Family and Community Health Sciences (FCHS) programming for Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension of Ocean County is conducted by Dr. Kathleen Cullinen and focuses on promoting healthy aging, independence, and quality of life across the lifespan.

Ocean County is home to approximately 200,000 adults age 60 and older and has one of the largest older-adult populations in New Jersey. Nearly one in four residents is age 65 or older, and the county includes 93 age-restricted communities—the most of any county in the state. This distinctive demographic landscape creates an important need for accessible, research-based education and community initiatives that support people as they age.

FCHS programming addresses healthy aging and aging in place, age-friendly communities, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, chronic disease prevention, climate resilience and emergency preparedness, and overall health and well-being. Through community-based education, outreach, research, and multisector partnerships, programs serve older adults, adults with disabilities, caregivers, and the professionals and organizations that support them.

Educational Programs

Pathways to Healthy Aging

Pathways to Healthy Aging is a research-based educational series developed by Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County to help older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers build the knowledge and practical skills needed to support health, independence, and quality of life.

Programs are available as individual workshops or as a multi-session series and address topics including nutrition, physical activity, heart health, brain health, chronic disease prevention, emotional well-being, fraud prevention, cancer screening, and seasonal health and safety.

Interested in bringing a Healthy Aging program to your organization? Contact Dr. Kathleen Cullinen at cullinen@njaes.rutgers.edu.

Wellness Wednesdays

Wellness Wednesdays with FCHS are free, research-based webinars offered via Zoom on Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m. Programs address nutrition, health, wellness, and healthy aging topics for adults throughout New Jersey.

View upcoming Wellness Wednesday programs

Community Initiatives & Research

Age-Friendly Ocean County

Age-Friendly Ocean County is a countywide initiative led in partnership with the Ocean County Office of Senior Services to make Ocean County a better place to grow older.

The initiative brings residents, community organizations, municipalities, health and social service providers, and other partners together to identify needs and advance sustainable improvements in the policies, systems, services, and environments that influence healthy aging and aging in place.

Learn more about Age-Friendly Ocean County

Brain Health Partnership

The Brain Health Partnership is a collaborative initiative of Rutgers Cooperative Extension Family & Community Health Sciences and the Alzheimer’s Association focused on promoting brain health, increasing awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, supporting caregivers, and connecting communities with evidence-based education and research opportunities.

Trained Rutgers Cooperative Extension educators provide Alzheimer’s Association educational programs free of charge in participating New Jersey counties. Topics include healthy lifestyle strategies for brain health, understanding Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, effective communication and caregiving strategies, and recognizing cognitive changes.

In Ocean County, the partnership also connects community members with emerging brain-health research through collaborations with Rutgers and other research partners. Educational programming incorporates evaluation to measure participant learning and program effectiveness.

Interested in scheduling a Brain Health Partnership program? Contact Dr. Kathleen Cullinen at cullinen@njaes.rutgers.edu.

Participate in Research

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Research

Participating in research can help advance our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and contribute to new approaches to prevention, early detection, treatment, and care.

Rutgers researchers are recruiting participants for studies addressing Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, brain health, caregiving, and healthy aging.

Explore Alzheimer’s and dementia research opportunities at Rutgers

Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease Research

Did you know? Approximately 90%–95% of individuals with Down syndrome develop Alzheimer’s disease-related brain changes during their lifetime.

Rutgers researchers are working to better understand aging, brain health, and Alzheimer’s disease among individuals with Down syndrome.

Learn about the New Jersey Down Syndrome Aging Study

Resources

Visions Newsletter

Visions is a peer-reviewed Rutgers Family and Community Health Sciences consumer newsletter featuring research-based information on nutrition, physical activity, health, food safety, and other wellness topics.

Current and past issues of Visions are available online at no cost.

Read Visions online

Printed copies may also be available at Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County, 1623 Whitesville Road, Toms River, NJ.

Healthy Aging Resources

Local and State Resource Directories

Additional FCHS publications and fact sheets are available through the Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension publications library

Stay Connected

Would you like to receive announcements about upcoming Healthy Aging programs and other Family and Community Health Sciences educational opportunities in Ocean County?

Contact Dina Baudo, Administrative Assistant, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County, at dbaudo@oceancountynj.gov or 732-349-1247 to be added to our program announcement email list.

Questions, Partnerships, or Program Requests

For questions about Healthy Aging programs, community partnerships, research initiatives, or bringing an FCHS educational program to your organization, contact:

Dr. Kathleen Cullinen
County Agent III / Assistant Professor
Family & Community Health Sciences
Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County
cullinen@njaes.rutgers.edu
732-349-1247

For more information on other FCHS programs click here.

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