Nursing Community Health Assessment of Astoria, Queens NY

Introduction and Background

It is the moral responsibility of government and nursing organizations to maintain health standards in any country. However, this responsibility does not rest solely with those organizations — other departments must also contribute to the effort.

This study focuses on the county of Astoria, Queens, New York, with the aim of helping nurses carry out their work effectively. It highlights the demographics, major diseases, and key problems in Astoria, and proposes a health plan for addressing those issues.

In the past, Astoria was known as Hallet's Cove, named after its first landowner, William Hallet, who settled there in 1659 along with his wife. Later, in the nineteenth century, New Yorkers renamed the region Astoria Village — now known as Old Astoria. The name was chosen in honor of John Jacob Astor, who was the wealthiest person in America at the time and invested a large sum in the neighborhood.

Astoria established a strong reputation in filmmaking and media, a heritage preserved today in the Kaufman Astoria Studios and the Museum of the Moving Image.

Astoria was first populated in the seventeenth century by the Dutch and Germans. Later, in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, many Irish and Greek immigrants arrived. For a long time it was called the city of Greeks due to its large Greek population. However, that population began declining in 1990. In the 1970s, anyone traveling through Astoria would have encountered Greek cuisine, Greek businesses, and Greek restaurants everywhere. As the standard of living among Greek residents improved, many relocated to other areas. Today, people from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds have settled in Astoria (Greeter, 2010).

Queens is the largest of New York City's five boroughs by area and is physically connected to Long Island. Major areas within Queens include Flushing, Corona Park, Astoria, Long Island City, Hunter's Point, Jamaica, Ridgewood, and Southern Queens, among others. No formal boundaries separate these neighborhoods, owing to the area's diverse and fluid culture. Most residents, when asked where they live, name the nearest neighborhood rather than any official designation.

Geography, Population, and Housing

Astoria is located in the northwestern section of Queens and falls within Community Board 1. Its western boundary runs along the East River, and it borders Long Island City, Woodside, and Sunnyside on the other three sides. The major thoroughfares of Astoria are Steinway Street, Ditmars Boulevard, 30th Avenue, and Broadway. The area west of Steinway Street and north of 24th Avenue is known as Ditmars, while the eastern border reaches 50th Street. Astoria Boulevard is well known for its Middle Eastern cafes, shops, and markets. Steinway Street is considered the main shopping corridor, and Broadway resembles a Latin American streetscape. The character of Astoria has shifted noticeably in recent years, with formerly industrial streets now home to markets and restaurants (Staff, 2011).

Queens ranks second among New York City's five boroughs in population. The region is generally considered home to middle-class families. With the departure of many upper-class Greek residents, Astoria has increasingly become home to people from developing countries seeking a better quality of life. Nevertheless, many Greeks who moved away still retain property in Queens.

Astoria has nine zip codes: 11101, 11102, 11103, 11104, 11105, 11106, 11364, 11369, and 11370. The population of zip code 11102 is 33,896, composed of 50.63% male and 49.37% female residents — a ratio that has shifted by only about 1% since 2000. The median age is 33.6 years. Approximately 11% of Astoria's total population is aged 65 or older.

In Astoria, 10,802 residents have never been married, 10,645 are married, 2,642 are separated, 1,522 are widowed, and 1,862 are divorced (Homes, 2007).

The total number of households in Astoria is approximately 12,590. Of these, 7,201 are family households and 5,388 are non-family households. Households with children number 3,939, while 8,651 have no children. The average number of people per household is 2.68.

The two-story house is a common design in Astoria, and many residents live in small apartments divided into two- or three-family units. As the value of the area has risen in recent years, rents have also increased. Despite this, Astoria retains considerable green space, and a variety of rental options remain available.

Most Astoria residents travel by means of the New York City Subway, which terminates at Steinway Street. For intercity travel, buses are preferred. The only major airport serving the area is LaGuardia Airport, accessible via Grand Central Parkway (Marshall, 2010).

The majority of Astoria's current residents have roots in Mexico, Russia, Colombia, and Pakistan. Since 2001, this proportion has continued to grow. Today, the neighborhood features a wide variety of restaurants, hotels, and culturally specific goods. According to statistics, more than 50% of Astoria residents speak a language other than English at home. A significant portion of the Greek community continues to actively preserve its cultural identity, which is why Astoria is still sometimes called "Little Greece." Beyond Greeks, the neighborhood's racial and ethnic composition includes Asians (15%), Africans (6%), Hispanics (28%), and whites (44%) (TakeCareNewYork, 2006).

Culture, Economy, and Community Infrastructure

The dining scene in Astoria is of high quality. Given the large number of restaurants and cafes serving a variety of cuisines, competition has driven food standards upward. The Beer Garden of New York, the city's largest beer garden, is located in Astoria. Other well-known establishments include The Brick Cafe, San Antonio Bakery, Artsy Sparrow, and Agnanti (Webb, 2006).

Parks, landmarks, and museums in the neighborhood are not well maintained. Astoria Park, situated between Ditmars Boulevard and Hoyt Avenue, features a large outdoor pool and impressive views but suffers from a poor reputation due to neglect.

The combination of cultural diversity and weakened community norms has contributed to antisocial behavior. Prostitution and gambling have become common, and rates of rape, murder, robbery, felonious assault, and burglary have increased relative to the past.

Overdevelopment and population growth have created additional problems, including heavy road traffic, crowding on paths and in recreational areas, and inadequate trash and litter management.

As the number of industrial facilities in Astoria increases, issues such as asthma and air pollution are also rising. The air pollution index has reached 114.

There are 5,578 people employed in white-collar jobs and 1,589 in blue-collar jobs. The average household income is $54,242 and the median household income is $41,956. Since 2000, income levels have increased by approximately 21%. The average total household expenditure is $46,104. The local sales tax rate is 8.375%. Approximately 16% of Astoria residents live in poverty.

There are only two police stations serving Astoria: the City of New York Police Department precinct and the New York City Police Department precinct. There is no dedicated fire station or major hospital in the area, though several smaller facilities provide services that are commendable given their scale. There is one notable nursing and rehabilitation facility: the New York Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing.