According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, caregivers, particularly persons with both parenting and adult caregiving responsibilities, will continue to face mental health challenges, and the need for caregivers is projected to increase as the U.S. population ages.
Age and dementia friendly community initiatives may consider how to be inclusive of caregiver needs when engaging residents for feedback and when crafting an action plan. Continue reading
The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative’s Equity in Aging Committee, including AARP Massachusetts and the Public Health Institute of Western MA, is continuing its series of webinars with the Diverse Elders Coalition titled, “Caring for Those who Care.” Continue reading
Through their tireless support and love, family caregivers help thousands of older adults and individuals with disabilities live and thrive in their communities. However, the joys and rewards of family caregiving are met equally with challenges that can impact their health and wellbeing – and caregivers have faced unprecedented challenges during the past year. Many transitioned to providing a greater intensity of care during the pandemic, all while juggling work-from-home and new routines without access to pre-pandemic supports.
The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative is pleased to help announce and promote the launch of the new Caring for the Caregiver monthly webinar series, hosted by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, Mass Home Care, and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. Continue reading
As of Monday, April 5th, residents 55+ and residents with one certain medical condition are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at any of the Commonwealth’s over 300 vaccination locations, including 269 pharmacy locations. With this group, more than 1 million additional residents are eligible for vaccine in the Commonwealth. Continue reading
As the toll of COVID-19 continues to climb, newly released poll data suggest an opportunity to use the pandemic as a prompt for discussing and documenting older adults’ wishes for care, in case of seriously illness or injury.
Overall, 59% of the 50- to 80-year-olds polled said they had had a conversation with loved ones about their preferences in case they became severely ill. That percentage was even higher — 70% — among those over age 65. Just 7% of all older adults polled said COVID-19 had motivated them to have such conversations. Continue reading
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through a partnership between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Administration for Community Living (ACL), will provide nearly $100 million to help increase vaccinations among older adults and people with disabilities. Continue reading
According to Mass Medicaid Policy Institute’s report, “A Primer on the Dual Eligible Population in Massachusetts,” over the past five years, MassHealth dual eligible membership, which currently stands at 312,000 residents, has seen growth driven by its older population. Continue reading
As Massachusetts begins Phase 4, this week the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and respective agencies released a series of new guidance documents for health care and human service providers that supports the safe reopening of programs and provider sites and protects workers, patients, families, and the public. Continue reading
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), issued updated guidance for nursing homes to safely expand visitation options during the COVID-19 pandemic public health emergency (PHE). Continue reading
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offered the first set of public health recommendations for people fully vaccinated from COVID-19. This guidance will be updated and expanded based on the level of community spread of SARS-CoV-2, the proportion of the population that is fully vaccinated, and the rapidly evolving science on COVID-19 vaccines. Continue reading
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