Events

What makes a community friendly for older New Jerseyans is what makes a community friendly for everyone! Great Homes and Neighborhoods for All (GHNA) is a statewide, pro-housing initiative tackling New Jersey’s housing and neighborhood challenges by examining the zoning and land use barriers standing in the way of progress. Organized around the concept that everyone in New Jersey deserves an affordable place to live - in a safe, vibrant community, GHNA includes advocates for smart growth and housing justice, for-profit and nonprofit developers, community development leaders, academics, local pro-housing campaign representatives, and land use planners. Join to learn more about the priorities of GHNA and how you can get involved! See the recording here: https://youtu.be/yjMEURN-vOE  

Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH, Program Director at the Alzheimer's Association Greater New Jersey Chapter, will discuss some of the programs and resources the chapter has to offer, including  the Association's wide range of educational programs for the general public on the signs of Alzheimer's and the nature of the disease, caregiver training, including how to respond to and manage dementia-related behaviors, how to communicate effectively, how to support independence for those who struggle with activities of daily living, how to plan for the future (financially and otherwise), and other related topics. Learn about the ways the Association can support you and your work to ensure better aging across the state. We will also hear about Bergen County's dementia-friendly work and how it fits into their larger age-friendly efforts. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Xgcx6gpeR9uOGHIeBlScDA

Libraries are trusted, familiar spaces that offer invaluable resources—serving as gateways to lifelong learning, civic engagement, and social connection. The 2024 NJAAW Survey of Older Adults reinforced this, finding that older adults are more likely to visit, trust, and engage with their local library than with senior centers or other organizations. Leonia Public Library, under the leadership of Director Michelle Malone, already exemplifies this through robust programs for older adults, and we are thrilled they will be hosting the September meeting.   Join us to learn how we can expand partnerships and collaborations with public libraries across New Jersey to amplify their role in the age-friendly movement. Please register here:  https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/b03174ca-ab50-4e27-9401-f91183c305b4  

Due to the overwhelmingly positive response to our in-person Transportation Symposium on April 3, we are inviting some of the speakers back to share their presentations with a wider audience. We know how important transportation is to older adults and age-friendly communities, so please join us to learn about the NJ Mature Drivers Resource Center with Sean Meehan. See the recording here: https://youtu.be/5kAYSgvQfJY

Due to the overwhelmingly positive response to our in-person Transportation Symposium on April 3, we are inviting some of the speakers back to share their presentations with a wider audience. We know how important transportation is to older adults and age-friendly communities, so please join us to learn about NJTIP @ Rutgers with Melody Bundy, Research Coordinator, NJTIP @ Rutgers/Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center. View the recording here: https://youtu.be/GLnqiIYsJjo

This year’s Older Americans Month theme is Flip the Script on Aging. This Roundtable will highlight the ways in which Bergen County’s age-friendly movement is working to counter ageist stereotypes and promote good policies and practices that benefit people of all ages. New Jersey has seen significant age-friendly progress this year! Come to learn, network and celebrate! We will welcome leaders from Cliffside Park, Leonia, Mahwah and Paramus, communities that were recently named recipients of the first Age-Friendly grants from the State of New Jersey! We will hear from Age-Friendly Ridgewood leaders about their new and extremely informative Age-Friendly Municipal Toolkit We will hear updates from the County's Age-Friendly Coordinator We will discuss how actions of the State and Federal governments may impact older adults and YOU - the providers of services to them. Free but please register below

This free symposium by AFNJ and NJTIP@Rutgers included several transportation presenters, county and municipal transport service providers, funders, and tabling opportunities for providers of transportation services for older adults. Exhibitors from NJTIP, EZ Ride, Access Link, Mature Drivers Project, AAA Car Fit, NJ Transit, NJTPA, and county and municipal transport services were also present   Agenda: AFNJ Transportation FINAL Symposium Agenda_ April 2025 -AL Click to see presenters' slides: NJ Transit EZ Ride Presentation. Mature-DriverRC-pres sean AAA NORTHEAST_Keeping Seniors Safe on the Road NJTIP And see NJAAW's Aging Insights episode, "Driving Safer, Better and Longer"  https://youtu.be/BZoCNjLYi7g

Officials from Bergen County Administration, Human Services and Senior Services will provide updates on key programs and policies impacting older adults and the provider organizations that serve them. Breakfast available at 9:45 AM, Networking until Noon Register in advance here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/7gaueny?source_id=dea59572-69b7-4ccc-b813-1b32894c3e86&source_type=em&c=z7L126jfLwWZ_q7S9KJh-Nk_qWiGayXlAXm6sO5XuDw4U6kWe5hbKQ==

Demonstrating the outcomes of age-friendly community (AFC) initiatives is important for sustaining resources to keep them going. Yet proving the value of AFC efforts can be difficult. Learn from researchers at the Rutgers Hub for Aging Collaboration on how the "Waters of Systems Change" framework can help overcome key evaluation hurdles. Of note, this work is based on years of practice-based research through AFNJ, including interviews with many AFC leaders in our network. View the recording here: https://youtu.be/QYeiiWkmpPo  

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. 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 with gerontologist Katie Squires, PhD, Associate State Director, Advocacy for AARPNJ and a National Reframing Aging Facilitator. View the recording: https://youtu.be/KIUvNz1Y1ss