NJAAW News and Resources

December 4 , 2024

The holidays are a time of joy and celebration, but are also challenging for people who have lost loved ones or can’t participate in the way they used to.

This season, take a moment to think of the traditions you and your family celebrate, that have been handed down from one generation to the next. Think of your favorite holiday memories, and who was a part of them. I know in my family, we will all be remembering how my father-in-law read a chapter from "The Wind in the Willows" each Christmas Eve, and how lucky we were to have him for 95 years.

Reconnect with older people in your life, and share with them how you continue their traditions and what they mean to you. Check in on older neighbors and people you haven’t seen in a while. And most importantly, appreciate the older people in your life and all they have done for you.

Are You Being Robbed of 7+ Years?

I want to give a big shout out to our conference keynote speaker Ashton Applewhite and her friend, the one and only Jane Fonda, for this witty testimonial to the power and pleasure of creative aging. Click the image to the right to see the CBS Sunday Morning Interview.

Looking forward to those extra 7+ years!

Age-Friendly Movement in NJ

Communication & Coalition-Building Help Keep

Age-Friendly Englewood Thriving and Striving

A good community cause needs a good community ambassador, and Age-Friendly Englewood has one in its coordinator Janet Sharma.

From filling an information vacuum with a community newsletter that reaches thousands to building a community network with nearly 70 participating organizations to teaching new and diverse audiences across the state about this global movement, Sharma’s stewardship of Age-Friendly Englewood is a model of age-friendly leadership.

Read on by clicking here

Leveraging Community Strengths for Healthy Aging through Villages and Social Work

Our long-time colleague in age-friendly work, Emily Greenfield, PhD, is leading research on “Villages” and their role in supporting aging in place.

Villages are grassroots, community-driven organizations that help older adults age within their communities. The first, Beacon Hill Village in Boston, was created in response to older residents wanting to remain in their neighborhood while having access to certain resources. Today, there are approximately 300 established Villages in the U.S. with dozens more in development.

Learn more about Villages and Dr. Greenfield’s work in this interview by Rutgers student newspaper, Daily Targum: here

In addition, see this article from the National Association of Social Workers newsletter which features Greenfield and colleagues Benjamin H. Nguyen, MSW, LCSW, CPH and Natalie E. Pope, MBA, MSW, CSW on their personal experiences with Villages: here

Events

Equity in Community-Centered Models for Aging: A Virtual Summit

Thursday, December 5, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Hosted by the Hub for Aging Collaboration and developed in partnership with interdisciplinary scholars from University of Manchester, UCSF, and Wayne State University, this virtual summit will present three projects that advance scholarship through theory development, empirical research, and collaborative practice to address issues of inclusion, equity, and justice in community-centered initiatives on aging. The event will involve content delivery from the researchers, reflection on cross-cutting themes by the discussant, and interactive, live participation from audience members in facilitated breakout rooms.

To register, click here: registration

Download the flyer here: flyer

Free Complete Streets Outreach & Technical Assistance Program

December 5th & 9th

Complete Streets help improve health and safety for people walking and biking. They create better places to live, work, play, learn, and do business by balancing the needs of drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, emergency responders, and goods movement based on the local context. A new program for municipalities within the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization’s (SJTPO) 4 county region – Salem, Cumberland, Cape May and Atlantic – will help advance Complete Streets with a new technical assistance and training opportunities.

Download flyer for complete details here: flyer

A discussion on NJ's new Affordable Housing Calculations and Fair Housing and Housing Discrimination

Friday, December 6 - 10:00-11:30 AM

Learn from experts about critical topics concerning housing and their impact on older adults -- and others. These are of critical concern to every municipality in New Jersey and, of course, to providers of services to older adults. Find out what they mean and how they impact you and those you serve.

Please consider passing this information along to -- and/or bringing with you -- municipal officials who will benefit from this information.

For address, details and to register, click here: Register For flyer, click here: Flyer

Providing Care for Those with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at High-Risk and Living with Dementia

December 9th 3:00-4:00 p.m.

