Teaneck Called a Model Community as State Officials Announces New Age-Friendly Steps

Dozens of state, county and local officials came to Teaneck on May 30th - the second to last day of Older Americans Month – to announce the state is committing $5.5 million to a new grant program aimed at encouraging communities to launch age-friendly projects.

The new grant program was announced in concert with the official release of the NJ Age-Friendly Blueprint, a 38-page report that suggests avenues for making New Jersey’s communities better places for older residents to age-in-place.

 “The growth in our older adult population is an opportunity to make our communities more inclusive and more integrated,” said Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman, at an announcement event held at the Brookdale Senior Residence in Teaneck.

Teaneck was chosen as the site for the announcement because it has an 8-year-old age-friendly community initiativethat Adelman recognized as a “model” for its work across sectors to address transportation, housing and other community livability factors. 

Leaders in Age-Friendly North Jersey have pledged to offer their partnership in assisting new communities in launching age-friendly initiatives.
 
“Partnerships have driven age-friendly progress in Teaneck, and the same can happen in towns across New Jersey, “ said Elizabeth Davis, executive director of Age-Friendly Teaneck. “We are pleased to hear of the state’s investment in this shared goal and we stand ready to offer our mentorship and support. We stand ready to be your partners.”
 
Teaneck Mayor Michael Pagan and Township Manager Dean Kazinci attended the announcement event, as did several Bergen County commissioners and administrators and members of the Age-Friendly North Jersey alliance.

“As we continue to build and expand on our work here in Teaneck, we are heartened by the steps New Jersey is taking today to fuel the momentum of the age-friendly movement across the Garden State,” said Pagan, who was also asked to deliver remarks at the event.
​
Click here for an Age-Friendly North Jersey blog articles with more details about the announcement
Click here for a PIX11 news story/video coverage of the event in Teaneck