There are 1.5 million individuals residing in New Jersey who’re 65 and over. That quantity is predicted to develop to greater than 1.85 million by 2030. As New Jerseyans get older, it is vital for residents to pay attention to the various applications and providers obtainable by the state to assist seniors lower your expenses, stay wholesome, and preserve social connections.
For the final 65 years, the Division of Ageing Companies within the state Division of Human Companies has been working in collaboration with group companions to assist residents navigate getting old. The Division, often known as DoAS, administers a lot of applications that make it simpler for older adults to stay of their properties and reside locally so long as attainable.
The Division is dedicated to enhancing the standard of lifetime of its eldest residents and gives a whole checklist of all its applications and providers within the DoAS Program Guide.
One of many Division’s flagship efforts is the NJSave on-line software, which can be utilized to use for a number of help applications that may assist seniors maintain extra money of their pockets.
The NJSave software checks eligibility for Medicare Savings Programs that may assist individuals with restricted revenue and belongings pay all or a part of their Medicare Half A (hospital insurance coverage) and Medicare Half B (medical insurance coverage) premiums, deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. The applying additionally checks an individual’s eligibility for the Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD) program and the Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program. Each applications assist eligible people save on prescription drug prices. The applying additionally screens for eligibility for the Hearing Aid Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (HAAAD) program, which offers a reimbursement as much as $500 to offset the acquisition of a listening to support or $1,000 for the acquisition of two, and the Lifeline Utility Assistance Program, which offers a $225 annual credit score on electrical and gasoline utility payments to eligible householders or a $225 annual profit within the type of a test to eligible tenants who’ve the price of gasoline and electrical utilities included of their hire. To find out about extra cost-saving applications that NJSave screens for, go to the NJSave webpage.
Free NJSave software help is offered in individual or by telephone by totally different native organizations (Senior Save Navigators, Area Agencies on Aging, State Health Insurance Assistance Program local offices) or by calling 1-866-NJSAVE-5.
The Division additionally offers free help to individuals with questions on Medicare by its State Well being Insurance coverage Help Program (SHIP). Underneath SHIP, volunteer counselors may help Medicare beneficiaries with questions on advantages, claims and complement insurance policies referred to as Medigaps, in addition to assist residents consider their medical health insurance choices. To make an appointment with a SHIP counselor, name 1-800-792-8820 or go to the SHIP webpage.
The Division additionally administers quite a few applications that promote well being and wellness, together with HealthEASE, which coordinates and expands illness prevention providers for older adults to assist seniors reside more healthy, extra impartial lives; Project Healthy Bones, an train and training program for individuals with or liable to osteoporosis that targets the physique’s bigger muscle teams to enhance energy, steadiness and suppleness; and Move Today, a 30-45 minute non-aerobic train class designed to enhance flexibility, steadiness and stamina.
As well as, residents who’re 60 and older can take free on-line health and wellness courses, in addition to lots of of different free courses on quite a lot of attention-grabbing matters, by the Division’s partnership with on-line studying platform, GetSetUp. Residents who enroll through the Division’s GetSetUp page can take courses on cooking, artwork, expertise, journey and extra. Lessons are interactive and designed to assist maintain older residents mentally, bodily and socially lively.
The Division additionally oversees the Statewide Respite Care Program and the Stress-Busting Program for Family Caregivers to help caregivers. Extra assets for caregivers may be discovered on the Aging and Disability Resource Connection website.
New Jersey is invested in its residents, and final yr issued a blueprint with suggestions that communities can implement to assist make the Backyard State a greater place for residents of all ages. Suggestions give attention to enhancements to housing, well being, transportation, socialization, employment, and communication and outreach methods to assist communities higher meet the wants of residents as they age. Human Companies is offering grants to assist native authorities and group entities put these suggestions into motion.
The expansion in New Jersey’s older grownup inhabitants is a chance to make communities extra inclusive and built-in. Making life simpler for older New Jerseyans is a collective good, and the Division of Ageing Companies continues to work towards this shared mission.
Go to the Division of Ageing Companies at aging.nj.gov.