Q&A
Long-term vision for OACs on NYCHA property
0:40:16
ยท
3 min
Council Member Hudson inquires about the administration's long-term vision for OACs on NYCHA property. Ryan Murray and Ukah Busgith discuss the goals and priorities for supporting older adults in NYCHA communities.
- Vision focuses on helping older adults thrive, not just meet basic needs
- Emphasis on creating vibrant, multi-generational communities
- Recognition of the importance of caregivers and aging in place
- NYCHA aims to provide safe, clean spaces for seniors to gather and address their concerns
Crystal Hudson
0:40:16
Great.
0:40:17
Thank you.
0:40:18
What is the administration's long term vision for OACs on NYCHA property and how does it align with broader efforts to support NYC aging's population?
Ryan Murray
0:40:32
I'll talk about the vision for older adult centers overall, and, then I'll pause for any additional thoughts that Nyjah might have, on how we continue our partnership to strengthen programming at NYCHA as as a service provider.
0:40:51
As you know, the vision remains that older adults thrive, not just get basic needs met, but have active, engaged lives for the long term.
0:41:04
Longevity is obviously, thankfully a thing we can now look to where folks are living longer, and so, the vision for us is to ensure that folks remain healthy, that they have basic needs met, and beyond that, that we have vibrant, energized communities that are multi generational.
0:41:27
Earlier today, another stat just hit me that, you know, it might be a little different stat if I fact check it, but 1 in 9 public school students has an older adult as their emergency contact.
0:41:42
I think it might either 16 or 19.
0:41:45
We'll get the real numbers.
0:41:47
But that's that's just striking to me, And, you know, I think we share a a vision around how to ensure that folks continue to contribute to community, built it and are still here and have a say in what happens on the ground in every New York City neighborhood.
0:42:05
So as a foundational thing, that is part of the vision, community services, community building.
0:42:13
And beyond that, it is important to acknowledge caregivers.
0:42:17
Right?
0:42:18
Having had the blessing and burden, and ensuring that those who are aging in place and the family members who then have to respond to a multitude of issues that the older adult may face as life circumstances changes, we have to invest in caregiving and ensuring that services are as enriched as possible where people live.
0:42:42
So that's part of the vision, for us overall as an agency, but I'll pause for NYCHA if there's anything additional to add.
Ukah Busgith
0:42:51
So I think you covered pretty well, Ryan, but for us, as you know, our resident association and NYCHA, staff of ourselves are very invested in our, senior centers.
0:43:02
I used we used to run the majority of them and I know how important they are for our residents to have a safe place to attend and meet with their peers, talk about issues, and participate in many activities.
0:43:16
So, we want to support aging and continue to provide a safe, clean space for seniors to get gather and share their the issues or concerns and work together to resolve them.
0:43:29
Thank you.