FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2019
Contact: John Lyon 845-638-5645

Lieutenant Governor Hochul Awarded Rockland Office for the Aging $100,000 Age-Friendly Planning Grant

RCOFA Inducted into the AARP Network of Age Friendly Communities

New City, NY, - Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul presented Rockland County Executive Ed Day and Director of the Rockland County Office for the Aging (RCOFA) Tina Cardoza-Izquierdo with the New York State Office for the Aging's (NYSOFA) Age-Friendly Planning Grant and the designation of an Age-Friendly Center of Excellence. The $100,000 grant will be used to develop and improve Rockland's Age-Friendly and Livable Communities.

Age-Friendly Centers for Excellence function as learning collaborative mentors, sharing best practices and policies to support others that wish to pursue age-friendly designation or implement age-friendly principles and projects.

Director Cardoza-Izquierdo said, "This grant funding will be immensely helpful in planning for the future of Rockland's senior citizens. We can now develop a roadmap for incorporating age-friendly considerations in County government and other local municipalities. I thank Lieutenant Governor Hochul for her efforts to recognize the contributions of older New Yorkers and in support of helping them age in place."

New York State was certified as the first age-friendly state in the nation in 2017 by the AARP and the World Health Organization. The Age-Friendly Planning Grant Program seeks to create and foster healthier, more integrated communities that allow New Yorkers of all ages to easily access services, take part in civic activities, and move around their community without being dependent on an automobile. This is achieved through system-level changes, such as offering incentives for age-friendly concepts, establishing new program and procurement guidelines, or implementing regulatory changes.

Lieutenant Governor Hochul said, "We recognize the value of older New Yorkers, which is why we have taken steps to build policies and programs to support people of all ages in our communities. New York was the first state to achieve the age-friendly designation, and we continue to build on our efforts to help ensure more livable communities for people of all ages and enable people to age comfortably in their own homes. This state funding to establish an Age Friendly Center of Excellence in Rockland County is a leap forward in making the area a leader in healthy aging and living. With investments across the state, our goal is to make New York the most healthy and vibrant state in the country."

AARP New York Director of Engagement Erin Mitchell also inducted the RCOFA into the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities during the ceremony. This designation recognizes that County leadership has made a commitment to actively work with residents and local advocates to make their municipality an age-friendly place to live.

AARP Director of Engagement Mitchell said, "There are now more New Yorkers age 65 and over than under 13. As the Baby Boomer generation moves into retirement age, we must respond – and we are very pleased that Rockland County is doing so by joining the AARP-World Health Organization Network of Age-Friendly Communities, States and Territories. AARP looks forward to working with Rockland to fulfill its critical commitment to improve health and quality of life for residents of all ages."

People of all ages benefit from the adoption of policies and programs that make neighborhoods walkable, feature transportation options, enable access to key services, provide opportunities to participate in community activities, and support housing that's affordable and adaptable. Well-designed, age-friendly communities foster economic growth and make for happier, healthier residents of all ages.

Both designations are based on the 8 Domains of Livability:

1. Outdoor Spaces and Public Places
2. Transportation
3. Housing
4. Social Participation
5. Respect and Social Inclusion
6. Work and Civic Engagement
7. Communications and Information
8. Community and Health Services

"Seniors are a rapidly growing population, having just turned 68 in August I know firsthand some of the challenges we face. I thank both New York State and AARP for recognizing Rockland's commitment to our seniors," said County Executive Day. "We will continue to work to make our communities more livable for residents of all ages which will improve outcomes for the very young, the very old and everyone in between."

A number of Rockland's senior groups and clubs attended the ceremony in support of the Rockland County Office for the Aging.

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