NJAAW News and Resources

September 4, 2024

NJAAW Statewide Survey of Older Adults Report

In early 2024, NJAAW conducted the State-Wide Survey of Older Adults. We appreciate your support in sharing the survey with your contacts and residents that helped us collect responses from 1440 individual throughout the state.

We gained insight into what matters most to NJ's older residents, what their concerns and plans are and the challenges they are facing. Some of this was familiar, some was new, and all was insightful.

Our respondents identified their top concerns as:

1. Health issues 82%

2. Housing / staying where I am or moving 55%

3. Finances 53%

4. Being able to participate in the activities I like 41%

5. Transportation/giving up driving 35%

The report covers responses in each sector, and includes write-in comments from more than 70 participants. Where possible, it breakouts out findings by county.

To read the full report, go to our website or click here: NJAAW Survey Report.

NJAAW is happy to share our findings and can provide county-specific data upon request.

Aging Insights

NJ's Family Leave Insurance Program

Being a caregiver has many challenges and one of them is balancing work, finances and taking care of your loved ones. Thanks to New Jersey's Family Leave Insurance, balancing your life has become easier. Join us to learn about one of New Jersey's most important programs - and best kept secrets - the Family Leave Insurance program with guests Yarrow Wilman-Cole from NJ Citizens Action and Becky Logue-Conroy from the Rutgers Center for Women and Work.

This episode is the last our Aging Insights Series in its current TV format. Look for our new format on timely topics an NJ experts in the coming months, along with our podcast., in our upcoming newsletters and on our website.

This and all Aging Insights episodes are available for viewing, sharing and forwarding through our website njaaw.org/aging-insights/

Age-Friendly Movement in NJ

Police Collaborations Can Make for

Stronger Age-Friendly Partnerships

Police departments might seem unlikely partners in an age-friendly coalition.

Not so in the City of Garfield, where Sgt. Jeffrey Stewart, commander of the Garfield Police Department’s Community Affairs Division, has served as the project coordinator for Generations for Garfield since 2018.

Stewart was part of the broad coalition of municipal and civic leaders who helped found Generations for Garfield, an age-friendly community initiative that has led to a host of new community-bonding initiatives, including the opening of a Community Engagement Center. Read the full article here: Police partnering

Livingston joins the AARP network

Livingston for All Ages was awarded a 5 year extension from AARP Age Friendly Community designation. They were honored by the Livingston Mayor and Town Council along with AARP NJ President, Donato Nieman. Great work Corinne Judge (holding the certificate) and Natanya Pillay!

Comments on Draft National Plan on Aging due September 15

On May 30, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through its Administration for Community Living, released “Aging in the United States: A Strategic Framework for a National Plan on Aging.” The report lays the groundwork for a coordinated effort across the private and public sectors and in partnership with older adults, family caregivers, the aging services network, and other stakeholders, to create a national set of recommendations for advancing healthy aging and age-friendly communities that value and truly include older adults.

To submit comments, click here

NJDHS Opens $5 Million Grant Opportunity to Help Make Communities Age-Friendly

NJ DHS announced its Age-Friendly Grants Program for local government and nonprofit entities. to develop local age-friendly initiatives and implement recommendations from the New Jersey Age-Friendly Blueprint that support the health and wellbeing of older New Jerseyans.

Deadline for proposals is September 12.

To view the RFP, click here: RFP

To read the Age-Friendly Blueprint, click Blueprint

Events

NJ Property Tax Relief Programs

Monday, September 9, 2pm

via Zoom

New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the country. For those who qualify, it also has five programs that offer rebates, including Anchor and Senior Freeze.

Please join Ellen Steinberg, Director of Senior Citizens Council and Peter Humphreys, Editor of Senior News, its publication, as they review the various programs. Learn about the benefits, differences and how to qualify and apply for all of New Jersey’s property tax relief programs. Also get a preview of the proposed Stay NJ.

Please share with your residents - download flyer here: Senior Freeze Flyer

This event is free and open to all but register here

Upskilling Opportunity for Healthcare Apprentices Meeting

Thursday, September 12

3pm

Join this presentation by Faith Kallert to learn about grant opportunities for health care apprenticeships.

This new opportunity is funded by the NJ GAINS Grant, Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship Intermediary, and offers up to $3,500.00 for each employee you train in resources and support.

Occupations include CNA/ Caregiver, LPN, Culinary, Senior Living manager, Food Service Manager, and Certified Dietary Manager. Both new hires and incumbent workers (your existing employees) can be enrolled. See the attached flyer for more details.

To view flyer, click here: Apprenticeship flyer

To register, click here: Apprenticeships

How to Build and Strengthen Age-Friendly Police Partnerships

Thursday, September 19

2:00pm - 3pm

Many towns are expanding their community police efforts, and implementing or working with age-friendly initiatives is a perfect fit! Police partnerships can be part of broader efforts to create age-friendly communities, ensuring that older residents can live independently and safely. Join us to hear how Generations for Garfield has built a successful partnership between residents, the Garfield Police Dept. and the community.

Expanding Age Friendly Health Systems in New Jersey

Friday, Sept 27

9:30 - 11am

Health care providers, administrators and professionals in the care field are invited to join us for this special event on expanding Age Friendly Health Systems in NJ.

