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Ocean County highlights home‑repair and restaurant‑based dining programs for seniors
Summary
Maria LaFace, director of the Ocean County Office of Senior Services, detailed two county‑funded programs on Aug. 20 designed to help older residents remain independent: Housing Plus, which provides free home repairs through Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity, and "Senior Bites," a congregate‑dining pilot that pairs seniors with local restaurants.
Ocean County officials on Aug. 20 described two county‑funded initiatives intended to reduce food insecurity and help older residents remain in their homes.
Maria LaFace, director of the Ocean County Office of Senior Services, told the Board of Commissioners the department has prioritized food insecurity and home repair for 2025 and has partnered with agencies to meet those needs.
"Each year we start out by identifying the priorities...this year the priorities were food insecurity, home repair and home modification," LaFace said. She said the county funds two programs that address those priorities.
Housing Plus provides free home modifications and repairs for eligible county seniors through a partnership with Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity. LaFace introduced Joan Donnelly, a program recipient, who described the work Habitat volunteers performed in her home.
"They were amazing...when I walk in my door now, I feel like I'm in a new home. And I can sleep at night without worrying about water coming through my ceilings," Donnelly said.
The second program, "Senior Bites," is a congregate‑dining pilot administered in partnership with Manchester Senior Outreach and local restaurants. Melissa DePalma, director of senior services for Manchester Township, said participating restaurants prepare nutritionally balanced meals from a menu developed with a nutritionist. The program is designed both to reduce food insecurity and to reduce social isolation by giving mobile seniors places to meet for a meal.
"We were able to create the 'Senior Bites' program. It provides nutritionally balanced meals and the opportunity for seniors to get out of their home, interact with people," DePalma said. She said the pilot already has one restaurant confirmed (Heritage Family Restaurant in Whiting) and that more agreements are expected by the end of the year.
LaFace said the county expects the congregate dining effort to complement — not replace — Meals on Wheels, which remains available to residents who cannot leave their homes.
The commissioners took no formal action during the presentation; the programs were described as existing and county‑funded.
