Montgomery Board of Health Reviews Detailed ‘Age-Friendly’ Findings, Outlines Next Steps for Senior Services Planning

Nicholas Mistretta

MONTGOMERY, NJ — The Montgomery Township Board of Health on April 8 heard a detailed presentation on the township’s ongoing Age-Friendly Montgomery initiative, with health officials outlining both the strengths and shortcomings of local services for older adults and identifying a wide range of recommendations aimed at preparing the community for a growing senior population.

Public Health Planner Emily Schreiner presented the more comprehensive results of the township’s needs assessment, which was funded through a $70,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Human Services and focused on residents age 55 and older. The project was designed to identify what resources currently exist for older adults in Montgomery, what gaps remain, and what long-term steps may be needed to make the township more age-friendly. 

Schreiner said older adults already make up a significant share of Montgomery’s population. According to the presentation, residents age 55 and older account for 30 percent of the township, while those 65 and older account for 14.7 percent. She said those numbers are expected to rise, mirroring national trends that point to continued growth in the senior population over the coming decades.

The assessment drew on several sources of information collected between July 2025 and January 2026, including 23 key informant interviews, a community-wide survey with 195 respondents, and three listening sessions attended by 55 residents. A separate facilities assessment by an outside contractor is still underway and will be added to the final report, Schreiner said.

Residents Want to Stay, But Concerns Persist
One of the clearest findings, Schreiner said, is that many older adults have deep roots in Montgomery and want to remain in the community as they age. At the same time, the data suggested that many do not believe the township is fully prepared to support them long-term. Only 18 percent of respondents strongly agreed that Montgomery is an excellent place to age, according to the presentation.

The report found mixed opinions on existing supports for older adults. About half of respondents said they were familiar with senior center programs, but roughly 80 percent said they do not use the senior center at all. Reasons cited included not identifying as a senior, lack of interest in current programming, or not knowing what programs are available.

Communication emerged as a major concern throughout the needs assessment. Schreiner said 70 percent of survey participants did not know who to contact if they or someone they knew needed help with caregiving, meal delivery, home repairs, financial assistance, home safety programs, transportation to medical appointments, or social and recreational activities. Respondents also said information about resources can be difficult to find and often feels fragmented or buried in township communications.

Transportation was identified as perhaps the most significant weakness. Schreiner said only 9 percent of respondents agreed that Montgomery has excellent transportation for older adults, while 38 percent disagreed. She said the issue came up repeatedly in interviews, surveys, and listening sessions, especially among residents concerned about what would happen if they could no longer drive.

Housing was another area of concern. Only 24 percent of respondents agreed that Montgomery offers excellent housing for seniors, while 31 percent disagreed. Schreiner added that 41 percent of respondents said their current homes would not be suitable for aging in place if they developed a physical disability

Strengths and Weaknesses Identified
Using a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis, health officials said the township has several advantages, including collaboration among departments and community partners, a strong emphasis on open space and parks, access to local healthcare, and a strong sense of community. Respondents also praised township programs such as health screenings, information sessions, and public works initiatives like bulk pickup. 

At the same time, the report identified significant weaknesses, including the lack of a dedicated human services function within township government, limited public transportation, under-advertised programs, and insufficient recreational opportunities for active older adults. The presentation also noted that the current senior center is effectively at capacity, limiting its usefulness even if awareness and demand increase. 

Schreiner said several external pressures also threaten the township’s ability to meet the needs of seniors in the years ahead, including rising housing and utility costs, greater social isolation, increasing reliance on technology, and a regional public transportation network that does not adequately serve Montgomery. She also said the township’s large geography and dispersed development pattern make it especially difficult to centralize services or create convenient transit solutions.

Recommendations Range From Communication Fixes to Long-Term Planning
The report’s recommendations include both relatively immediate steps and broader long-term goals. Among them are improving communication and streamlining information for older adults, creating a centralized online portal for senior services, increasing the frequency of popular township programs such as bulk pickup, health screenings, and shred events, and expanding educational programming on topics such as emergency preparedness, aging in place, housing options, and fraud prevention.

Longer-term recommendations include adopting accessibility standards for new developments, incorporating public health and age-friendly criteria into land use and planning reviews, expanding pedestrian and cycling safety, partnering with county and state agencies to improve transportation options, and planning for an expanded or new senior center. The report also recommends establishing a dedicated human services function in the township and strengthening outreach to isolated and homebound seniors.

During the board’s discussion, members questioned how much of the work could realistically be implemented and who would ultimately be responsible for carrying it out. Schreiner said some recommendations would fall to township departments, while others would depend on community organizations, outside partnerships, or future planning efforts. She said communication-related improvements are likely among the most achievable early steps, especially because some existing services are underused simply because people do not know about them.

Board members also discussed the tension between growing demand for services and limited staffing and funding. One member noted that residents often want additional services but do not want higher taxes, calling that a core challenge in moving many of the recommendations forward. Another said the issue goes beyond the Board of Health and will likely require action at the township committee and master plan level. 

The final report is expected within the next month and will be shared publicly, Schreiner said. Township officials also said the slideshow presentation would be posted online to make the findings easier for residents to review.

Photo Credit: Nicholas Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomery.com