FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 16, 2026
CONTACT:
Derek Sands
BERGEN COUNTY AWARDED AGE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY GRANT FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
HACKENSACK, NJ – Bergen County has been awarded a $70,000 Age-Friendly Community Grant from the New Jersey Department of Human Services Division of Aging Services to advance planning and community engagement efforts that will help ensure Bergen County remains a great place to grow older.
The grant will support Bergen County’s participation in the Age-Friendly Communities framework, an internationally recognized model developed by the World Health Organization and facilitated in the United States through AARP. The initiative focuses on creating communities that promote health, inclusion, and quality of life for residents of all ages.
“This grant reinforces what we have long believed in Bergen County—that supporting our older adults strengthens our entire community,” said Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco. “Through our Division of Senior Services, we have consistently invested in programs that help residents age with dignity, independence, and connection. This funding allows us to take a broader, data-driven look at how we can continue improving quality of life for seniors and families alike.”
Commissioner Mary Amoroso, emphasized the importance of listening directly to residents. “An age-friendly county starts with understanding the real, day-to-day experiences of our older adults,” Amoroso said. “This grant will allow us to engage residents directly, identify gaps, and build on the strong foundation of services Bergen County already provides to support healthy, active aging.”
Funding from the Age-Friendly Community Grant will be used to conduct a countywide community needs assessment, including surveys and focus groups, to better understand the priorities, challenges, and opportunities facing older adults in Bergen County. The assessment will inform the development of an action and evaluation plan to address identified gaps and guide future policy and program decisions.
The Age-Friendly framework examines eight Domains of Livability that influence how residents experience their communities as they age:
- Outdoor Spaces and Buildings
- Transportation
- Housing
- Social Participation
- Respect and Social Inclusion
- Work and Civic Engagement
- Communication and Information
- Community and Health Services
Community input will be a critical component of the process, with opportunities for residents to participate in surveys and engagement activities expected to launch early next year.
Bergen County currently provides a wide range of services for older adults through the Division of Senior Services, including programs that address social isolation through ten County-operated senior centers, transportation assistance through the Community Transportation Ride Connect program, nutrition support through Meals on Wheels and congregate meal programs, Medicare counseling through the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), and benefits screening and general assistance through the Senior HelpLine. For more information about programs and services available to Bergen County seniors, residents may call the Senior HelpLine at 201-336-7400 or visit bergencountynj.gov/division-of-senior-services.
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