Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lifelong Strong New Jersey?
Lifelong Strong New Jersey is an advocacy campaign to prioritize policies that ensure New Jerseyans can thrive in the Garden State as we age.
What are Lifelong Strong New Jersey’s goals?
Lifelong strong New Jersey has two goals. The short-term goal is to prioritize aging in the New Jersey gubernatorial campaign. With our partners, we aim to educate and be a resource so that the next administration will understand the need to prioritize aging and be prepared to effectively include our changing demographics in policy and programming. Our long-term goal is for New Jersey to join many other states in adopting a Multisector Plan for Aging (MPA).
Why should aging be an urgent priority for the next governor of New Jersey?
Like all age groups, older New Jerseyans are important contributors to the state’s economy, infrastructure, and communities. As demographics rapidly change, we ask that the next Governor recognize our increasingly older population and include aging as an important consideration in all policy discussions, so that New Jersey can become an even better place to age well. Afterall, what’s good for older adults is good for everyone.
Will Lifelong Strong NJ be endorsing a candidate?
No, the Lifelong Strong NJ campaign will not endorse a candidate. Why? Aging is not political. Both “red states” and “blue states” are designing and implementing MPAs, and all are seeing the benefits. Aging is truly on non-partisan issue, and we look forward to working with the next governor, their administration and the New Jersey State Legislature to develop and adopt a Multisector Plan for Aging.
How does a Multisector Plan for Aging complement the expanding work in age-friendly initiatives in New Jersey?
Age-friendly communities—sometimes described as great places to grow up and grow old—have been a priority for many in aging and philanthropy since the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the global initiative in 2006. The age-friendly movement focuses on eight domains: housing; transportation; respect and social inclusion; social participation; outdoor spaces and buildings; community and health care; civic participation and employment; and communication and information.
An MPA gives communities, particularly states, a way to codify past age friendly successes and then expand on them, by engaging more partners, breaking down administrative and operational silos, drawing upon a wider array of funding sources, and tracking the impact of a coordinated effort to improve wellbeing in later life.
How is a Multisector Plan for Aging different from the Blueprint or State Strategic Plan on Aging?
The New Jersey State Strategic Plan on Aging is a U.S. Administration on Aging-approved plan that establishes priorities for meeting the needs of New Jersey’s older adults and how the State will distribute funds from the Older Americans Act.
The NJ Division of Aging Services Age-friendly Blueprint, which was released in May of 2024, is a framework for new efforts to enhance the lives of older New Jerseyans, both now island in the future. The blueprint lists recommendations for building an age-friendly state, and identifies opportunities. The Blueprint is a launching point for a Multisector Plan for Aging.
Are there other states around the country who have initiated a similar endeavor?
Yes. Twelve states have an MPA in place, and 20+ are in the process of developing and implementing one. New Jersey has joined The Center for Health Care Strategies Learning Collaborative to learn from the experience of other states that are in the process. To see which states are implementing MPAs and where they are in the process, go to https://multisectorplanforaging.org.