Implications from a 2009 representative health survey of public housing older residents in NYC

More than 10% of poor New York City (NYC) seniors live in public housing. We examined disease burden and mobility limitations among seniors residing in NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) buildings, compared findings to all NYC seniors and those living below 100% poverty level, and identified program/policy implications.

A telephone survey of 1036 NYCHA residents aged 65 and older was conducted (response rate = 35%, cooperation rate = 93%) with a representative sample selected from NYCHA's Tenant Data System (TDS). Survey respondents and non-respondents had similar vision, hearing, and mobility disability levels, per NYCHA's TDS. Demographics were similar except Spanish-speaking residents were under-represented (p<0.05). Data were weighted by gender, income, borough, age, and race/ethnicity to represent NYCHA's senior population.

93% of seniors reported at least one, and 79% reported two or more, of the following physician-diagnosed conditions: hypertension [HTN], hypercholesterolemia [HCL], arthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes. HTN and diabetes were elevated compared to NYC seniors overall but were not significantly higher than poor seniors. Nearly all participants with diagnosed conditions reported current medication regimens (HTN – 95%, diabetes – 84%, HCL – 85%), yet more than half (57%) reported no Medicare Part-D coverage. 29% identified at least one activity of daily living (ADL) limitation and 12% identified 3-6. Half (47%) of seniors with 3-6 ADL limitations reported using transportation services; only 10% reported getting meals delivered.

NYCHA senior residents have a high prevalence of chronic and limiting conditions, similar to poor seniors, but key opportunities exist to target services in this population.