As Featured on The Montclair Pod: Aging in Montclair: Community, Connection, and What It Means to Grow Older Today
As Montclair residents age, the question of how to stay connected, supported, and engaged later in life is becoming increasingly important for both the residents and their families.
Our senior community is very active and has been shaped by residents who chose to stay in Montclair long after raising their families. In a conversation with Lynda Hollander, President of Aging in Montclair (AIM), we explore how the organization supports adults over 60, many of whom came to Montclair for the schools and never left. From packed Fourth of July parade appearances to advocacy at town council meetings, Hollander describes the group as not only locally engaged, but determined to be heard as the town continues to evolve around them.
At its core, the most common issue is also the most human. “They’re lonely. They’re isolated,” Hollander said, describing what she hears most often from residents who come to Aging in Montclair. For some, the organization becomes their primary source of connection. “I don’t see anybody else except for the people in this group,” one participant told her. That’s where the impact becomes clear. Beyond resources or referrals, Aging in Montclair gives people something to look forward to. “It gives people a purpose,” Hollander said, pointing to the role community plays in helping older adults stay engaged and connected.
