New York seniors, including thousands of Dominicans, urged to take heat‑wave precautions

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) in New York has issued a public health advisory urging adults aged 50 and older to adopt extra measures ahead of the upcoming summer heat. The guidance, aimed at the city’s estimated 1.4 million seniors – about 16 % of the population – stresses staying hydrated, spending time in air‑conditioned spaces, and checking on neighbors and family members.

AARP highlighted that roughly 30 % of New York’s seniors live in poverty, many lacking access to air‑conditioning, and that 60 % of residents over 70 have no retirement income, a situation especially acute in the Bronx and Brooklyn where large numbers of Dominican immigrants reside. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned that adults 65 and older, as well as those with chronic illnesses, face heightened risk of heat‑related illnesses.

The advisory cites research from the Center for an Urban Future and the National Institute on Aging, noting that older bodies regulate temperature less efficiently and that certain medications can exacerbate vulnerability. Summer in the United States officially runs from June 21 to late September, with the hottest period typically June 1 through August 31.