Helping local seniors remain in their homes

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Riverdale resident Leo Bernardo may be turning 88 this month, but he is only now embarking on his first year of official retirement. An active educator in New York City for more than six decades, Mr. Bernardo intended to retire at the age of 60 but chose to accept an offer to teach at Baruch College, where he worked for the past 27 years.

“I truly have had only one year of actual retirement,” he explained. “I’m trying to put myself together and see how retirement suits me.”

Mr. Bernardo is in good company. U.S. Census data from 2014 showed there were more than 5,600 people over the age of 65 living in the 10463 ZIP code and almost 1,900 living in the neighboring 10471 ZIP code. 

“There’s so many opportunities for the retired in Riverdale. I’ve not used them at this point,” he said.

A January 2016 survey from financial website Wallet Hub ranked New York as the eighth worst state to retire in the country, based on an index measuring criteria such as affordability, quality of life and access to health care. Despite its overall low score, the state received the second best ranking for its quality of life. 

“New York City is unequivocally an expensive place to live,” said northwest Bronx Councilman Andrew Cohen. “It’s cheaper to have someone age in place; it’s just really a question of equal access to resources.”

“New York does have an exploding senior population,” Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz noted. “We have to continue to take steps to recognize that that doesn’t just mean making housing affordable.”

One structure in place to accommodate some of the city’s retired seniors is the naturally occurring senior community (NORC). The city refers to NORCs as housing developments not initially designed for senior living but maintaining a high senior population. To become a NORC, at least half of residents must be over the age of 60 and living alone. The Amalgamated Houses near Van Cortlandt Park have NORC status that gives them funding to assist seniors with aging in place through programs on health and wellness. It is the only site in the northwest Bronx on a city list of NORCs.

Will Speros, retirement, NORC
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