EZ Ride (Meadowlands Transportation Brokerage Corp.), a non-profit public-private partnership, was one of several community agencies and municipalities awarded a total of $2.2 million in grants from the New Jersey Department of Health and Human Services.
The funds will be used to develop age-friendly initiatives and implement recommendations from the New Jersey Age-Friendly Blueprint to support the health and well-being of older New Jerseyans, Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman said.
ER Ride in the Meadowlands
EZ Ride was awarded a $100,000 grant. Founded in 1983, it is the first Transportation Management Association (TMA) in the state.
EZ Ride’s EZ Ryde4Life program, which serves residents in all 21 counties, will use part of the funding to offer wheelchair-accessible services to enhance transportation access throughout the community.
A nonprofit public-private partnership, EZ Ride will also develop a customer-facing app to reduce wait times, provide greater flexibility for users across all demographics, and enhance user experience, especially for older adults.
Headquartered in Wood-Ridge and with a satellite office in Newark, the nonprofit helps people overcome transportation barriers by partnering with businesses and governments to implement transportation programs and services like carpools, vanpools, shuttles, biking & walking programs and even transportation with ride-hailing companies like Lyft and Uber.
Read more: EZ Ride Creates New Program to Make Charging Easier for Electric Vehicle Drivers in New Jersey
Age-Friendly Blueprint
“Age-friendly” describes a global movement to make communities more welcoming and livable for people of all ages. Released by the Department in May, the Age-Friendly Blueprint outlines age-friendly strategies and best practices to make New Jersey a place where people can live healthy lives, achieve financial security, be treated with respect, and have the ability to remain in their homes and fully engaged in their communities as they age.
“I am excited to see strategies from the Age-Friendly Blueprint being brought to life for the betterment of communities throughout the state. We all benefit from making our communities more inclusive and livable for all residents, especially as we age. The initiatives and projects funded by these grants are hopefully only the beginning of communities working intentionally on improvements that will benefit residents at all stages of life,” said Adelman.
$70K Grant Recipients
The Department awarded Age-Friendly Communities grants of $70,000 each to the following Bergen County governments: Cliffside Park Borough, Leonia Borough, Mahwah Township, . Cherry Hill Township, Edison Township, Frenchtown Borough, Hillside Township, Lakewood Township, The Department awarded Age-Friendly Communities grants of $70,000 each to the following Bergen County governments: Cliffside Park Borough, Leonia Borough, Mahwah Township. Other governments include: Cherry Hill Township, Edison Township, Frenchtown Borough, Hillside Township, Lakewood Township,
The Age-Friendly Communities grants will be used to build community partnerships, execute a community needs assessment, create an action plan to become an Age-Friendly Community, and enroll in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities.
“Everyone benefits from making communities more livable for people of all ages. I commend these organizations for identifying barriers and making improvements that will have a lasting impact. From expanding transportation services to funding home modifications and repairs to creating opportunities for people of all ages to connect, these initiatives will help build bridges, expand access to critical services, and make these communities better for all residents,” said Deputy Commissioner for Aging and Disability Services Kaylee McGuire.
$100K Grant Recipients
Aside from EZ Ride, the following entities received Age-Friendly Project grants of $100,000 each for these projects:
◾Paramus Borough: The Paramus Senior Mobility and Wellness Initiative will significantly expand programming and improve accessibility at the Joseph Cipolla Senior Activity Center to better accommodate and serve its growing senior population. Currently, the center offers a variety of health, wellness, and social activities designed to promote active aging; however, the demand for popular classes such as Tai Chi, Yoga, Chair Yoga, meditation, and art programs frequently exceeds capacity, resulting in seniors being turned away.
