What Changes Might We See? This year could mark the first major revisions in more than 35 years to the rules governing the Older Americans Act, the federal law that backbones many of the community-level programs that provide meals, senior center programs, transportation, home-care and much more. The nearly 60-year-old law is due for re-authorization by Oct 1, 2024, the end of the current federal fiscal year. The Administration on Community Living – the agency that directs the programs and grants funded by the OAA – has spent much of the past year seeking comments and feedback on new guidelines ..read more

To honor the milestone and draw support for its mission, the organization is spotlighting the top issues affecting the state’s growing population of older adults. HAMILTON, NJ — October 198, 2023. NJ Advocates for Aging Well (NJAAW), the only statewide nonprofit focusing solely on issues impacting older adults in New Jersey, is proud to celebrate its 25th anniversary this fall. Through the end of 2023, the organization will reflect on past accomplishments and look toward what’s next for their policy advocacy efforts, adopting the slogan “Daring to Envision a Brighter Future for Older Adults in ..read more

Aging on the Big Screen By: Cathy Rowe Hollywood is not known for treating age kindly – especially for women. But I have noticed a changing trend in the past year. Starting with the Golden Global Awards, where 3 top awards went to women over 60: Michelle Yeoh for her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once; Angela Bassett for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Jennifer Coolidge for the series, The White Lotus. And let’s not overlook Kevin Costner, who was recognized for his role role in Yellowstone at age 66. As a movie buff, I have been enjoying some of the roles for older men. As Tom Cruis ..read more

By: Darian Constantine Session 1 – Defining Caregiving & its Impact on Family, Patients & Friends        The first part of the Caregiving in New Jersey Series was all about defining caregiving and how it impacts caregivers, patients, and friends. Our first presentation was by Courtney Roman of Center for Health Care Strategies, giving an overview on caregiving. Roman explained how a family caregiver can basically be anybody, and we all know people serving in this role. Roman described caregivers as a person who has a significant personal relationship with ..read more

By: Sevki Topcu, Co Founder, HAVEN More and more people are adding accessory dwelling units to their homes these days and for good reason! ADUs offer a host of benefits, from added income and increased property value to more space and privacy. If you’re thinking of adding an ADU to your home, this guide will tell you everything you need to know to get started. 1. What are accessory dwelling units and why are they becoming more popular? Accessory dwelling units, also known as mother-in-law apartments, are becoming an increasingly popular way for homeowners to add value to their property. There ..read more

Your home is the place where you should be the most comfortable. It’s important for seniors to have a home that is safe, comfortable, and hospitable. If you’ve lived in the same house for years, you’ve likely already added your own touch to the design, but as time goes on, you might need to make some changes. Here are a few ideas to help you live safely and comfortably as you age. Safety-Related Renovations As you grow older, home safety precautions should become more of a priority. Each year, thousands of older adults experience devastating falls that affect their mobility for the rest of the ..read more

More than 260 people – including key government, business, non-profit and academic leaders -participated in New Jersey’s Age-Friendly Virtual Fair, a first-of-its-kind showcase of the diverse work underway to make the Garden State a better place to grow old. The Sept. 15 virtual conference featured 34 virtual “table” presentations on myriad subjects that encompass or align with age-friendly efforts – from snapshot looks at strategies to improve transportation, housing, social inclusion, communication and collaboration within a community to detailed examinations of how New Jersey’s physical inf ..read more

By Adrian Allotey Eldercare Specialist/Aging Companion/End of Life Doula You Are Not Alone Elder Care LLC Clinically managed end of life care is increasingly becoming a hot topic for discussion. Providing care for fragile elderly patients nearing their transition from this world goes beyond learned skills. Medical personnel responsible for providing this specialized care must have an innate sense of attention and dedication to the entire process, the humanistic part in particular. Despite the countless legal and ethical concerns associated with end of life advocacy, the family, patient, and in ..read more

Education doesn’t have an end date. In fact, it shouldn’t. And while education in the formal sense can be limited to an institutional understanding of the word, lifelong learning is expansive and flexible. Learning to paint with acrylics, analyzing films from the 20th century, discovering an unknown event from history, or how to use photoshop are all forms of education—and are fun! There’s no limit to what and how you can learn, and lifelong learning can be experienced in or out of the classroom.   Lifelong learning is a privilege that does not have to be cut off at a certain age. St ..read more

By: Cathy Rowe June 6, 2022 This article was originally published on njbiz.com and is posted here with permission. At New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well, we are always looking at the numbers. So, consider these statistics. The population age 65+ was the fastest growing group in New Jersey between 2010 and 2020, increasing 26.8%, according to usafacts.org/data. This number means the 65+ population increased from 13.5% in 2010 to 17% in 2020. And the trend is expected to continue. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2030, those aged 60 and older will make up 24.5% of our sta ..read more