Jersey City’s HHS Division of Senior Affairs Awarded State Grant to Develop First Age-Friendly Action Plan
Fulop Administration to Create Action Plan Strengthening Services for Older Adults
The Jersey City Department of Health & Human Services Division of Senior Affairs has been awarded a $24,000 grant from the New Jersey Age-Friendly Program to launch a comprehensive community needs assessment, the most in-depth effort to date to understand the lived experiences of Jersey City’s older adults. The initiative will strengthen services, expand community engagement, and advance long-term planning for the city’s rapidly growing older adult population.
With over 35,000 adults age 60 and older, Jersey City’s senior population is diverse, multilingual and deeply rooted in the community. To address daily challenges older adults often face, the Division of Senior Affairs will collaborate with the Urban League of Hudson County, Lutheran Life Jersey City, and the Jersey City Chapter of AARP to connect with seniors across neighborhoods, ensuring diverse voices are represented.
Through multilingual surveys, listening sessions, and focus groups, seniors will have a direct platform to share issues related to transportation, housing, communication, healthcare navigation and opportunities for social engagement. Findings will shape Jersey City’s first formal Age-Friendly Action Plan, designed to guide policies and programs for years to come.
Mayor Steven M. Fulop has prioritized Jersey City’s seniors by adding and expanding citywide programming and accessible services over the last decade. “From increasing access to healthcare services to building the first new senior center in 40 years, as a result of our expansive efforts over the past 12 years, we’ve seen a big increase in senior engagement citywide. Improving quality of life across our community is at the heart of everything we do, and these latest efforts to utilize direct feedback will further build on those efforts.”
Supporting the development of actionable strategies that reflect community priorities takes community effort.
Stacey Flanagan, Director of the Department of Health & Human Services has created a culture of working with community partners throughout her tenure. “Collaborating with trusted organizations helps us better identify the real barriers seniors face. This grant will help Jersey City become a truly age-friendly city, where seniors are heard, valued, and supported.”
The Age-Friendly Action Plan will support the development of long-term solutions for Jersey City’s seniors based on insights gathered through the assessment process.
“Creating an age-friendly city is not just about service, it’s about dignity, equity, and supporting the people who have invested in the community that Jersey City has become. Through this grant and our partnerships, we can gather actionable information that leads to meaningful change,” adds
Joan Eccleston, Director of the Division of Senior Affairs.
“Jersey City’s dedication to listening to its older residents and engaging community partners reflects the core of age-friendly planning,” said
Jersey City Chapter 5102 AARP president, Maria Aguilar-Ambrossi. “By grounding its strategy in lived experiences and real data, the city is positioning itself as a statewide leader in creating communities where older adults can age with independence, safety, and respect.”
The New Jersey Department of Human Services launched the Age-Friendly Grants Program to advance the state’s Age-Friendly Blueprint. The initiative strengthens local planning, promote community engagement, and support environments where older adults can thrive. Jersey City’s project represents a key step in the state’s broader movement toward becoming an Age-Friendly State.
Jersey City HHS Division of Senior Affairs
The Jersey City Division of Senior Affairs serves as a liaison between the city’s more than 35,000 senior residents and the city administration. Senior Affairs assists with housing assistance, reduced-fare NJ Transit applications, Senior Care Photo ID cards, and other services critical to seniors’ well-being, including weekly shopping trips for residents of senior housing sites throughout Jersey City. Visit
jcnj.org/senioraffairs.
Urban League of Hudson County
The ULOHC is one of 95 affiliates of the National Urban League (NUL). Founded in 1910, the NUL is the premier social service and civil rights organization in the U.S., serving 300 communities across 35 states and the District of Columbia and impacting more than 2 million people nationwide. Visit
ulohc.org.
Lutheran Senior Life Jersey City
Lutheran Senior LIFE brings an innovative approach known as PACE, the federally recognized Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. Services are designed for individuals age 55 and older who wish to remain home but require nursing home-level care. Visit
lifelsmnj.org.
Jersey City Chapter of AARP
Since 1958, the AARP of Jersey City has advocated for the priorities of older Americans. AARP has members in every congressional district, representing all people 50-plus. Visit
local.aarp.org/jersey-city-nj/.
All media inquiries should be directed to Kimberly Scalcione at
[email protected].