Good morning everyone and welcome to today's New York City Council hearing for the Committee on Aging.

If you would like to testify, you must fill out a witness slip with one of the sergeant at arms in the back of the room, even if you signed up already online.

At this time, please silence all electronic devices.

Please silence all electronic devices and no one may approach at any time during this hearing.

Chair, we are ready to begin.

Thank you.

Good morning, everyone.

I'm council member Susan Zhuang, Chair of the Committee on Aging.

Thank you all for attending this oversight hearing on interagency coordination for older adults.

As we always have the tradition, we show some pictures from our older adults center.

And I will next just win our championship.

Hope we're gonna win the championship for our seniors today.

New York City's older adults rely on board network of programs and services to remain healthy, safe, and connected in their communities.

New York City agent plays a critical role in delivering many of those essential services.

At the same time, older adults often interact with multi-multiple city agencies responsible for housing, health care, transportation, access to food, emergency response, and other services.

Effectively, so older adults can access the service they need without unnecessary barrier or confusion.

Today's hearing is an opportunity to examine how city agencies are coordinating to meet needs of New York City's aging population.

We will hear testimony from New York City aging regarding its effort to strengthen interagency coordination and improved service delivery for older New Yorkers.

We are interested in learning more about cabinet for older adults, which aims to bring agencies together to address the needs of older adults collaboratively cross-city government.

We will also be hearing two pieces of legislation.

The first intro 230, sponsored by councilmember Hudson could require NYC aging in cooperating with mayor's office for people with disability to administer financial assistance program for older adults and the individuals with disabilities.

The second is Resolution 373 by Councilmember Wang.

This resolution calls on New York City state legislative to pass and the governor to signate bill 1179 and assembly bill 1499, which could provide the long-term care benefit for eligible residents.

It's important that New York City provides the support they need to.

It's important that older New Yorkers are provided the support they need to survive.

And it's not, and let's not forget that support requires robust interagency coordination.

I want to thank both sponsors for their hard work on these issues.

Thank you, my colleagues who joined me today.

Thank you to NYC Aging for testifying and uh thank you to committee staff, legislative council, Hannah Kong and the policy analyst Joshua Newman for their hard working in preparing this meeting.

I would like to thank my staff for their work as we continue to serve our commun constituents and the city as a whole.

I would like to recognize we have joined by Councilmember Hudson Audible.

Uh I will now pass up.

Oh, Millie, and uh Councilmember Brewer.

Okay.

Now I will pass the microphone to Councilmember Hudson to give a statement on her legislation.

Thank you so much, Chair, and good morning.

There are currently 1.55 million older adults age 62 or older living in the five boroughs, according to the Center for Research on Housing Opportunity Mobility and Equity.

New York City's population of older adults, which currently represents 20% of our city's entire population will only grow as the baby boomer generation ages.

In New York City, the number of older adults is expected to jump 40% by 2040, especially as New Yorkers are living longer.

Older New Yorkers are more likely to age in place than younger New Yorkers.

In 2023, the average older adult lived in their home for 22 years compared to five years for the average New Yorker, but many also live on fixed incomes.

The median household income in 2023 was 80,000, but only 22,900 for older adults who lived alone, and one third of older adults report at least one functional disability.

This bill will provide financial assistance for low-income households to install in-home preventative adaptations that allow older adults and people with disabilities to remain in their current homes.

With the financial assistance provided by this bill, households can afford to install accessibility modifications that reduce the risk of falls, assist with mobility issues, and enhance independent living.

This bill ensures that older adults and people with disabilities are able to comfortably remain in their homes with the necessary modifications.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay.

Okay.

Thank you.

Now we will be hearing testimony from representatives from administration.

I will now turn it over to committee counsel to administer the oath for this panel of administration officials.

Do you affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth before this committee and to respond honestly to council member questions?

Commissioner, assistant commissioner.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Please speaking.

Thank you.

Good morning, Chair Zhuan and members of the New York City Council on Aging.

I am Dr.