Dissertation
The Impact of Age-Friendly Policy on New York State: How Executive Order-190 and Executive Order-23 Shape Community Development for All Ages.
The demographic shift toward an aging population has created an urgent need for policies that promote inclusive, livable communities for all ages. This quantitative study examined New York State’s implementation of Age-Friendly policy through Executive Order 190 (2018) and Executive Order 23 (2022), which collectively advance the integration of health, accessibility and community participation across state and local systems. Guided by environmental gerontology and psychology, aging in place and successful aging frameworks, this research utilized an adapted version of the AARP Livable Communities Survey to assess residents’ perceptions of livability with the eight AARP domains. The cross-sectional online survey (n = 97) captured data from residents representing both Age-Friendly designated and non-designated counties. Non-parametric analyses, including chi-square, Mann-Whitney U and binary logistic regression were used to examine the associations between demographic characteristics and perceived community outcomes. Findings revealed broad alignment with state policy goals, but highlighted variability across domains, particularly in housing, transportation and community health services. While respondents expressed general satisfaction with outdoor spaces and communication access, results indicated continuing challenges related to housing affordability and opportunities for civic participation. These findings underscore both the promise and limitations of statewide executive initiatives in translating policy intent into measurable improvements in community livability. This study contributes empirical evidence to the growing field of Age-Friendly governance and provides actionable insight for policymakers, planners and local leaders seeking to strengthen New York’s Master Plan for Aging and advance intergenerational community development.
