Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and the Age Strong Commission announced the recipients of its Creating Community and Reducing Social Isolation grant, a new City program designed to provide funding to nonprofit community organizations to create new or expand current programs inviting older adults to engage more for better physical and mental health. The City is awarding $360,000 in funding to 16 nonprofit community organizations. Continue reading
News
White House Launches GetInternet.Gov to Improve Broadband Access
Building on the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides eligible households $30 per month off their internet bills, the White House announced that they negotiated voluntary commitments from 20 internet providers to offer high speed internet services at no cost to ACP beneficiaries. Continue reading
MAPC Unveils Long-Range Plan for Greater Boston, Includes Voice of Older Adults
After years of research and community engagement, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) officially unveiled a land use and public policy blueprint designed to put the region on a course toward a more equitable, sustainable and prosperous future. Included in that is a commitment to ensure the plan is age- and dementia friendly.
The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative worked with MAPC, which already included the voice of older residents from across the region, to conduct listening sessions at its Advisory Council meetings and participated in policy meetings to add an age-friendly perspective. Continue reading
Age-Friendly Funding Alert: Mass. Healthy Aging Fund, Community Transit Grant, Reminders
The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative encourages communities and organizations working to become more age- and dementia friendly to consider the following funding opportunities: Continue reading
Age-Friendly Friendly Biking Promoted by MassBike and AARP Mass.
Fresh off a recent report card from the League of American Bicyclists that ranked Massachusetts as a most bike-friendly state, a partnership between MassBike and AARP Massachusetts is looking to go further by promoting bicycling for older adults. Continue reading
Boston AgeStrong Commission Releases ‘Bus Buddy Chronicles’ Video Series Focused on Helping Connect Older Adults and Public Transit
Boston’s AgeStrong Commission, which is leading the way on the city’s age- and dementia friendly efforts, released a video series called “Bus Buddy Chronicles,” which highlights the department’s AmeriCorps Bus Buddy Volunteer Program. The initiative pairs trained volunteers with older adults to help navigate the MBTA system. Continue reading
National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults Recognizes Tech Access Program from Coastline Elderly Services
A recent publication from engAGED, The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults, features 11 successful social engagement programs from the Innovations Hub that employ a variety of social engagement interventions and tap into an array of partners to reach consumers in rural, suburban and urban communities. Continue reading
Age-Friendly Funding Alerts: HRSA, Blue Cross-Blue Shield Foundation, MassTrails, Community Transit Grant Program
The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative encourages communities working to become more age- and dementia friendly to consider the following funding opportunities: Continue reading
Upcoming Events in Healthy Aging
Check out the following upcoming events that help support inclusive age- and dementia friendly communities: Continue reading
How Discrimination in Health Care Affects Older Americans, and What Health Systems and Providers Can Do
Racial and ethnic discrimination has a significant impact on the health of people of color, affecting mental health and contributing to high blood pressure, negative health behaviors, and early aging, according to an issue brief released by the Commonwealth Fund. For Black older adults, the cumulative effects of race-related stress experienced over the course of a life can increase the risk for mental and physical health problems. Continue reading