Research & Service

The global phenomenon of an aging society speaks to the success of public health policies and socioeconomic development in the last century.  But it also challenges communities to develop systems that help older residents to remain integrated with – and integral to - their communities.

To address a growing older population in NYC, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn invited Linda Fried, dean of the Mailman School, and other leaders from the public and private sectors to join the Age-Friendly New York City Commission.   The Commission is being convened and staffed at The New York Academy of Medicine.

Anticipating that by 2030 one in every five New Yorkers will be over the age of 60, the Commission is charged with finding ways to help New Yorkers to live healthy vibrant lives as they age.

Looking Global, Implementing Locally

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that in most countries the proportion of people over 60 years old is growing faster than any other age group. With urbanization also on the rise, the WHO launched the Global Age-friendly Cities Programme to help cities plan for the environmental, social, and economic needs of an aging population.

In 2007, inspired by the WHO initiative, Mayor Bloomberg, the New York City Council under Christine Quinn’s leadership, and the New York Academy of Medicine launched Age-friendly New York City.  Looking at the totality of senior living, Age-Friendly NYC examined findings from other large city studies while researching the needs particular for older New Yorkers to age healthily and happily.  That assessment resulted in Toward an Age-friendly New York City: a Findings Report which was used to begin formulating long-term strategy and programming.

In the summer of 2009, Mayor Bloomberg and Speaker Quinn announced the next step in the process of making New York an even friendlier city for all ages by implementing 59 new public sector programs addressing transportation, senior centers, and housing with the expectation that the new programs will go a long way towards helping older New Yorkers to live more connected, vibrant, and meaningful lives.

Mayor Bloomberg and Speaker Quinn also announced the creation of the Age-Friendly New York City Commission to build on the work already done.

A City for All Ages

Cochaired by Gordon Campbell, president and CEO of United Way of New York City, and Robin Willner, IBM vice president of Global Community Affairs, the Age-Friendly New York City Commission taps into the leadership of the public and private sectors to create a blueprint that sets goals for healthy and active aging throughout all the boroughs. 

Dean Fried’s participation in the Commission reflects her extensive background in not just researching the science of healthy aging, but implementing initiatives that enhance the well-being and health of older adults and simultaneously strengthen the benefits to society of an older population.

Dr. Fried is a member of an inter-disciplinary research network created by The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to help America prepare for the challenges and opportunities posed by our aging society and a member of the WEF Council on an Aging Society.  She also co-founded Experience Corps, a community-based senior volunteer program that both serves the academic success of public school children and is a health promotion program for older adults. A global leader in the fields of epidemiology and geriatrics, Dr. Fried has dedicated her career to the science of healthy aging.

As a member of the Commission, she joins like-minded leaders from major healthcare and professional service organizations like AARP New York State, New York Community Trust, and Empire BlueCross BlueShield as well as members of the Office of the Mayor (in an ex-officio capacity). Dr. Fried will chair the subcommittee on Age-Friendly Schools and Universities.

The Commission will coordinate with the private, academic, and philanthropic organizations to further the work done to-date by the public sector. An annual report will cite the Commission’s progress and highlight areas that require additional attention.

For more information on Age-friendly NYC and the Commission, visit the New York Academy of Medicine’s Age-friendly New York City site.