working with the Health Department and the Vaccine Command
Center in a drive to get senior center staff vaccinated. This effort, along
with our partnership with FDNY to provide in-home vaccinations to
homebound elders and our continued work with the Vaccine Command
Center, ensures that we can reach all older New Yorkers.
As we all know, vaccination remains critical in our fight against
COVID-19. We implore that you, your family, and especially your elders
to get vaccinated.
We are resilient. We are a community. Together, we will defeat this and
reopen strongly and safely.
Let’s end this
pandemic for good
#VaxUpCUNY
so I can inspire others, especially
communities of color
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cuny.edu/vaxupcuny
It also increases caregiver services, such as respite,
counseling and transportation for the family and friend
caregivers of older adults.
New York is the leading age friendly city in the nation,
it now is the leading age-inclusive city where older
adults can age-in-place.
One recurring question during this past month
has been when will senior centers open? I am very
pleased to report that in close partnership with Dr.
Dave Chokshi, the City’s doctor, DFTA received the green
light to resume grab-and-go meal service at senior
centers as the first low-risk, outdoor activity. This is an
important first step towards fully reopening.
Resuming grab-and-go meal service will provide a
gradual safe approach to reopening senior centers.
To successfully reopen, we need to ensure that most
senior center staff and older adults are vaccinated.
With grab-and-go service, we are launching a new
vaccination effort to provide vaccines for center staff
Schneps Media May 20, 2021 9
/vaxupcuny
