Area Agencies on Aging in New Jersey (2026)

Last updated: April 30, 2026

Checked through April 30, 2026. County contacts, program names, and state rules can change. Confirm details with your county office before you apply.

Bottom line: New Jersey has one Area Agency on Aging in each county. The state also calls these offices Aging and Disability Resource Connection, or ADRC, lead agencies. For many seniors, caregivers, and adults with disabilities, the fastest first step is to call 1-877-222-3737 or your county office. Your county can help with meals, caregiver help, Medicare counseling, rides, benefits screening, and long-term care questions.

Contents

• Urgent help
• Best first steps
• New Jersey snapshot
• County aging offices
• What AAAs help with
• Long-term care help
• Phone scripts
• Spanish summary
• FAQs

Urgent help in New Jersey

Call 911 if there is danger, a medical emergency, fire, violence, or another life-threatening problem. For a mental health crisis, call or text 988. For food, shelter, rent, utility, or local crisis help, call 2-1-1. The NJ 211 aging page also points older adults to the statewide ADRC number.

If you suspect abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult living in the community, contact Adult Protective Services through the county system. Start with your county ADRC, or use the state county aging offices page to find the right county contact.

If your problem is not an emergency but you need help soon, call 1-877-222-3737. Say your county, your age, whether you are calling for yourself or someone else, and the main need: food, rides, Medicare, home care, caregiver relief, housing, or safety.

Best first steps

Start with the office that fits the problem. New Jersey has many programs, but no single program fixes every issue. A county ADRC can help you sort the first call and avoid the wrong form.

For a wider list of state benefits, use our New Jersey benefits guide. For local classes, meals, and activities, our New Jersey senior centers guide may also help.

New Jersey snapshot for seniors

New Jersey is a high-cost state, so local help matters. The Census QuickFacts page lists about 9.5 million people in New Jersey in 2024, with 18.0% age 65 or older. It also lists median gross rent at $1,720 and says 33.1% of people age 5 and older speak a language other than English at home.

These facts shape senior services. A senior in Newark, Jersey City, or Paterson may need help with rent, transit, and language access. A senior in Sussex, Salem, Warren, or Cape May County may need help with longer travel distances and fewer nearby providers. A county ADRC is useful because it knows local meal sites, ride options, housing contacts, and service gaps.

New Jersey county aging offices

New Jersey’s official directory says an Area Agency on Aging is designated in each of the state’s 21 counties. The same directory says these offices also serve as ADRC lead agencies. Use this table to start, then confirm the address, email, and office hours on the official county page.

Many old online lists have outdated addresses. The official state page now lists current county contacts, including changed office locations for some counties. Before mailing forms or visiting in person, check the current directory.

What New Jersey AAAs help with

Information and benefits screening

What it helps with: Your county ADRC can help you understand local services, state programs, federal benefits, and long-term care choices. Staff can point you to the right office for meals, rides, caregiver support, Medicare counseling, Medicaid, housing, legal help, and safety concerns.

Who may qualify: Older adults, adults with disabilities, caregivers, and family members can call for information. Some services focus on people age 60 and older. Some disability and long-term care services are open to adults of other ages if they meet program rules.

Where to apply: Start with 1-877-222-3737 or your county office. You can also use the official county aging offices page to contact the county directly.

Reality check: The first call is not the same as approval. Staff may screen your situation, then send you to NJSave, NJ SNAP, Medicaid, a housing office, a meal provider, or another local partner.

Senior meals and food support

What it helps with: County aging offices can connect older adults to congregate meals, home-delivered meals, nutrition counseling, and food benefit referrals. New Jersey also has SNAP, food banks, and senior food programs. The state food flyer says adults 60 and over may use several food paths, including meal sites and home-delivered nutrition, when rules are met.

Who may qualify: Senior meal programs often focus on adults age 60 and older. Home-delivered meals usually require a homebound need or another local screening rule. SNAP uses income, resources, household size, and expenses. The NJ SNAP page explains the grocery benefit in plain terms.

Where to apply: Ask your county ADRC about meals. Apply for SNAP through the state system, or ask your county office or NJSave helper where to start if you are unsure.

Reality check: Meal delivery is not always immediate. Routes, volunteers, funding, and local staffing can affect wait times. If you need food today, call 2-1-1 while you also ask about senior meal programs.

Medicare counseling and NJSave

What it helps with: SHIP gives free Medicare counseling. Counselors can help with Medicare, Medigap, Medicare Advantage, Part D drug plans, bills, claims, and plan questions. NJSave is a combined application for help with Medicare premiums, prescription costs, Lifeline utility help, hearing aid help, Extra Help, and other screening paths.

Who may qualify: SHIP is for New Jersey Medicare beneficiaries. NJSave is for low-income older adults and individuals with disabilities who meet the rules for one or more programs. PAAD, Senior Gold, Lifeline, and Medicare Savings Programs each have their own rules.

Where to apply: Use NJSave online, ask a Senior Save Navigator, or call 1-800-792-9745. For Medicare plan help, contact SHIP through your county office. Our Medicare Savings guide explains the New Jersey MSP path before you apply.

