Main Content
Cape May Court House, NJ – Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) of Cape May County’s Family and Community Health Sciences (FCHS) Department has been awarded a $70,000 Age-Friendly Community Grant from the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Aging Services. This funding will support the development of a comprehensive initiative to evaluate and enhance aging resources across Cape May County, with the goal of establishing the county as an Age-Friendly Community.
The grant will fund the creation of the Cape May County Age-Friendly Coalition, a collaborative network of partner agencies working together to strengthen existing programs and promote healthy aging. Through community engagement and stakeholder input, the coalition will identify priorities aligned with the New Jersey Age-Friendly Blueprint, which outlines eight domains of livability essential for aging in place.
RCE will lead the implementation of the grant by leveraging its strong community partnerships. The coalition will conduct key informant interviews and distribute surveys modeled after the AARP Community Survey. Additionally, the SCAN Foundation’s Local Master Plan for Aging toolkit will guide the development of survey questions to assess long-term needs and trends among the county’s aging population.
Cape May County is home to a significantly higher percentage of older adults—29.5% compared to the New Jersey state average of 17.4%—making this initiative especially timely and relevant. The county already has a robust foundation of senior services, and this grant will help unify and expand those efforts to ensure sustainable, age-friendly policies and environments.
The project is led by Christine Zellers, MPP, Assistant Professor with RCE’s Family and Community Health Sciences Department. Zellers brings extensive experience in coalition development and aging research and is an active member of the North Central Region Aging Network (NRAN), a national collaborative focused on helping communities support aging in place.
“This grant represents an exciting opportunity to build on Cape May County’s strengths and create a more inclusive, supportive environment for older adults,” said Zellers. “By engaging our community and aligning with national best practices, we aim to ensure that residents can age safely and comfortably in their homes.”
In Cape May County, Zellers works to educate the community on wellness, nutrition, and fitness. She has extensive experience collaborating with partners to create healthy food environments in the areas of Policy, Systems and Environmental Change. In addition to community health policies, FCHS educates residents on topics to improve their overall health and prevent chronic disease with a holistic approach to a well-lived quality lifestyle that includes physical activity, a nutrient-dense diet, and quality sleep.
For more information about the Age-Friendly Community initiative, to get involved, or for more information about FCHS programs in Cape May County, please call 609-465-5115, ext. 3609.
Please follow us on Facebook at FCHSCapeMayCounty for the latest FCHS program details. Also, for up to date information on the Cape May County Family and Community Health Sciences Program, visit our website capemay.njaes.rutgers.edu.
The Department of Family and Community Health Sciences promotes health and wellness through education, research, and collaboration with outreach in food, nutrition, and healthy Lifestyles. Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County educational programs are offered to all without regard to race, religion, color, age, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.