New Yorkers Are Living Longer Than Ever

A report from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene found older New Yorkers are living longer than ever, with a current life expectancy of 81.2 years, according to the Wall Street Journal . Nine years ago the reported life expectancy of New Yorkers was 80.9 years, and about 50 percent of the city's older residents — those 65 and older — were born outside the country and are more likely to live in neighborhoods with high rates of poverty and less access to medical care. About 21 percent of older New Yorkers live below the federal poverty line, which this year was $12,490 for a single person. In addition, 6 percent of older New Yorkers went without medical care in the past year, and 12 percent refrained from filling a prescription due to cost. A study from the New York University School of Medicine found large life expectancy gaps were more likely in metropolitan areas with more frequent residential racial/ethnic segregation. The gap between neighborhoods in New York City is as much as 27.4 years. According to LiveOn NY's Katelyn Andrews, this finding "emphasizes the convergence of social issues that exist throughout the country and city and how they are exacerbated over time and impact individuals in their older years."