Ten grants totaling almost $165,000 were awarded to agencies that will expand programs for seniors and improve their quality of life.

• Adler Aphasia Center Adler Aphasia Center at JCC MetroWest: Outreach and Expansion of Therapeutic Service Delivery - This grant will fund a part-time community outreach worker/educator to recruit 16 new participants and create community partnerships with agencies, community members and health providers. Funding will also support a social worker to lead therapeutic support groups (4 hour sessions twice a month for 9 months) in the greater Bridgewater community.
• Community Health Law Project Legal Assistance With Medical Benefits (LAMB) - The LAMP project will facilitate enrollment of 40-44 seniors in Essex and Union in medical insurance and benefits programs and assist them with appeals or denials of benefits. CHLP will serve 10 area agencies serving seniors with follow up questions and information.
• Dental Lifeline Network NJ (DLNNJ) Donated Dental Services (DDS) for Essex, Morris & Union Counties
  New Jersey DDS provides free dental care to low-income seniors with serious dental problems in Essex, Morris, Sussex and Union counties. Due to their ages or disabilities, Medicare and Medicaid do not cover the care these dental care services. For this grant period, DDS will restore the oral health of 45 seniors with $148,500 in donated dental care.
• HomeSharing, Inc Shared Affordable Housing This grant aims to promote and assist seniors with accessing affordable housing and opportunities to become involved in “shared” home arrangements.
• Jewish Family Service of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren Counties JFS Senior Services Program
  This program will employ a social worker and nurse working in tandem, to help older homebound clients and their caregivers cope with the issues of aging through counseling and case management, nursing consultation, volunteer companionship and better community linkage to support them in the community.
• The Joint Chaplaincy Committee of Greater MetroWest Spiritual Care at Home- Housed in MetroWest and Central JFS offices, the new chaplain join the team of staff that is assisting seniors to remain in their homes and community. By providing home visits and in service training for JFS professionals seniors will gain spiritual well-being, acceptance of one's stage in life, anxiety reduction, less isolation, more social integration and JFS staff will be more sensitive to the needs of seniors.
• Neighbor to Neighbor Network Neighbor to Neighbor Network Senior Services Expansion Initiative-  Funding provided through this grant will expand the role of the volunteer coordinator so that she can increase volunteers, expand nursing student involvement, augment food deliveries, create an Emergency Response and other activities.
• New Bridge Services, Inc. Operation SAIL  (Senior Assistance for Independent Living)
  Funding will enable the SAIL Advanced Practice Nurse to double the number of seniors served, many of whom have dementia. The APN services include health assessments, basic health advice and information; medication management; psychiatric mental status assessments and interventions; linkages to health care information, entitlements, and other service providers.  Outcomes for seniors include:  increased wellness, decreased in feelings of isolation, ability to access all entitlements and services.
• Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey, Inc. Silver Scribes - The Silver Scribe program plans to stimulate creativity and develop and enhance writing skills, self-esteem and socialization among seniors, using professional writers and assistants. A final product will be an anthology and performance as well as a replicable program model for use at other sites.
• Unified Vailsburg Services Organization UVSO Senior Transportation and Mobility Program- The UVSO Senior Transportation Program provides  on-demand, door-to-door ride service to Vailsburg residents who are 60 and older.  Rides are provided to and from the UVSO senior center, for medical appointments, and for shopping and other personal needs. Increased mobility will be achieved by expanding awareness of alternative modes of transportation.