Our older adult population continues to grow, but our systems of care have not kept pace with affordable housing, food security, infrastructure, and supporting networks. New York City’s population aged 65 years and older reached 1.43 million in 2023; this growth was 17 times faster than that of the city’s total population. Studies found that nearly 60% of seniors had no reported retirement income, and about 18 percent were living in poverty.

In addition, approximately 11 percent of the NYC population is living with a disability (age range 18 - 64), and about 33 percent live in poverty. While there is an interactive effect between disability and poverty, our current social welfare system treats them as separate: disability benefits require you to show you are incapable of working, while anti-poverty services often have work requirements. Governments serve as essential providers of income, food support, healthcare, and housing. However, they can also become bureaucratic obstacles—particularly for working-age individuals with disabilities—who must repeatedly verify their ongoing inability to work and demonstrate the persistence of a significant disabling condition.

It is important that we create policies that bolster and support a holistic ecosystem of care.

1. As public agencies, our city and state should be good models of employment practices for hiring and retaining employees with disabilities and seniors.

2. Target workforce development for people with disabilities and seniors, which centers on their capabilities and meets their needs.

3. Ensure an adequate number of administrative law judges and other staff to eliminate the backlog of appeals and disability determinations and maintain the timely processing of applications and appeals.

4. Fund grants to small businesses to make accessibility renovations, provide training for workers, and support hiring people with disabilities and seniors.

5. Maintain the NYS Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP), to allow Medicaid eligible individuals to hire family, friends, or any caregiver of their choice.

6. Invest in building more affordable housing, senior housing, and on-site services, as well as alternative models such as home-sharing.

7. Fund repairs to crumbling infrastructure and improve accessibility. Provide exemptions and deductions for home modifications.

8. Fund supportive services within NYCHA as the senior population increases.