The Mass. Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced the award of $6.5 million total to cities and towns which applied for funding from the Shared Streets and Spaces Grant Program. Among those are several projects that are inclusive of older adults, thanks to bonus points that encourage applicants to consider improving the built environment around councils on aging, senior housing, and other public spaces. Continue reading
The “Caring for Those Who Care” webinar trainings, in partnership with the Diverse Elders Coalition, is halfway through the six-part series.
Please join us, AARP Massachusetts and the Public Health Institute of Western Mass., who serve as the co-chairs of MHAC’s Equity in Aging Committee, for the remaining webinars below: Continue reading
The Bus Network Redesign being conducted by the MBTA is a once-in-a-generation attempt to make bold improvements to the bus network for the people who depend on it most. The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative encourages our network to submit feedback to promote age- and dementia friendly design on the Bus Network Redesign survey. Continue reading
As of July 4th, over 34,000 Massachusetts households have enrolled in the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program to help families and households struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative encourages communities working to become age-and dementia friendly to raise awareness about this program to help connect older adults to internet access.
The EBB provides eligible households with a temporary, monthly discount of up to $50 towards their broadband service. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. Continue reading
Aging services staff and volunteers are invited to get involved in CarFit, a joint initiative of AAA, AARP, and the American Occupational Therapy Association to promote older driver safety and mobility by assisting drivers in understanding how they fit in their vehicles and making adjustments to improve comfort and safety. Continue reading
The Baker Administration announced that Massachusetts residents who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can now use their EBT SNAP benefits to buy fresh food and pantry staples online from a variety of participating stores for same-day delivery and pickup via Instacart, including Price Chopper, ALDI and newly added Hannaford and Stop & Shop.
Residents can shop for groceries from Hannaford, Stop & Shop, Price Chopper and ALDI via the Instacart online site and mobile app. Continue reading
Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative (MHAC) was awarded a two-year grant of $175,000 from Tufts Health Plan Foundation to continue to drive the state’s leadership in the age-friendly movement through collective action, convening, and community engagement. Continue reading
During 2021, the Alliance for Digital Equity conducted an assessment of the digital divide and digital equity with over 100 organizations in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties of Massachusetts. Combined with recent census data, the assessment led to a report providing community-level insight into challenges facing those communities with lessons for communities across Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative is a member of the Alliance for Digital Equity and contributed to the report, which includes examples of digital equity programs and practices that support older adults. Continue reading
A new AARP report titled “The Economic Impact of Age Discrimination” estimates that the U.S. economy stands to lose as much $850 billion due to ageist hiring practices, workforce culture, and a lack of focus on retention of older workers, among other factors. Continue reading
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