A 28-member committee will provide input for policies meant to improve the lives of older people as they age in New York as a "master plan" takes shape, Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced. 

The policies to be developed by the panel are meant to draw in a variety of concerns from financial issues to health care needs for aging people.  

"All New Yorkers deserve to age in their community with dignity and independence," Hochul said. "The input provided by these stakeholders will provide the framework for the Master Plan for Aging and guide our efforts to ensure aging New Yorkers have access to quality long term care in healthy, livable communities where they can thrive." 

Hochul previously announced the development of a master plan for aging in the state in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which older New Yorkers have been shown to be more vulnerable to, as well as concerns from advocates at AARP New York who point to the financial struggles facing the population.

The committee will include academics, labor union officials and health care leaders from around the state. It will also hold regional meetings in the next year to receive input from members of the public. 

The panel will be led by Department of Health Deputy Commissioner for Aging and Long-Term Care Adam Herbst and with Office for the Aging Director Greg Olsen serving as vice-chair. 

"New York has long been a leader in coordinating age-friendly policies across state agency programs and policies, from age-friendly community infrastructure to mental health supports, economic development to community-based services, and dozens of other interrelated areas," Olsen said.