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) face lifelong battles of inclusion and access to services. Throughout the aging process, they have significant needs for support present as they experience Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias at a staggering rate while struggling with providers and caregivers unsure of next steps.

Hear from ARC of Jacksonville about how their Specialized Aging Support program launched the next phase of services, developing an interactive day center for those living with and at high-risk of dementia, caregiver support and education, and trainings focused on IDD and dementia.

For more information about this webinar and to registration, click: here

Reframing Aging

Monday, December 16

11am - noon, via Zoom

Across the country, organizations and advocates at the local, state, and national level are using the tools of the National Center to Reframe Aging to change the way they communicate about aging.

Join this presentation by National Reframing Aging Facilitator Katie Squires, PhD, Associate State Director, Advocacy for AARPNJ to learn how to embrace these tools and strategies to spread awareness of implicit bias toward older people, and influence policies and programs that benefit all of us as we age.

Download the flyer by clicking: here

SHA Presents Virtual Lunch and Learn

on new Aging in Supportive Housing Guide

January 7, 2025, 12:00 - 1:00pm

Due to high demand, SHA has added another session introducing the Aging in Supportive Housing Guide:

SHA- NJ recently released its latest Aging in Supportive Housing Guide Hear about the partnerships, planning, and organizations behind these effective housing developments that provide affordable, accessible homes with support services tailored to the needs of a variety of populations. New supportive housing developments may help cities and towns fill affordable housing requirements.

Space is limited, registration is free and open to all. Register: here

Please only register for this if you have not registered for the December 17, 2024 session.

Professional Development

Leveraging Pharmacists as Age- Friendly 4Ms Champions

The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) is offering a home study series of trainings as part of their Age-Friendly Pharmacist Badge Program.

This training series offers a comprehensive framework for Senior Care Pharmacists to improve the care of older adults within the Age-Friendly Health Systems model using the "4Ms of Mobility, Mentation, Medication and what Matters.

Learn more about the training series and the Age-Friendly Pharmacist Badge Program here

Mental Health and Older Adults

One need NJAAW is fighting to address is the lack of mental health services and supports for older adults. For a first step in developing competency in older adult mental health, RUSH Center for Excellence in Aging Learning Hub hosts a diverse collection of peer-reviewed learning modules. Their Foundational Competencies in Older Adult Mental Health Online Certificate Program Courses are offered for CEs at a minimal price, or for free without CEs. Learning Objectives include:

Attitudes about older adults and aging
Adult development
Depression
Suicide
Anxiety
Trauma and PTSD

Substance use
Psychopharmacology
Cognition
Common life issues
End of life and grief
Practice Issues
Ethical Considerations in Older Adult Care
Serious Mental Illness and Older Adults

To learn more and register, click here: RUSH Learning Hub

Resources

New Website Consolidates Information in One Place

Garden State Community Outreach is a new website that connects New Jersey residents with information on cost-saving programs in one place. By entering basic information like age, zip code, income, family size and whether own or rent your home, the program finder will identify which programs people be eligible for, provides descriptions, links and a quick sharing link.

Check out the website and share it with your residents and clients:. https://gardenstateoutreach.us/

New Options for Access Link Riders

NJ seniors and residents with disabilities will have more transportation options under an expansion of NJ Transit’s Riders’ Choice Pilot Program. This program, which was piloted in several counties, allows taxicabs, limousines, and ride-share services to replace New Jersey Transit’s Access Link vans.

The Riders’ Choice Pilot Program was launched last year. It allows Access Link customers in most counties who do not require wheelchair lifts to choose rides through ride share companies like Uber, Lyft or participating taxi companies. Access Link riders must opt in to receive their rides through the ride share companies and can opt out at any time. Riders who need more assistance like wheelchair or scooter lifts will continue to use Access Link’s accessible vehicles.

For a full description, click here: Riders Choice Guide

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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