This document discusses age-friendly community initiatives in the United States and northern New Jersey. It notes that communities have not changed as rapidly as human lifespans, leaving housing and infrastructure unsuitable for older residents. The movement aims to make communities more accessible, safe, and inclusive for older adults through features like transportation, housing, social programs, and civic participation. The document outlines several age-friendly programs and accomplishments in northern New Jersey communities like Montclair and Princeton that focus on issues like walkability, transportation, health, and sustainability.

1. Age-Friendly Community
Initiatives in the U.S. and Northern
New Jersey
Julia Stoumbos
Program Director,
Aging in Place
Emily Greenfield, PhD
Associate Professor
Redevelopment Forum | New Brunswick, NJ | March 9, 2018

2. Structural Lag
 Social institutions have not
changed as rapidly as the
human lifespan
 Example: Peter Pan Housing
Post WWII housing with
narrow passages, sharp
corners, steps, high
cabinets, car-dependent

3. Movement to Transform Communities

4. Age-Friendly Communities: What are they all about?
Accessible transportation
Outdoor spaces amenable to older adults
Safe and affordable housing options
Ample volunteer opportunities
Sufficient social, educational and employment opportunities
Inclusion of older adults in civic planning, programming, and
resource allocations.

6. https://livabilityindex.aarp.org/
AARP Livability Index

7. Redevelopment, City Planning, and Age-
Friendly Communities:
How are They Related?
Complete Streets
Smart Growth Principles
Development in response to demographics
Creating places attractive to all generations

8. Our Current Housing Stock Isn’t Nearly as
Diverse as We Are!

9. Age-Friendly Community Initiatives in
northern New Jersey
 Montclair
 Princeton
 Others in the exploratory
phases

10. Bergen County

11. Union, Essex ,and Morris Counties

12. Age-Friendly
“Hardware”
 Leadership teams in partnership with
 Consultants
 Locally elected officials
 Public administrators
 Private organizations
 Individual volunteers and interns
 Funders
 Other AFCIs
Age-Friendly
“Software”
• Community assessments
• Meetings
• Community-wide communications
• Events
• Planning and visioning
• Evaluation and tracking
• Pilot programs

13. Grantee Accomplishments in the First Year of Implementation
• Information and communication
• Websites and Facebook pages
• Newsletters
• People-based information networks
• Transportation
• Sharing information about existing resources
• Supporting on-demand transportation options
• Advocacy
• Housing
• Sharing information about existing resources
• Exploring additional housing-related services
• Advocacy for new housing

14. • Walkability
• Advocacy
• Pedestrian safety programs
• Civic Participation and Inclusion
• Local businesses
• Senior advisory committees
• Volunteerism
• Health, Wellness, and Social Services
• Wellness programming
• Healthy food
• Targeted outreach to the homebound
Grantee Accomplishments in the First Year of Implementation

15. Long-Term Sustainability
 Achieving outputs in ways with long-lasting staying power
Travel Training Program
Organized by Age-Friendly
Travel Training Program
Offered Biannually
through Community
School
Pop-Up Wellness Center
Redesign of Municipal
Buildings to Integrate
Recreation, Health, and
Community Affairs

16. The Age-Friendly Movement
is Growing

17. Will It Continue to Grow in New Jersey, Too?
Thank You!
jstoumbos@taubfoundation.org
egreenf@ssw.rutgers.edu