New estimates from the 2025 Elder Index demonstrate that the cost of living in Massachusetts has increased substantially in recent years for older adults, especially for renters. The Elder Index, which is compiled by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on...
News: Data and Reports
Point32Health Foundation Releases Annual Report
The philanthropic arm of Point32Health and its family of companies — including Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Tufts Health Plan and CarePartners of Connecticut — Point32Health Foundation released their annual report for 2025 that details the outcomes of Foundation...
The Greater Boston Food Bank and Mass General Brigham’s Sixth Annual Statewide Food Access Report Shows Rise in Food Insecurity
A record 40% of Massachusetts households—approximately 1.1 million—experienced food insecurity in 2025, according to the sixth annual Massachusetts Food Access Report: Hunger on the Rise (2026 Report) from The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) and Mass General Brigham....
Research Shows Positive Impact of Age-Friendly Community Efforts
Ten years of the AARP Livability Index platform and a base of 1,000-plus members of the national AARP age friendly network are now yielding important data. For a study released in August 2025, researchers Xue Zhang of Penn State University and Mildred Warner of...
Family Caregiving in Massachusetts: New Research on the Realities Facing Family Caregivers and the Policies Voters Support
AARP conducted a survey of registered voters 30 and older across Massachusetts, which highlights who caregivers are, the challenges they face and the solutions that can make a difference. AARP estimates that there are over 1.4 million family caregivers age 18 and...
‘America’s Rental Housing 2026’ Report Released by JCHS at Harvard
The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University released the report "America's Rental Housing 2026" along with interactive maps and data. The report shows the number of renters with cost burdens has reached another record high, rents for new leases show...
New Guide Promotes Age Inclusivity in Higher Education
Building off the work and tools of Reframing Aging and the Age Inclusivity Domains of Higher Education (AIDHE) initiative, a new guide was released by Gerontological Society of America (GSA) to promote age-inclusive communication in higher education. While the guide...
DPH Community Health Equity Initiative Announces New Round of Survey and Data Collection
The Community Health Equity Initiative (CHEI) collects data on the social and structural causes of health experienced by Massachusetts residents, specifically among communities impacted by structural racism and other drivers of inequity. CHEI collaborates with...
Foundation for Social Connection Releases Inaugural ‘State of the US Ecosystem Report’
The State of the US Ecosystem Report offers a field-level perspective on the current health of the US SILC ecosystem. The report draws on survey responses from more than 60 entities working across sectors, roles, and geographies, reflecting the collective perspectives...
JCHS at Harvard Reports on Historic Highs for Housing Unaffordability
Newly released American Community Survey data, analyzed by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University shows that 43.5 million households were cost burdened in 2024, dedicating more than 30 percent of their income each month to housing costs. The number...