After Council Pressure, NYC Aging Promises Measurable Benchmarks for Senior Services — Cabinet to Present Metrics June 25



The Committee on Aging met at City Hall on June 16, 2026, to review interagency work on senior services and to press the New York City Department for the Aging (NYC Aging) for concrete metrics and timelines from the Cabinet for Older New Yorkers following Local Law 64 (2024); NYC Aging told the Council it will present benchmarks and progress metrics at a Cabinet meeting scheduled for June 25, 2026. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo

# What’s happening
– NYC Aging will present cabinet initiatives with benchmarks at the June 25, 2026 cabinet meeting. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo
– The Cabinet for Older New Yorkers is codified by Local Law 64 of 2024 and meets quarterly. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo
– Cabinet subcommittees meet monthly to monitor interagency work and report progress. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo

# Why it matters
– Older New Yorkers (age 60+) are affected by housing, food, health care, and safety coordination. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo
– Metrics and data-sharing will determine whether agencies trigger wellness checks and service interventions. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo

# Key details
– Hearing date: June 16, 2026, Committee on Aging, City Hall Council Chambers. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo
– NYC Aging committed to present benchmarks and targets at the Cabinet meeting on June 25, 2026. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo
– Local Law 64 of 2024 codified the Cabinet for Older New Yorkers. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo
– NYC Aging reported a citywide service needs assessment with 8,600 responses collected. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo
– HUD three‑year grant awarded to NYC Aging in 2025 will fund an older adult home modifications program through 2028, including occupational therapist home visits. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo
– Training and outreach cited: 1,800+ NYC Health + Hospitals frontline staff trained; walkability audits in 30 neighborhoods with over 900 participants. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo

Dr. Lisa Scott McKenzie, Commissioner of the New York City Department for the Aging (NYC Aging), told the Council the Cabinet for Older New Yorkers will return to the Committee with measurable targets and that subcommittees meet monthly to advance interagency initiatives. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo

**New York City Department for the Aging (NYC Aging)**
– Role: City agency responsible for services to older New Yorkers.
– Action: Chairs the Cabinet for Older New Yorkers and will present metrics on June 25, 2026.
– Relevant dates: HUD grant 2025 (home modifications through 2028); Local Law 64 (2024). Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo

**Dr. Lisa Scott McKenzie**
– Role: Commissioner, New York City Department for the Aging.
– Action: Testified before the Committee on Aging on June 16, 2026 and committed to provide metrics at the June 25 cabinet meeting.
– Relevant number: Participated in announcing the service needs assessment (8,600 responses). Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo

**Cabinet for Older New Yorkers (Cabinet)**
– Role: Interagency body of city agencies focused on aging, codified by Local Law 64 (2024).
– Action: Meets quarterly; uses subcommittees and interagency workgroups to implement initiatives.
– Relevant activities: Coordination on housing, food security, health care, and safety. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo

The Council opened the hearing on June 16, 2026 to demand measurable outcomes from the Cabinet for Older New Yorkers after Local Law 64 (2024). Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo

Commissioner McKenzie described the Cabinet as a mayoral interagency model focused on budget‑neutral collaborations across agencies to deliver “tangible outcomes” for older adults. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo

She told the committee the Cabinet and its subcommittees meet regularly, and that the administration will present specific benchmarks and targets at the Cabinet meeting scheduled for June 25, 2026. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo

Committee members and public witnesses pressed for data sharing and accountability, citing examples where lack of interagency data prevents action—such as elevator complaint data not flowing to senior service coordinators. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo

A public witness testified that 146 chronic offender buildings sit within a quarter mile of a Department for the Aging-funded NORC (naturally occurring retirement community) site, and argued that data linkage should trigger wellness checks and enforcement. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo

Commissioner McKenzie said the Cabinet is not open to providers serving as voting members because the law frames the Cabinet as an interagency body, but she noted providers can participate in age-friendly and other forums. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo

NYC Aging reported program-level work that has already occurred: more than 1,800 New York City Health + Hospitals frontline professionals trained on community-based aging services, and walkability audits with older adult center members in 30 neighborhoods with over 900 participants. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo

NYC Aging described a HUD-funded three‑year older adult home modifications program started in 2025 that will run through 2028; the program uses occupational therapists for in-home assessments to reduce falls and increase accessibility. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo

NYC Aging said it launched a citywide service needs assessment during Older Americans Month and received 8,600 responses, including outreach in ten languages and focused recruitment of older adults not known to city programs. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo

The department said it will provide the Council an updated report on Cabinet meetings, attendee lists, and initiatives later this summer. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo

Advocates at the hearing asked the Committee to place specific issues on the June 25 agenda, including NYCHA coordination for older adult centers, pre-filled Section 8 applications for Mitchell-Lama residents, and elder abuse and SNAP fraud prevention work. NYC Aging agreed to add topics for that meeting. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo

The Committee recorded requests for legislative or data tools to strengthen cabinet coordination, including calls for data bridges between agencies so service coordinators can be alerted to building conditions affecting seniors. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo

Procedure notes: the Cabinet for Older New Yorkers is composed of city agencies per the law; age-friendly work and involvement of nonprofits, philanthropies, and academics occur through the Age Friendly New York City Commission, which includes ex officio elected members. NYC Aging said the Commission is co‑chaired by NYC Aging and the New York Academy of Medicine. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo

At the close of the panel, NYC Aging committed to return to the Committee with measurable metrics, benchmarks, and targets for the Cabinet’s four focal areas—housing, food security, access to quality health care, and safety—at the Cabinet meeting on June 25, 2026. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo

For documents and video from the June 16, 2026 hearing, see the Committee on Aging stream. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo


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