In an effort to address issues around internet access and the digital divide, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) released a map of local libraries offering internet access via wi-fi signals outside of their buildings. Continue reading
Archives
Age-Friendly Funding Alert: Mass Service Alliance, Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program
Massachusetts Service Alliance – Due Date: Feb. 5th
In response to the current COVID-19 pandemic crisis, The Massachusetts Service Alliance (MSA) announces the release of a second Request for Proposals for COVID-19 relief efforts. MSA seeks to award grants of up to $4,000 to support volunteer community service projects and volunteer capacity-building initiatives needed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading
Tufts Health Plan and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Officially Come Together
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan announced their organizations have formally combined, effective January 1, 2021, having received all regulatory approvals. Continue reading
MHAC: 2020 Year in Review
Creating an environment where a broad set of stakeholders can come together to address the needs of a community has never been more important and valuable than this past year. Continue reading
Facing a Pandemic: Grandfamilies Living Together During COVID-19 and Thriving Beyond
Nationwide, older adults are being cautioned to keep their distance from children because of the heightened risk of infection from COVID-19. But for some families—grandfamilies—that distance is impossible.
Facing a Pandemic: Families Living Together During COVID-19 and Thriving Beyond elevates the unique needs of grandfamilies amplified by the pandemic. These grandfamily caregivers are the first line of defense for children during the pandemic, having stepped in when parents cannot raise them for many reasons, including cases where children’s parents have died from the COVID-19 virus. Continue reading
Age-Friendly Winter Spaces Guide Aims to Help Communities Embrace Winter, Promote Physical Activity and Social Engagement
Through grant funding, collaboration, and technical support, communities across Massachusetts have an opportunity to support residents of all ages in remaining physically active and socially engaged this winter.
The pandemic has heightened the awareness and importance of social engagement, which cities and towns can promote with a new guide developed by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, WalkBoston and the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative. Continue reading
Boston and New Bedford Featured in AARP’s Age-Friendly COVID-19 Response Highlights
Among the nation’s communities and local leaders on the frontlines of the global coronavirus pandemic are the more than 450 towns, cities, counties and states enrolled in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities – 74 of which are in Massachusetts.
AARP highlighted COVID-19 response in age-friendly communities across the country and included examples from Boston and New Bedford. Continue reading
Baker Administration Announces Vaccination Plan, Older Adults in Phase Two
The Baker-Polito Administration and the Department of Public Health developed a vaccine distribution timeline after extensive consultation with the Massachusetts Vaccine Advisory Group, made up of leaders from health care, the faith community, community organizations, local government, and others.
The timeline reflects several priorities: protecting our most vulnerable, maintaining health care system capacity, and addressing inequities in health care access and COVID-19 burden. Continue reading
Lasell University, MGA Seek Info to Connect Students with Opportunities in Aging Services
The RoseMary B. Fuss Center for Research on Aging and Intergenerational Studies at Lasell University is working with the Massachusetts Gerontology Association (MGA) to raise awareness about careers in aging and explore ways to connect students at our colleges and universities to local internship and related opportunities in the field of aging. Continue reading
Age-Friendly Funding Alert: MassDOT, Mass Cultural Council, NACCHO
The Mass. Healthy Aging Collaborative is reminding age- and dementia friendly communities that the Shared Winter Streets and Spaces Program from the Mass. Department of Transportation (MassDOT) in partnership with the Barr Foundation is available in four rounds spaced over December, January and February.
More info is available in this MassDOT press release. Continue reading