Most recent resources

Through grant funding, collaboration, and technical support, communities across Massachusetts have an opportunity to support residents of all ages in remaining physically active and socially engaged this winter. See this new guide outlining potential strategies for communities developed by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative and WalkBoston. Below, you can find great examples of communities that embrace winter spaces and activities: (more…)

A new report offers insights from communities’ response during the coronavirus pandemic and demonstrates their nimbleness in creating more inclusive and equitable systems to support older people. How Innovative Community Responses to COVID-19 Support Healthy Aging is the result of a collaboration between the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs, Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative and Tufts Health Plan Foundation.

The research, conducted by FSG, highlights strategies employed by communities and offers recommendations for stronger results moving forward. The report was funded by Tufts Health Plan Foundation.

Part of the Valuing the Invaluable series on the economic value of family caregiving, this report updates national and individual state estimates of the economic value of family caregiving using the most current data available.  Source: AARP

Data , tools and resources on a range of topics available on healthy aging and Alzheimer’s from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

MHAC intends to keep a running list of available online resources shared by Age- and Dementia Friendly Communities that can serve as examples for others. This includes sample assessments, action plans and exciting ongoing initiatives.

We will update this resource as other communities and regions share their learned lessons and goals.

• Berkshires –action plan, survey results and other helpful resources.
• Boston –action plan, progress reports and innovative initiatives.
• Brookline – The Brookline Community Aging Network (BrooklineCAN) website includes reports, resources and initiatives.
• Cape Ann – An aligned age-and dementia friendly initiative covering a four-community region (Essex, Gloucester, Manchester, Rockport) – includes sample survey for residents and businesses, along with action plan.
• Dedham – action plan and specific initiatives identified by the community.
• New Bedford – action plan and supporting documents
• Peabody – action plan
• Salem – legacy website includes assessment tools and newer “Salem for All Ages” website includes current initiatives and progress reports.
• Springfield – Age-Friendly report includes dementia friendly and age-friendly health system collaboration.
• West Springfield – aligned age- and dementia friendly initiative and action plan.
• Yarmouth – committee embedded in town government. Meeting minutes and agendas.

While the title and geographic scope of the foundation’s work resides in the MetroWest region, the definitions, data and tools available in this resource can be used by any community. It should also draw special interest from Age- and Dementia Friendly stakeholders that are convening and engaging community members, conducting community assessments, gathering data, and creating action plans.

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs, Jewish Family & Children’s Service, and
the Tufts Health Plan Foundation convened a summit on May 9, 2016 that brought together
leaders from 84 organizations interested in age-friendly and dementia-friendly work. A need identified at the Summit was for a comprehensive look at the work currently being done on agefriendly and dementia-friendly activities. This report addresses this need by highlighting findings of an environmental scan (i.e., in-depth inventory) of dementia-friendly and age-friendly communities conducted between August 2016 and January 2017 by a research team at the Gerontology Institute of the University of Massachusetts Boston led by professors Beth Dugan and Nina Silverstein. Our aim is to not “reinvent the wheel,” but to facilitate and accelerate stakeholder progress in making Massachusetts a great place to grow up and grow old in.

This toolkit is aimed at aligning and simplifying the frameworks of the Age- and Dementia Friendly movement.

The Massachusetts Age- and Dementia Friendly Integration Toolkit brings together resources from the national and global Age- and Dementia friendly movements, which is intended to save both time and resources, and directs users to guidance, examples, and local case studies. (more…)

This toolkit from the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston and Generations United provides practical information, guidance, and templates to help senior housing providers, and other organizations serving older adults, implement high-quality intergenerational programs that will benefit elders and young people in their communities. (more…)