The Healey-Driscoll Administration released their FY26 budget proposal totaling $61.5 billion that includes support for older adults as well as age- and dementia friendly initiatives.
One notable and exciting new addition in the budget proposal is a $1 million Age-Friendly Community Grant Program. The proposal describes a program of grants to municipalities, or community organizations in partnership with municipalities, to further develop age-friendly actions, policies, and programs aligned with the goals identified by the secretary of aging and independence; provided that the grants shall be administered by the secretary of aging and independence. The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative appreciates the administration’s inclusion of this new program.
In the administration’s budget briefs, it is noted that “while the total Massachusetts population has grown by less than 2% over the last five years, the age 60+ population has grown by 13%. As a result, there are more residents over the age of 60 than under the age of 20. This has contributed to heightened demand for services tailored to older adults and significant fiscal pressures for the Executive Office of Aging & Independence.”
To meet a growing demand for services under that agency’s purview, FY26 House 1 includes $104.4 million to cover substantial growth over FY25 funding levels. To manage this rate of growth going forward, the Administration directs Aging & Independence to implement managed intake, delaying services for its lowest acuity members in order to preserve services for existing home care clients and prioritize new enrollment for our most vulnerable residents.
Other budget proposal highlights impacting older adults:
- Under the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, (EOHHS), the Governor proposes investments in a redesigned system of Human Service Transportation routes, better connecting clients with necessary services. House 1 maintains an FY25 investment implementing operational efficiencies as well as expansions in capacity. Together, these enhancements allow the Commonwealth to provide transportation to over 400 additional consumers who previously did not have transportation to therapeutic and educational day programs, including those who attend DDS, Day Habilitation, Early Intervention, and Department of Mental Health (DMH) Clubhouse programs.
- To advance health equity in the state, House 1 proposes to raise the asset limit for seniors on MassHealth for the first time in 35 years. MassHealth proposes to raise the asset limit for Medicaid eligibility from $2,000 as an individual/$3,000 as a couple to $5,000 for an individual/ $7,500 for a couple, which reflects historical growth in the Federal Poverty Level. MassHealth proposes to eliminate up to $10,000 in life insurance policies from eligibility determinations. Together, these initiatives will expand eligibility for low-income seniors, providing valuable peace of mind and access to health care coverage.
- House 1 recommends $7.5 million, a $1 million (+15%) increase above the FY25 GAA, for the Resident Service Coordinators program to provide dedicated funding to Local Housing Authorities (LHAs) to hire a resident service coordinator. This investment will allow LHAs to hire 15 additional coordinators who help preserve tenancies in senior housing, connect elders with healthcare services and transportation, and mediate disputes. 150 of the 229 Local Housing Authorities currently participate in the program, and this investment intends to raise that number. The program successfully preserved over 2,600 tenancies last year, safeguarding vulnerable populations from entering homelessness, shelter, or unstable living conditions.
- The FY26 House 1 budget proposal recommends $125 million for public housing programs, a 4% increase over the FY25 GAA. Public housing provides affordable and safe housing for vulnerable populations at higher risk of housing insecurity, including low-income families and individuals, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. The state-aided public housing portfolio houses approximately 70,000 of our state’s residents in 43,558 housing units, operated by 229 Local Housing Authorities located across the state.
- $66 million for additional State Contract Assistance for Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) to support operational enhancements and improvements, including expanded service hours, weekend services, and route expansions.
- $30 million for fare free RTAs. Thirteen RTAs will receive funding to provide year-round, fare-free regional transit transportation.
- $10 million for connectivity projects. Ten projects across nine RTAs will receive funding for the creation or altering of routes that advance connectivity between existing public transportation routes including, but not limited to, RTA routes and MBTA routes.
- $4 million for the Community Transit Grant Program to expand mobility options. This annual grant program provides funding to transit providers to address the transportation needs of older adults, people with disabilities and low-income individuals. Specifically, the grant provides funds for mobility management activities and operating costs.
Further details on the budget are available here.