Human Services Opens $4 Million Grant Opportunity to Address Social Isolation Among Older Adults & Individuals with Disabilities

December 26, 2025

(TRENTON) - Human Services today announced that local government and nonprofit entities can apply for grants totaling $4 million to administer the Senior Wellness Pilot Program, designed to strengthen social connections and support for older adults and people with disabilities at risk of social isolation in their communities.

"Older residents and people with disabilities can face a variety of barriers creating and maintaining the social lives and connections they desire. The Senior Wellness Pilot Program will help create opportunities to bolster social inclusion and engagement, so these individuals can avoid isolation, stay connected, and ultimately live more fulfilling lives in their communities," said Commissioner Sarah Adelman.

Grants are available to government or 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.

The Department will award grants of up to $250,000 per grantee. The deadline to submit grant proposals is January 13. To review the request for proposals, click here.

"As we face increasing complexities in social needs among our older adult population, this program will fund initiatives that reimagine support for seniors and disabled individuals that foster a stronger sense of belonging for those who feel alone," said Deputy Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services Kaylee McGuire. "Loneliness among adults is rising at an alarming rate- so now is the time to invest in our communities and strengthen the ties that bind us."

Grant proposals should include:
• plans to facilitate social interaction;
• how these efforts will specifically target socially isolated individuals who are homebound or underserved by current efforts, including non-English-speaking residents;
• plans to continuously engage and retain participants;
• outreach plans to reach socially isolated and homebound individuals;
• plans for communication and outreach; and
• how participant progress will be measured.

Bidders should align their initiatives with strategies and recommendations in Human Services' Age-Friendly Blueprint and the Department's report on social isolation. These grants are intended to both decrease social isolation among participants and provide data that can inform future opportunities for supporting this population effectively.

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.

"Helping older adults socialize with other age groups and cultures in their communities is a mutually enriching endeavor. These grants can help create opportunities for social connection for older residents who wish to remain engaged but may not be able to do so without some assistance and support," said Division of Aging Services Assistant Commissioner Louise Rush.

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.