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“What we receive is very little, but we try to manage it the best we can so it lasts,” says Antonio Montalvo, referring to his monthly pension of $475 and his wife Guadalupe’s $700. Today, after 11 years of retirement in New Jersey, the Montalvos, both 74, have had to give up living on their own and are in a constant struggle to make ends meet while spending as little as possible.
Among the economic challenges facing older adults in New Jersey, housing and healthcare costs stand out as the most significant. Retirees, especially those who rely solely on Social Security benefits like the Montalvos, survive day to day by cutting back on basic expenses and seeking out community centers that offer support and a more stable environment, according to studies by the New Jersey State Policy Lab at Rutgers University published in 2026.
Many of these older residents reported not having the necessary resources to remain in their own homes due to maintenance, service, and support costs, explain these studies.
Alba Montenegro, 80, a New Jersey resident, also struggles to cover her expenses with her Social Security income. Like the Montalvos, she tries to stretch her retirement income as much as possible.
Every morning, like the Montalvos, Alba Montenegro goes to the senior center “Mi Casa es tu Casa,” where she spends the day with about a hundred older adults enrolled in Medicaid. At this center, they also receive transportation, nursing care, and social work services such as scheduling medical appointments, responding to insurance letters, and accessing housing assistance.
“I came here looking for work. At the time, there were no openings, but after asking around, I stayed as a member and I’m happy. It keeps me busy, they pick me up and take me home, we get free breakfast and lunch, and there are many activities.”
After spending the day as best they can, Montenegro and the Montalvos return to sleep at their daughter’s and son’s homes, respectively.
At one point, the Montalvos applied for subsidized housing for very low-income seniors, but after waiting several years, they gave up. For now, they pay $650 a month to rent a room in their son’s home.
“With the supplemental help [which totals $700 a month], that’s how I pay for the room. You can imagine, there’s almost nothing left,” says Guadalupe Montalvo.
Seniorly ranked New Jersey as the worst state to retire in the United States, noting in its analysis that it is “one of the least affordable states” for this population.
In addition to housing costs, another major challenge for older adults in New Jersey is access to healthcare. Approximately 65% of seniors in the state live with three or more chronic conditions, reflecting a high level of medical need and a direct impact on both quality of life and healthcare costs, according to an analysis by Seniorly based on federal health data.
Mrs. Montalvo, Lupe as she is affectionately known, suffers from diabetes, asthma, and high blood pressure. Her husband Antonio underwent two intestinal surgeries and later developed hernias, which he says left him unable to return to work after retiring.
“I have the OTC card for medical expenses and some groceries,” says Antonio Montalvo.
Alba Montenegro also closely monitors her healthcare expenses: “My supplemental insurance helps me pay for my medications, except when some are very expensive. Then I have to pay part of it.”
Adults aged 60 and older are the fastest-growing demographic group in New Jersey, reshaping the state’s population structure. By 2034, the state will have more residents over the age of 60 than students in its classrooms, according to U.S. Census data. And like much of the country, New Jersey is not prepared for this shift, explains the 2026 report from Rutgers University.
New Jersey provides access to services and infrastructure for older and more vulnerable residents, including those used by Montenegro, the Montalvos, and others at the “Mi Casa es tu Casa” senior center. Yet high costs, tax burdens, and ongoing health challenges continue to limit their quality of life, a situation expected to worsen as the state’s population continues to age.
