Grants Will Promote Social Engagement for Older Adults and Individuals Who Are Homebound or Reside in Institutional Settings 

June 15, 2026

(TRENTON) – Human Services Commissioner Stephen Cha today announced that grants totaling nearly $4 million have been awarded to local governments and community organizations to support new initiatives focused on strengthening social connections and support for older adults and people with disabilities at risk of social isolation in their communities.

“We recognize the profound effects isolation can have on an individual’s physical and mental well-being. These initiatives will create opportunities for social inclusion and engagement in communities across the State, helping older residents and those with disabilities stay connected, reduce isolation, and lead healthier, more fulfilling lives,” said Commissioner Cha.

The Senior Wellness Pilot Program Grants were made available to government and nonprofit entities to implement new initiatives that improve socialization and support the health and well-being of older adults, individuals with disabilities who are homebound, and residents of institutional settings. These grants are intended to both decrease social isolation among participants and provide data that can inform future opportunities to support this population.

“We know the need in our communities is great, and we also know we have local partners with the determination and innovative solutions to meet it,” said Deputy Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services Kaylee McGuire. “The phenomenal response to this grant opportunity shows just how deeply committed local leaders and community organizations are to strengthening social connections for older adults and people with disabilities who are at heightened risk of isolation.”

Grants were awarded to the following organizations to support these initiatives:

·       Family & Children's Service Inc. of Monmouth County, $250,000: Funding will be used to expand the reach of the organization’s In-Home Recreation program, a small-scale pilot initiative providing social engagement to homebound older adults.

·       Korean Community Services of Metropolitan NY, Inc., $250,000: Funding will create the new NJ Wellness Senior Initiative, a community-based pilot designed to prevent social isolation among older adults in Bergen County before it escalates into medical, nutritional, or safety crises. The initiative focuses on immigrant and limited-English proficient older adults who face cultural and linguistic barriers to engagement. Through regular, culturally-responsive outreach, the program works to reconnect isolated seniors to community life and reduce the need for higher-cost interventions.

·       Bergen Family Center, $250,000: Funding will support a new Senior Wellness and Social Connection Initiative, serving older adults through a model emphasizing consistent, meaningful engagement. Activities will include facilitated movement and creative programs, in-home visits, phone check-ins, and designated social events offered both in-person and online.

·       Children's Aid and Family Services, Inc., $250,000: Funding will support expanding the organization’s Celebrating Seniors initiative, which implements the evidence-based Get Connected Program, health and wellness events and workshops, case management, and targeted outreach strategies to ensure accessibility for homebound and underserved populations.

·       TASK, Inc., $250,000: Funding will support expansion of social engagement opportunities for isolated seniors by building on the organization’s existing network of 50 community meal sites, eight low-income senior housing facilities, and a mobile food truck program. The initiative will offer arts programming, volunteer engagement, intergenerational activities, and targeted outreach to homebound and other underserved populations.

·       Mental Health Association in New Jersey, Inc., $250,000: Funding will support a new Senior Community Companions Program, which will pair isolated or homebound seniors in Ocean County with trained community peer companions, often fellow older adults, who provide regular phone calls, check-ins, group socialization activities, and in-person home visits when appropriate. Companions will also help identify unmet needs and connect participants to essential services such as meal delivery, transportation, healthcare, and behavioral health resources.

·       Adult Day Center of Somerset County, Inc., $61,777: Funding will support outreach to underserved communities, with a focus on lower-income seniors and non-English-speaking seniors. Resources will be used to strengthen staff-led engagement, enhance programs and activities that promote connection and well-being, and provide ongoing opportunities and dedicated spaces for senior caregivers to gather for support and social interaction.

·       Jersey Cares, Inc., $249,794: Funding will be used to expand volunteer opportunities that support older adults, adding more regular projects with senior-serving partners.  New volunteer models will also reach homebound seniors through food deliveries and wellness check‑ins. Intergenerational activities will encourage older adults to participate as both contributors and recipients.

·       Township of Bloomfield, $117,600: Funding will be used to expand existing programs and introduce new ones, including group meals, exercise, educational sessions, art activities, and wellness workshops. Additional guest instructors will be brought in, and transportation will be provided for residents with limited mobility.

