New Jersey is working on efforts to encourage municipalities to become “age-friendly communities.” Age Friendly is spreading across the country, with interesting initiatives in many places. Take a look at South Orange-Maplewood, Chatham, and Elizabeth for starters. Looking for volunteer opportunities? Contact your Mayor — you may be able to get involved with those initiatives or help to jump-start a new process. Age-friendly is an approach to community development that looks at the impact on seniors of a community’s physical space, transportation, recreation opportunities, public building access, access to municipal government and services, housing, etc. etc. and what might be done to improve those systems to make it more feasible for people to “age in place.”
Two new bills will be introduced to the NJ legislature which addressing key issues concerning older adults. Click here to read the text
https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/AR/246_I1.PDF
https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/A9999/5314_I1.PDF
A-246 is a Resolution co-sponsored by Assemblyman Herb Conway and Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo that urges New Jersey counties and municipalities to take the steps necessary to be accepted into the AARP network of age-friendly communities as defined by the World health organization.
A-5314 requires the Commissioner of the Human Senior Services “within 180 days and biennially thereafter” to assess and report to the Legislature on the state of social isolation in New Jersey as if affects individuals who are over 65, have disabilities, are suffering with mental illness, or are otherwise vulnerable. The bill marks a recognition that extreme social isolation is a problem in the State which adversely affects many citizens and might be alleviated if better understood and tackled. The report must also include recommendations for strategies to counter this problem.
The Committee hearing will take place Monday morning May 19th at 10 am in the Committee Room 11, 4th Floor, State House Annex, Trenton.
If these issues are of interest to you, contact your Legislators, and read more here.
Planning for a good old age involves looking at a wide array of issues, and each person’s situation is unique. Call us for individualized elder care legal planning …. 732-382-6070