Moreover, the existing facility presents accessibility challenges that prevent some seniors, particularly those with mobility challenges or disabilities, from fully participating in its programs. This initiative will address these critical gaps by increasing the number of class offerings with additional consultants and instructors and, by implementing comprehensive ADA improvements to remove physical barriers, ensuring that all seniors have safe, inclusive, and equitable access to the center and its diverse range of programs
◾Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal & Northern NJ (BBBSCNJ): BBBSCNJ will use grant funding to build the youth mentoring capacity of its Community-Based Mentoring Program by recruiting 40 older adult mentors (55+) to serve in the program. This initiative will foster intergenerational relationships that enhance the well-being of both older adults and youth.
◾New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well (NJAAW): NJAAW and its partner, the Age-Friendly Institute, will recruit New Jersey businesses and employers to form a cohort for the Certified Age-Friendly Employer (CAFE) Program. NJAAW and the Age-Friendly Institute formed a partnership two years ago to bring the CAFE program to New Jersey and have had several webinars and speaking engagements to connect New Jersey employers with the program. This project will bring 12-15 New Jersey-based employers through the certification process to serve as models for age-friendly practices in the state.
◾New Jersey Travel Independence Program @ Rutgers (NJTIP): The TIP Passaic STEP initiative will enhance age-friendly practices in Paterson and Wayne by educating local older adults and professionals on how to effectively navigate public and community transit. The goal is to empower older adults and their support networks to safely access essential destinations as they age in Passaic County. Primary data will be collected from older adults and other stakeholders to better understand their mobility needs and challenges; this data will inform the planned trainings for TIP Passaic STEP, as well as support broader community efforts to implement sustainable, age-friendly solutions.
◾Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs: The Brightening the Path program will work to improve the emotional, social, and cultural well-being of isolated seniors in the Dover community. Efforts will include organizing events that allow older adults to share their stories and express their talents to foster a sense of pride and achievement and promote activities that improve physical and mental well-being. The program will also offer services in Spanish and incorporate cultural elements into regular holiday celebrations.
◾Healthy People Worldwide: The Bonding Through Brushstrokes project will work to address social isolation and enhance mental health support for older adults and young mothers in Union County. By fostering intergenerational connections through therapeutic art workshops, the project will help participants overcome isolation while accessing mental health support. Workshops and mental health resources will also be made available online, extending the program’s impact.
◾Bound Brook Borough: The Senior Fitness & Wellness Program will offer comprehensive recreation activities for seniors. This includes gentle exercise classes, strength training, cardiovascular fitness, mindfulness, relaxation techniques, educational workshops, and social activities to improve physical health, enhance mental well-being, and foster social connections.
◾Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey: Grant funding will be used to enhance the Senior Rides program and provide affordable, reliable transportation through a partnership with a ride-providing business. The program, currently piloted in a limited capacity within the Jewish community, has successfully served over 130 seniors, offering subsidized rides for socialization, health, and wellness activities.
◾North Ocean Habitat for Humanity: Grant funding will be used to help fund critical home repairs, preservation projects, and aging-in-place modifications to improve the living conditions of targeted households in Ocean County that are low-income and aged 60 years or older. This falls under the Age-Friendly Blueprint’s focus on helping older adults remain in their home as long as possible, living safely and independently. Efforts will include providing rail support, sourcing sustainable materials, conducting holistic health assessments, and offering referrals to supportive services.
Age-Friendly State Advisory Council
In 2021, Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 227 creating an Age-Friendly State Advisory Council within Human Services. The Executive Order called for the department to develop a blueprint, informed by the Advisory Council, outlining strategies to advance age-friendly practices across the state. Commissioner Adelman chaired the Council.
The Blueprint focuses on:
- Positioning New Jersey as an innovator in aging;
- Expanding the number of age-friendly municipalities and counties;
- Viewing aging as an asset;
- Embedding aging in all policies;
- Reimagining and integrating the continuum of long-term care services;
- Helping residents have the resources to live a meaningful life in the community they choose; and
- Giving people of all ages access to health and social supports, including to reduce disparities.
“We can all do our part to make the state more age-friendly. I encourage anyone interested in learning how to contribute to age-friendly efforts in the state to read the Blueprint and visit our Age-Friendly webpage,” said Division of Aging Services Assistant Commissioner Louise Rush.