Ocean County is often considered New Jersey’s retirement hub—and for good reason. Nearly one in four residents is age 65 or older, making it one of the state’s oldest counties. Spanning 916 square miles from the Pine Barrens to the Atlantic coastline, the county includes diverse natural landscapes, suburban communities, iconic Jersey Shore towns, and 93 age-restricted retirement communities—the most of any county in New Jersey.
Faced with the opportunities and challenges of a rapidly aging population, community leaders came together around a shared vision: to create a healthier, more livable county for residents of all ages. Within just 18 months, that collaboration produced New Jersey’s first government-endorsed county-level Multisector Plan for Aging (MPA)—a milestone that is helping position Ocean County as a model for age-friendly planning across the state.
“The uptake of and enthusiasm for Age-Friendly Ocean County has been incredible,” said Dr. Kathleen Cullinen, family and community health sciences educator with Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County and principal investigator of Age-Friendly Ocean County. “It has energized a multisector collaboration dedicated to improving health, independence, and quality of life for residents across the lifespan.”
Age-Friendly Ocean County is co-led by Rutgers Cooperative Extension and the Ocean County Office of Senior Services, with the full support of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners, the Ocean County Health Department, and active participation from the county’s nonprofit healthcare systems—Hackensack Meridian Health, RWJBarnabas Health, and Deborah Heart and Lung Center.
Together, these partners collected the research, data, and community input needed to develop the county’s Multisector Plan for Aging (MPA)—a comprehensive roadmap that engages county government, healthcare systems, nonprofit organizations, businesses, educational institutions, and community partners in strengthening policies, systems, services, and the built environment. Its goal is to help residents live safely, independently, and with dignity in their homes and communities throughout the lifespan.
The MPA was shaped by input from more than 8,000 residents and stakeholders through surveys, focus groups, key informant interviews, public forums, and town hall meetings. It outlines recommendations, implementation strategies, and collaborative opportunities across six priority areas: housing, healthcare, transportation, food insecurity, caregiving, and social connection.
The plan also recognizes Ocean County’s unique geography and demographics. As New Jersey’s largest county by land area and home to the state’s largest population of adults age 85 and older—often referred to as “Super Seniors”—the county faces distinctive challenges related to transportation, healthcare access, emergency preparedness, and service delivery.
“Residents of less densely urbanized counties often travel substantial distances to access healthcare systems, specialty medical services, social services, public transportation, and other community resources,” the plan states. “Geographic dispersion may disproportionately affect older adults, adults with disabilities, caregivers, and veterans who experience mobility limitations, chronic disease, social isolation, or transportation barriers. In addition, coastal storm vulnerability, flooding risks, and seasonal tourism surges further complicate emergency response, evacuation planning, and continuity-of-care efforts across the county’s large geographic footprint.”
Ocean County’s Multisector Plan for Aging was officially released on June 23, 2026, during a countywide launch event in Toms River, where it was recognized as a model for counties and communities across New Jersey, which is preparing for one of the most significant demographic transitions in U.S. history.
Planning, however, was only the beginning.
The coalition has now shifted its focus to implementation. Early initiatives include the Step Up for Our Seniors outreach campaign to recruit new community partners and volunteers, the launch of an AI-powered text line to connect older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers with timely information, programs, and community resources, and the formation of multisector implementation workgroups that will help turn the plan’s recommendations into measurable action.
“With older adults, adults with disabilities, caregivers, and our multisector partners guiding this work,” Cullinen said, “we are now focused on implementing, evaluating, and sharing evidence-informed community strategies that advance the goals of Age-Friendly Ocean County while helping more residents live and age well in the communities they call home.”