NJ’s population, like most of the nation, is rapidly aging. With projections for the 65+ population to grow to nearly 2 million people (20% of NJ’s residents) in the next 10 years, age-friendly health care is an urgent and growing need.

Age-Friendly Health Systems (AFHS) use a set of evidence-based elements to organize the care of older adults, known as the “4Ms,”to ensure that older adults receive the care they need and that health care teams are supported in this work. Adopting the 4Ms are essential elements of high-quality care for older adults. Implementing these measures can lead to substantial enhancements in patient care and outcomes. It also optimizes the value for everyone involved in the health care process - including patients, their families, caregivers, health care providers, and the system as a whole. The realization of this high-quality care is dependent on the senior leadership’s dedication to making age-friendly care a strategic priority.

Speakers:

NJAAW Trustees Joshua J. Raymond, MD, MPH, FAAFP, AGSF, Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health, Rutgers RWJ Medical School, Geriatric Fellowship Director and Vikranta Sharma, MD, Medical Director Hospice and Palliative care, VNA Health Group
Marcus Escobedo, MPA, Vice President, Communications & Sr. Program Officer, The John A. Hartford Foundation
Atlantic Health Systems: Keerti Sharma, MD MPH CMD AGSF, Chief of Geriatrics/System Associate Medical Director-Geriatrics/Geriatrics Fellowship Program Director/Medical Director, Atlantic Visiting Nurse; Brittney Daley DNP, RN, CCRN, Director, Nursing, Medicine, Morristown Medical Center
Theresa Edelstein, MPH, LNHA, Senior Vice President, Center for Partnerships Transforming Health, New Jersey Hospital Association; Autumn Branch, MSEd, PMP, Program Manager, Population Health, American Hospital Association; Raahat Ansari, MS, Senior Program Manager, Population Health, American Hospital Association
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine: Nadine R. Benoit, MPA, Elder Life Specialist-Lead Program Coordinator, Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP), Division of Geriatrics; Maryjo Phillips, DNP, MEDSURG-BC, CMSRN, Network Clinical Program Manager, Geriatrics/Ann May Center for Nursing Education, Hackensack Meridian Health; Manisha Parulekar, M.D, FACP, AGSF, CMD, Director, Division of Geriatrics, Hackensack UMC/Co-Director, Center for Memory Loss and Brain Health/Associate Professor, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine

National Healthy Aging Symposium: Innovation Across the Age-Friendly Ecosystem

September 26, 1-5pm

Join Trust for America’s Health and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion for the National Healthy Aging Symposium: Innovation Across the Age-Friendly Ecosystem.

The Symposium will explore successful innovations developed to improve older adult health and well-being in communities around the country. The event will build upon the successful and ongoing collaborations between aging services and public health that began at the first National Healthy Aging Summit in 2015. Policymakers, researchers, and professionals from across sectors will share their perspectives on important topics related to healthy aging through a series of panels covering topics like caregiving, social engagement, housing, transportation, brain health, and workforce.

For list of presenters and to register, visit their website at: afphs

NJ Assistive Technology Summit

Tuesday, October 1

8am - 5pm

The Richard West Assistive Technology Advocacy Center at Disability Rights New Jersey is holding its annual summit on Tuesday, October 1.

This full-day event brings together AT and community living professionals, individuals with disabilities and their family members, and representatives from state agencies to share ideas and strategies to increase independence.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: AT4NJ.ORG

Download the flyer here: Summit Flyer

Resources

Maintaining Mobility, Maintaining Independence

As we talk more about the 4Ms of Age-Friendly Health Systems, we asked our partners at Fox Rehab to talk more about "Mobility." :

What is mobility? Mobility is how a person moves throughout their day-to-day life. Mobility is essential to a healthy lifestyle and optimizing independence. It includes everything from walking down a city street, using a walker for apartment access, or using a wheelchair throughout a home–it can look different for everyone throughout all stages of life.

To read the full article, click here: Maintaining Mobility

Grandfamilies Support Network

Generations United has announced its Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network, the first-ever national

technical assistance center for those who serve grandfamilies and kinship families. The Network exists, free of charge, to help government agencies and nonprofits in states, tribes, and territories to collaborate and work across jurisdictional and systemic boundaries—all to improve supports and services for these families. Read more about it here: network

Professional Development

2024 Fall Training: Cultivating Compassionate Care in Senior Housing

LeadingAge New Jersey and Delaware is pleased to have Integrated Care Concepts and Consultation (ICCC) lead their 2024 Fall Training to be held on October 8th, 2024.

Many residents are choosing to age in place and facing more health, grief, loss, and other concerns. LANJDE hopes this training will better equip our members, their communities, and all staff to effectively communicate and compassionately care for their residents using various skills and techniques during the more difficult times.

Target Audience: Executive Directors, Leasing and Property Managers, Maintenance Staff, Service Coordinators, Social Workers, Home Health Care Workers and All Other Frontline Staff serving or assisting residents in Affordable Senior Housing, Independent Living, Home Health Care, & HCBS. Due to the scope of the education topics presented, this training is applicable for those working in Long Term Care and Assisted Living settings as well.

For speaker information, registration and CE details, click here LANJDE Fall Training

Support NJAAW

Is our information useful to you? Then please consider a financial contribution today. As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well relies on foundation grants and other donations to fund our work. We welcome your support, your suggestions and your input for advocating for NJ's oldest residents as we celebrate our 25th anniversary and strategize for the next 25 years..

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