Reality check: SHIP counselors do not sell insurance and do not choose a plan for you. Bring your Medicare card, prescription list, plan letters, income proof, and any bills you do not understand.

Caregiver support and respite

What it helps with: Caregiver programs may help a family caregiver get training, short breaks, adult day services, or referrals. New Jersey has Statewide Respite Care, JACC, adult day programs, caregiver workshops, and other local supports. These programs can help a caregiver keep going without leaving the older adult unsafe.

Who may qualify: Rules depend on the program. Some help is for caregivers of older adults. Some programs also help people with dementia, physical limits, or disability-related care needs. JACC is for some seniors at risk of nursing home placement who can still live at home with support.

Where to apply: Ask your county ADRC which caregiver program fits. The state JACC brochure explains in-home support for certain seniors, and the respite brochure explains short breaks for caregivers.

Reality check: Respite is not a full-time care plan. It is usually short-term or periodic help. You may still need Medicaid, paid care, adult day services, family support, or a safer housing plan.

Transportation, housing, and local referrals

What it helps with: County aging offices often know local senior shuttles, paratransit, medical ride options, volunteer driver programs, senior housing contacts, and eviction or shelter referrals. NJ TRANSIT also has a reduced fare program for seniors, people with disabilities, and some military riders.

Who may qualify: Local rides depend on county rules, trip type, pickup area, age, disability, and appointment needs. NJ TRANSIT reduced fares are available for seniors age 62 or older, people with disabilities, and eligible military riders.

Where to apply: Ask your county ADRC about local rides. Check NJ TRANSIT fare rules for state transit discounts. For affordable rentals, the state housing site lets you search rentals, accessible housing, and temporary housing.

Reality check: A senior ride program may not cover every trip. Medical rides may get priority over shopping or social trips. Affordable housing sites list openings, but most subsidized housing still has waitlists. Our New Jersey housing help guide covers rent, utility, and emergency housing paths.

Long-term care help through the ADRC

Long-term care is one of the most important reasons to call the county ADRC. New Jersey uses Managed Long Term Services and Supports, or MLTSS, through NJ FamilyCare. The state MLTSS page says MLTSS can include care management, home and vehicle changes, home-delivered meals, respite, personal emergency response systems, assisted living, community residential services, and nursing home care.

What it helps with: MLTSS can help pay for approved long-term services at home, in assisted living, in community residential services, or in a nursing home. It is not a cash grant. It is a Medicaid long-term care program.

Who may qualify: Adults age 21 and older must meet financial and clinical rules. The state MLTSS guide says enrollment requires clinical eligibility and financial eligibility. It also says a person must own less than $2,000 in countable resources, with some items not counted.

Where to apply: If the person lives in the community and is not already in Medicaid, call 1-877-222-3737 to schedule an MLTSS screening. If the person already has Medicaid, call the number on the health plan card and ask for a clinical eligibility exam for MLTSS.

Reality check: MLTSS can be a strong path, but the application is document-heavy. The state guide says the caseworker may review resources and income going back five years. Do not give away money, move assets, or sell property for less than fair value without getting qualified advice first. Our assisted living guide explains the assisted living side in more detail.

Phone scripts

Use these short scripts when you call. Write down the date, the person’s name, and the next step.

Regional tips for New Jersey families

North Jersey: In Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, and Union counties, ask about language access, transit options, hospital social work contacts, and housing waitlists. High rent and dense housing can make local referrals very important.

Central Jersey: In Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth, Morris, Somerset, and Hunterdon counties, ask about medical transportation, caregiver respite, senior centers, and county-specific benefit events. Some towns have strong local programs that are not run by the state.

South Jersey and shore counties: In Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, Salem, Sussex, and Warren counties, ask early about ride distance, meal delivery routes, home repair referrals, and seasonal access issues. Rural or shore-area seniors may need more lead time for rides and services.

Official resources

• county aging offices: Official New Jersey county ADRC and AAA contacts
• NJ 211 aging page: Plain directory page for aging service referrals
• NJSave Programs: Combined application for several savings programs
• SHIP page: Free Medicare counseling
• MLTSS page: Medicaid long-term care services
• NJ SNAP: Grocery benefit information
• NJ Housing Resource Center: Search housing and housing resources
• NJ TRANSIT fare: Reduced fare rules
• Census QuickFacts: State population and housing data

Resumen en español

New Jersey tiene una oficina de envejecimiento en cada condado. Estas oficinas también funcionan como puntos ADRC. Pueden ayudar con comidas, transporte, Medicare, beneficios, apoyo para cuidadores, vivienda y preguntas sobre cuidado a largo plazo.

Si hay peligro, llame al 911. Para una crisis de salud mental, llame o mande texto al 988. Para comida, refugio, renta, servicios públicos u otra ayuda local, llame al 2-1-1. Para ayuda de envejecimiento o discapacidad, llame al 1-877-222-3737 o a la oficina de su condado.

Antes de llamar, tenga listo su condado, edad, dirección, número de teléfono, tarjeta de Medicare o Medicaid si tiene una, ingresos aproximados y el problema principal. Pida ayuda en español si la necesita.

FAQs