Aging Together in New York will feature broadcast premieres, in-person events, and online resources and engagement
WATERTOWN, NY (May 8, 2023) – Public media stations across the state will address social isolation among older adults with a new initiative, “Aging Together in New York.” Working in collaboration with the New York State Office For the Aging, WPBS and all other New York public broadcasters will kick off this effort with a special week of programming starting May 15th, 2023.
“Aging Together in New York” will draw attention to the value of older adults in our communities and provide resources to help seniors build resilience and combat social isolation. Public broadcasters across the state will reach older adults on broadcast television and radio, online, and at in-person events with new documentaries, short films, and other engaging content.
“No community was hit harder than seniors by the COVID-19 pandemic and lingering social isolation and loneliness. It is a very real threat to their health and well-being,” Mark Prasuhn, President and General Manager of WPBS-TV, said. “WPBS-TV will examine this issue in-depth, providing seniors with information and understanding to deal with challenges to their social connections and mental health.”
“NYSOFA is pleased to work with PBS stations across New York State to help shine a light on the often-hidden problem of social isolation,” New York State Office for the Aging Director Greg Olsen said. “The health effects of social isolation are equivalent to smoking almost a pack of cigarettes daily, and the added stress of feeling alone increases heart disease and even earlier onset of dementia. Thankfully there are many resources available to help, including local assistance through offices for the aging and statewide initiatives developed by NYSOFA to connect older adults through technology and other innovations. I look forward to joining PBS in the conversation about these important solutions.”
During the week of May 15-21, WPBS-TV will air and livestream several programs as part of the kickoff week for “Aging Together in New York” including:
SUNDAY, MAY 14TH 2023
Art + Medicine: Healthy Aging (2:00 pm) Explore heathy aging with Drs. Jon Hallberg and Tseganesh Seleameab through the 4M’s framework of Mobility, Mentation, Medication and What Matters to older adults, with an artistic lens.
Lives Well Lived (3:00 pm) Lives Well Lived celebrates the incredible wit and wisdom of people aged 75-100, who reveal their secrets for living a meaningful life.
SUNDAY, MAY 21st 2023
Hospice Care in America Today (2:00 pm) An in-depth look at how hospice has historically changed the way families approach end-of-life care and provides a better understanding of what hospice care entails.
Young @ Heart’s 40th Anniversary (3:00 pm) An entertainment group created by and for the elderly, Young @ Heart Chorus is particularly noted for their unconventional covers of rock, punk, and other modern pop music songs.
Alzheimer’s: What You Can Do (4:00 pm) Delve into the research that shows how our social interactions, diet, sleep patterns, exercise, stress levels, and other daily health habits have dramatic effects on our cognitive abilities as we age.
FRIDAY, MAY 26TH 2023
Art of Aging Well (2:30 pm) It’s said that with age comes wisdom, but unfortunately that wisdom is accompanied by a long list of possible age-related health issues. Local experts weigh in on how to maintain your health into your senior years.
The week includes the premiere of the Young At Heart 40th Anniversary Special. Fifteen years ago, PBS stations aired a wildly popular documentary about a chorus composed entirely of singers and musicians over the age of 70. This new documentary revisits the chorus for their 40th Anniversary Special, was filmed in November 2022.
In addition, WPBS Weekly: Inside the Stories will air a variety of local stories under the topic of Aging Together, throughout the month of May, Tuesday nights at 7:30 pm and Saturday mornings at 7:00 am, or online after the broadcast at wpbstv.org:
TUESDAY, MAY 9TH 2023
NYSOFA Albany: Addressing Elder Isolation (7:30 pm) WPBS explores Aging Together in NY with a visit to the Albany Office for the Aging to discuss senior isolation with Director Greg Olsen and how we can thwart it.
TUESDAY, MAY 16TH 2023
NYSOFA Albany: Value Older Citizens Bring to the Economy (7:30 pm) Director Greg Olsen at Albany’s Office for the Aging shares statistics on how our senior population contributes financially to our economy.
Older Citizens in Canada (7:30 pm) Do older citizens in Canada face the same aging and isolation issues as their US counterparts? WPBS investigates how our elder population to the north fares.
TUESDAY, MAY 23RD 2023
Hospice: Taking Care of Family Members and Caregivers of Hospice Patients (7:30 pm) Family Members of hospice patients talk about the power of the non-profit. Hospice volunteers are there for both patients at the end of their lives, and the caregivers who care for them, helping to ease depression, isolation, burnout, and fear.
TUESDAY, MAY 30TH 2023
Seniors Helping Seniors (7:30 pm) A program that keeps seniors active – while helping other seniors – is making waves in the North Country. Discover the power of Seniors Helping Seniors.
Additional information and stories on aging can be found at https://www.wpbstv.org/aging-together-in-new-york and broadcast times can be found at wpbstv.org/program-schedule
The COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread social isolation and loneliness among seniors. Seniors had been advised to limit their contact with others, especially if they have underlying health conditions that make them more vulnerable to severe illness from COVID-19. They gave up activities such as group exercise classes, volunteering, or social gatherings. Family members and friends were hesitant to visit, particularly during times when there were high rates of COVID-19 transmission in the community. Even with widespread vaccinations and most organizations back to “normal,” the lingering effects of years of social isolation have taken a toll on seniors.
New York has the fourth-largest population of older adults in the United States, with 3.2 million individuals – about 16 percent of the population – over 65. The state’s population of those over the age of 60 is projected to grow to 5.3 million by 2030 with those over 80 years of age exceeding 1.2 million.
WPBS-TV joins all nine public television stations throughout New York in the Aging Together in New York initiative. Stations will continue to examine the issue and share critical resources to combat social isolation and loneliness as the effort continues until the end of the year. The initiative is funded by the New York State Education Department.
About WPBS-TV
WPBS is a PBS station serving approximately 650,000 households throughout Northern New York and Eastern Ontario via cable, satellite, Internet and over-the-air distribution. WPBS is a non-profit organization whose mission is to educate, inform, and engage its two-nation region with exceptional and trusted content across multiple platforms. Its vision is to be the premier provider of extraordinary public media that instills wonder and curiosity across generations and borders. More information about WPBS, including a full channel listing, is available at wpbstv.org, or by following WPBS on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
About The New York State Office for the Aging
The New York State Office for the Aging improves access to, and availability of, appropriate and cost-effective non-medical support services for older individuals to maximize their ability to age in their community and avoid higher levels of care and publicly financed care. NYSOFA achieves this through a network of 59 area agencies on aging. More information at: https://aging.ny.gov/
