Age-friendly NYC wins APHA's 2013 Archstone Foundation Award for Excellence in Program Innovation

The American Public Health Association (APHA) has recognized the vision and innovation of Age-friendly NYC with its 2013 Archstone Foundation Award for Excellence in Program Innovation. The award will be presented to Dorian Block, Manager of Age-friendly NYC, during the APHA's Public Health Awards Reception and Ceremony on Tuesday, November 5, 2013.

The Award for Excellence in Program Innovation was established by an endowment from the Archstone Foundation to the Aging & Public Health Section of the American Public Health Association to recognize best practice models in gerontology and geriatrics. The award is given annually to a program that innovatively links academic theory with applied practice in the field of public health. The APHA hopes that these model programs will be replicated and continue to be evaluated in an effort to enhance services to the aging population throughout the United States.

Age-friendly NYC, a partnership of The New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM), the Office of the Mayor and the New York City Council, challenges all sectors of the city to create a city where it is great to grow old. Key accomplishments include 59 initiatives implemented across city agencies, improved pedestrian safety at more than 100 redesigned street intersections, 1,000 local businesses embracing age-friendly practices, and four neighborhood-level Aging Improvement Districts that make visible community improvements based on consultation with local older adults.

New York City was recently named as having the "Best Age-friendly Initiative" in the world, by the International Federation on Aging. New York is one of 150 cities that are members of the World Health Organization's Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities.

The 141st APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition on November 2-6, 2013 will also feature presentations from Dorian Block on "Creating Age-friendly Cities, Communities and Organizations: Best Practices from the U.S." and "Evidence of Improvements in Health from Age-friendly NYC." NYAM President Dr. Jo Ivey Boufford and seven other health policy and evaluation experts from NYAM will also present abstracts on a range of health policy issues at the meeting.