TOMS RIVER – The Ocean County Board of Commissioners recently provided an additional $432,500 for a variety of programs that assist the County's large senior population.

"It's a wonderful distinction that Ocean County is home to one of the largest senior populations in the United States with more than 220,000 seniors living here," said Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Barbara Jo Crea, Chairwoman of the Ocean County Office of Senior Services. "As a Board, we know it's imperative we provide the funding needed for programs that help a high percentage of this population, who may be living solely on Social Security, to remain independent, with a secure roof over their heads, food on their table, the ability to access services and tap into recreational opportunities."

Crea noted that nine of the providers that work with the Office of Senior Services will share the additional funds for several different programs.

She noted the funding comes from other counties that didn't use their total appropriation of American Rescue Plan funds.

"The funding that allowed us to increase these contracts and in turn help more of our seniors comes from other counties that did not use all of the American Rescue Plan funds that were distributed by the federal government," she said. "Ocean County was a beneficiary of this and is now distributing an additional $432,500 to increase some of our services."

With the Office of Senior Services, a review of where the money should go was completed and focused on the priority services seniors need most - transportation, home repair and modification, legal services and medical alert/caregiver services.

"We directed a large portion of the additional funds to the priorities identified and also provided more funds for socialization and recreational programs to get seniors out and about again," she said. "Since Covid, depression and isolation continue to be a problem with seniors and to combat it, we have directed additional dollars for socialization and recreation programs.

"We want our seniors to be socially engaged which helps both physical and mental health," she said.

Providers including Community Services Inc. of Ocean County, the County's major home delivered meals and nutrition site provider, Brick Township, Lakewood Community Services Corp., Community Medical Center, and Point Pleasant are using a portion of the extra funds for socialization and recreation programs for our seniors.

She added there is also a growing demand for medical alert buttons to keep seniors safe in their homes. These are funded through the Caregiver Support dollars.

"Our office of Senior Services so far in 2024 has assisted nearly 10,000 clients and the total number of units of services provided is 14,413 so far this year," she said. "I am pleased that this Board is contributing to a better quality of life for so many of our seniors and we intend to continue to do so during the days ahead."