·       Lakewood Community Services Corp, $250,000: Funding will be used to combine a range of strategies to reduce social isolation among older adults, with particular attention to those who have complex needs, are homebound, or widowed. These efforts, which build on longstanding infrastructure, will include expanded supportive home visits for homebound seniors, intensive group programming for socially isolated frail elderly, volunteer-escorted transportation to group programming, peer-support groups for widows, and intergenerational programming at assisted living facilities.

·       Raritan Valley YMCA, $142,550: Funding will be used to create ConnectWell, a program that helps older adults build connections, stay active, and feel part of their community through creative programming, welcoming spaces, and expanded outreach.

·       Union City, $115,355: Funding will support a new initiative that integrates physical and mental wellness activities, creative arts programming, social events, celebrations within senior housing buildings, and organized group outings into a coordinated, year-long framework. This model aims to tackle causes of social isolation, such as economic hardship, language barriers, mobility limitations, and limited access to affordable community-based activities.

·       HOPES Community Action Partnership, $250,000: Funding will be used to create a variety of programs such as low-impact fitness classes, creative wellness and arts programs, and community game day programs. Weekly exercise classes will have an emphasis on balance, speed, agility, and strength, focusing on activities needed for daily life. Efforts also include a senior-specific game night every month in addition to a Community Family Game Night program to encourage intergenerational socialization.

·       Red Bank, $250,000: Funding will be used to launch the following initiatives: a Field Trip Program; a wellness workshop series; Hispanic-focused senior programming, storytelling and writing workshops; senior fashion shows; book delivery and hybrid programming; monthly senior-themed weekend brunches; a creative arts micro-series; the “My Life, My Legacy” memory project; and a Friendly Phone and virtual check-in program.

·       Center for Family Services, $250,000: Funding will help staff identify and connect with older adults and people with disabilities in their homes and communities. Trained community health workers will offer basic health education, help with applications, explore interests, and create opportunities for social connection.

·        Community Services, Inc. of Ocean County, $148,071: Funding will expand the More Than Meals, the county’s Meals on Wheels program, and reinstate the Telephone Reassurance and Friendly Visitor programs to offer conversation, support, and connection for homebound seniors.

·       Jewish Family Service & Children’s Center of Clifton-Passaic, $250,000: Funding will support hiring two bilingual case managers to support individualized engagement, navigation, and retention. Using Healthy IDEAS-informed engagement as a guide, case managers will conduct structured assessments, support goal setting, and develop individualized engagement plans centered on participant choice, cultural relevance, and geographic accessibility. The focus will be to strengthen access to and sustained participation in existing social, cultural, and wellness opportunities within participants’ neighborhoods.

·       Leonia, $250,000: Funding will support year-long programming that combines recurring wellness and arts, accessible transportation, and community safety supports. This new programming will include instructor-led fitness classes, monthly local trips, and larger regional excursions. The initiative also incorporates Operation Blue Angel, a partnership with the Leonia Police Department that enhances seniors’ sense of security and ability to age safely in place.

“Each of these initiatives will create meaningful social opportunities for older residents who may otherwise miss out. Staying socially engaged plays an important role in supporting both physical and mental health. I look forward to seeing these programs in action and the positive impact they will have on residents,” said Division of Aging Services Assistant Commissioner Louise Rush.

The New Jersey Social Isolation Study, published in 2023, found that an estimated 44 percent of New Jersey’s older adult population is socially isolated. Social isolation in older adults is more common in people with lower incomes and who lack transportation, among other factors, and can lead to adverse physical and mental health outcomes.

The New Jersey Age-Friendly Blueprint, published in 2024, provides a framework to make communities more inclusive and improve the lives of older adults. Social participation is among the top six areas highlighted in this framework, as it fosters continued integration of older adults into society and helps them stay engaged with and informed about the world around them. 

This pilot program builds upon other efforts to support healthy, inclusive New Jersey communities, including other grant opportunities tailored to age-friendliness, inclusivity of individuals with disabilities, and accessibility for individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing.