This past week, the Mass. Healthy Aging Collaborative was pleased to present a statewide perspective on older adults and digital equity to the Massachusetts Broadband Equity Commission. MHAC is among many organizations and stakeholders that have labeled technology as...
News: News and Updates
New ‘HomeFit’ Checklists in Multiple Languages Available from AARP
The AARP Livable Communities team shared a series of downloadable checklists in multiple languages as a supplement to their 'HomeFit' Guide. AARP's HomeFit Guide itself is a 36-page, fully-illustrated resource with more than 100 tips and suggestions to improve the...
Massachusetts Planning Magazine from APA-Mass. Features Age-Friendly Resources
The Fall 2021 edition of Planning Magazine, a publication of the American Planning Association-Massachusetts Chapter, featured the success of the MassDOT Shared Streets and Spaces Program, which awards bonus points for projects that are inclusive of older adults. The...
Equity in Aging Work from MHAC and Partners Highlighted in Twitter Chat
The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative was joined by a range of statewide and national partners working to advance inclusive age-and dementia friendly communities in a Twitter Chat that focused on "Equity in Aging." The question-and-answer format provided an...
Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspots Available at Libraries Across State with Opportunities for Collaboration
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners recently announced that local libraries across the state are loaning out Wi-Fi hotspots, which are devices that you can take with you to access the internet from wherever you are. Mobile Wi-Fi hotspots connect to...
Age-Friendly Funding Alert: Local Cultural Council Program
In FY22, Mass Cultural Council will invest $4.8 million into the Local Cultural Council (LCC) Program, the nation’s largest grassroots cultural funding network. This represents a great opportunity for age- and dementia friendly communities to connect older adults to...
CMS Promoting Medicare Open Enrollment thru Dec. 7
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is reminding people with Medicare that Medicare Open Enrollment begins October 15, 2021, and now is the time to review their coverage options and make a choice that meets their health care needs. Medicare’s Open...
AARP Survey Highlights Tech Adoption and Perceived Barriers Among Grandparents
During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, significantly more grandparents than non-grandparents purchased smartphones (32% vs. 22%) and Smart TVs (24% vs. 11%) than they did in the 12-months prior, according to AARP research. Ranking the top barriers to...
8-80 Cities, AARP Create New ‘Winter Placemaking’ Guide for Creating Inclusive Public Spaces During Colder Months
In an effort to encourage communities to plan for embracing the winter season, 8-80 Cities teamed up with AARP to create a new Winter Placemaking Guide, which seeks to address the distinct winter challenges that communities of all sizes experience, offering practical...
MHAC Adds New Webpage Focused on Digital Equity and Older Adults
Alongside the Executive Office of Elder Affairs and the Technology Subcommittee of the Task Force to End Loneliness and Build Community, the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative added a new webpage with an evolving list of resources aimed at addressing digital...