Policy & Practice | Spring 2026

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By Natalie Zarrillo, Jessica Johnston, Natalie Williams, and Karen Walker

Honoring Older Americans: Strengthening Systems, Health, and Community Impact

E ach May, Older Americans Month recognizes the contributions of older adults and underscores the importance of supporting healthy, connected, and dignified aging. Older adults are essential contributors to thriving communities and strong local economies, serving as caregivers, vol unteers, mentors, workers, neighbors, and civic leaders whose knowledge, leadership, and lived experience strengthen communities across generations. A strengths-based view of aging rec ognizes that older adults are defined not by system interactions or chal lenges, but by resilience, adaptability, and lifelong contributions. Aging is a natural part of the life course, shaped by both individual experiences and the broader environments and systems that support them. Ensuring those contributions are sustained requires systems that protect financial security, support participation, and reduce barriers at every stage of life. Many challenges associated with aging reflect life-course patterns, including changes in health, income, family roles, and social connection that can emerge at any stage of life but often become more visible later in life. For too many older adults, these challenges are compounded by fragmented systems leading to missed benefits, delayed care, and unnec essary complexity in accessing the supports they need. When systems are fragmented, people often experience unnec essary barriers, delays, and unmet needs before receiving support. Strengthening upstream,

Across the country, local com munities are advancing innovative, person-centered approaches to better support older adults through more connected service systems. In New Jersey, the Union County Department of Human Services (UCDHS) is strengthening community-based supports through investments in data, technology, and service innova tion, including the development of a chatbot to help older adults more easily navigate and access essential services and community resources. Within UCDHS, the Union County Division on Aging leads efforts to

community-based approaches can help address challenges earlier through coordinated health, human services, nutrition, housing, transportation, and social support systems that are easier to navigate and more responsive to people’s goals and circumstances. Core programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) remain foundational to stability and well-being in older adulthood. Their impact is strengthened when better integrated with each other and with community-based support, reducing complexity and improving access.

Illustrations by Chris Campbell

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Policy & Practice Spring 2026