Mac users: Increase text size by holding command and +. Decrease text size by holding command and -.The Baker Administration announced the implementation of its Roadmap for Behavioral Health Reform with the opening of 25 Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHCs), community-based crisis intervention services, and launch of the 24/7 Behavioral Health Help Line. This marks a historic development in access to behavioral health services across the Commonwealth. Continue reading
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Age Friendly Funding Alerts: Training for Family Caregivers, AmeriCorps Senior Workforce Development, MassTrails, Respite Innovation Grant
The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative is pleased to promote the following funding opportunities that advance inclusive age- and dementia friendly communities: Continue reading
SNAP Advocacy Guide Developed by Mass Law Reform Institute
The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) developed a SNAP Advocacy Guide that outlines the core eligibility rules for SNAP including: how to apply, what proofs are needed, how much income is counted and benefits calculated, how the household composition rules work and more. It also includes advocacy tips on how to fix SNAP problems, such as inaccurate denials, inappropriate verification demands, how to file an appeal and what happens in a hearing.
This guide is an excellent tool and reference for communities working to become age- and dementia friendly that are focused on food access. Continue reading
Provide Feedback on the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers.
The 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers was created to support family caregivers of all ages, from youth to grandparents, and regardless of where they live or what caregiving looks like for them and their loved ones. The public is invited to comment on the strategy by November 30th.
The strategy was developed jointly by the advisory councils created by the RAISE Family Caregiving Act and the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act, with extensive input from the public, including family caregivers and the people they support. It will be updated in response to public comments and will evolve with the caregiving landscape. Continue reading
National Poll on Healthy Aging: More Than Half of All Older Adults Have Been Caregivers
More than half of adults age 50–80 (54%) said they have helped an adult age 65 or older with health, personal, or other care tasks in the past two years, according to a study from the National Poll on Healthy Aging conducted by the University of Michigan. Continue reading
Upcoming Events: Caring for the Caregiver, Let’s Talk About Dementia and Culture 2022
The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative encourages stakeholders and communities involved in the age- and dementia friendly movement to check out the following upcoming events: Continue reading
Celebrating and Recognizing November as National Family Caregivers Month
Celebrated every November, National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM) is a time to recognize and honor family caregivers across the country. It offers an opportunity to raise awareness of caregiving issues, educate communities, and increase support for caregivers.
In support of the more than one million Massachusetts residents who provide frequent or daily care to their family members, the Baker Administration has proclaimed November 2022 as Family Caregivers Month in the Commonwealth. Continue reading
RAISE Act Family Caregiving Council Announces 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers
The 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers was created to support family caregivers of all ages, from youth to grandparents, and regardless of where they live or what caregiving looks like for them and their loved ones.
The local strategies may be of interest to communities working to become more age and dementia friendly and also integrating caregiver support into their action plans. Continue reading
Mass. Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Launches Emergency Services Card
The Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH), in partnership with the Department of Fire Services (DFS) and Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS), has created a visual tool called the Emergency Services Card (ESC) to assist EMT’s, firefighters and Deaf and hard of hearing individuals communicate better in the first moments of an emergency.
Links and instructions for use are listed below and may be useful for age/dementia friendly community partners to promote locally. Continue reading
New Report Aims to Better Address Health Issues of Family Caregivers
The report “Chronic Disease Family Caregiving: The Framework for Family Caregiving and Public Health,” was developed with support from The John A. Hartford Foundation and in partnership with the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD). This framework is based on recognizing two main root level issues: that family caregiver health and wellness is an issue that must be addressed and that care coordination efforts are of particular concern as the complexity of care is increasing. Continue reading