Age-Friendly Leonia is currently funded by the State of New Jersey Department of Human Services/Division of Aging Services.  The initiative will continue to seek funding for its entire duration.  The Mayor’s Advisory Committee for Age-Friendly Leonia is charged with spearheading the program. Leonia joins more than two dozen New Jersey communities and counties as a member of the AARP Network.

The well-established AARP program provides a framework that equips local leaders and residents with a guide for assessing the needs of older adults and then creating and implementing an action plan based on those results.  The process to earn the Age-Friendly community designation take five years.  The graphic below illustrates that process. 

Next Step: Report of Survey Results

Age-Friendly Leonia had a robust response to a community needs assessment survey conducted in Q4 of 2025. The results are being tabulated and analyzed into a report which will be ready in early 2026. The report will be shared with the Mayor and Council, Borough departments and all interested residents. Watch for details.

The results of that survey will inform the development of an action plan and timetable for implementation. Based on identified projects and priorities, the committee will seek additional grant funding.

Guiding the survey and action plan is the 8 Domains of Livability, an established framework used by AARP network members to organize and prioritize work. The availability and quality of these features within a community are known to impact the well-being of older adults and people of all ages.

Action Plan

Survey results are expected to give rise to a set of priorities that are unique to our community. The goal is to ensure that Leonia offers what is needed for residents as they pass through various stages of their lives. From there, an action plan will be developed and shared with residents, the Mayor, and the Borough Council, after which it will be submitted to AARP for review. Once approved, work will begin toward the plan’s goals through a process that will be collaborative and ongoing, evaluated through progress reports along the way.

Age-Friendly Leonia will share solutions, successes and best practices across the Age-Friendly network, gaining insight and knowledge from fellow Age-Friendly communities locally, regionally and nationally.

What You Can Do

• Stop by the Age-Friendly Leonia table at Borough events, where you can speak with Committee members, learn more about the timing of the survey, and find free resources from the Borough, Bergen County and New Jersey – all geared to older adults.
• Join our mailing list to keep up to date with Age-Friendly Leonia progress.You can sign up at the Age-Friendly Leonia table at community events or by sending us an email at agefriendlyleonia@leonianj.gov.
• If you have thoughts, ideas or questions about this initiative, contact us at agefriendlyleonia@leonianj.gov. Let us know if you would like to be kept informed.
• Look to this page for regular updates on progress as we lead Leonia into the future as an Age-Friendly community.

Links to Existing Resources for Older Adults in New Jersey

A wealth of resources is available to anyone seeking information on services geared to older adults. Here are links to borough, county, state and national information and guidance on all topics of interest:

Borough of Leonia Senior Services
Bergen County Division of Senior Services
New Jersey Department of Human Services/Division of Aging Services
New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well
Adult Children of Aging Parents – Bergen County Chapter
AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities
Korean American Senior Citizens Association of NJ