Program seeks to keep aging tenants in their homes. On April 30, 2018, the Housing Preservation & Development Commission announced a new preservation program tool named Aging in Place. The program will offer apartment and common area modifications to residents of buildings undergoing City financed rehabilitation. The modifications aim to increase safety and comfort in the home and reduce risks of falls. The program was created in collaboration with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Department for the Aging, and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities.
The program focuses on providing safety and comfort for residents to “age in place.” The program will require building-wide integrated physical needs assessments and resident surveys for individual apartment upgrades. Building assessments may result in improvements to door hardware in common areas, additional handrails, safety evaluation of flooring conditions and materials in common areas, evaluation of accessibility in the building intercom systems, and accessibility and safety evaluation of mail areas. Apartment modifications may include installation of grab bars, improved lighting, making kitchen shelving easier to reach, installation of easy grip door handles, and slip resistant flooring.
The Department for the Aging has also issued a guide on Aging in Place for Building Owners, which provides recommendations on modifications building owners can make to further accommodate older tenants.
Aging in Place improvements in five apartment units, elevators, intercom system and exterior light lighting fixtures are underway at Urban Horizons HDFC development in the Bronx, owned and operated by The Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation.
HPD Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer stated, “As we push forward on an accelerated and expanded Housing New York, we continue to put our seniors first. This newest initiative will help more seniors age in place by making changes to both apartments and common areas in buildings we preserve that will prevent falls, increase visibility and security, and ease the lives of residents.”
Council Member Margaret S. Chin, Chair of the Council’s Committee on Aging stated, “By clearing the way for age-friendly renovations to buildings undergoing City-financed rehabilitation, this initiative promises to be a game changer for older New Yorkers who don’t live in senior housing and require additional support to live comfortably and safely.”
Aging in Place is part of the “Seniors First” initiative launched in October 2017 by Mayor Bill de Blasio.
I FIND THIS ARTICLE VERY PLEASING. IM LOCATED IN A BUILDING OWNED BY THE CITY OF NEW YORK 2125 AMSTERDAM AVENUE.THERE ARE MANY ELDERLY PEOPLE IN MY BUILDING THAT WOULD BENIFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM. WE ARE LIVING IN DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS THE CITY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES.