Mac users: Increase text size by holding command and +. Decrease text size by holding command and -.Following a series of listening sessions held during the pandemic, the Senate Committee on Reimagining Massachusetts Post-Pandemic Resiliency released its report with policy and spending recommendations on everything from rental assistance to digital equity. Continue reading
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AP-NORC Survey Finds Continued Concerns About COVID-19, Social Isolation Among Older Adults
According to a new study of adults age 50 and older from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and funded by The SCAN Foundation, many adults age 50 and older remain worried about infection and are more likely to practice
social distancing and to feel socially isolated. Continue reading
Baker Administration Announces Update on Pfizer COVID-19 Booster Availability
In accordance with updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Pfizer COVID-19 Booster is now available to individuals 65 years of age and older, individuals 18-64 years of age at risk for severe COVID-19 due to underlying medical conditions, and individuals 18-64 years of age who are at increased risk for COVID-19 because of occupational or institutional settings who have previously received the Pfizer vaccine.
These residents are eligible to receive their Pfizer booster shot at least 6 months after their second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Continue reading
New Census Bureau Tool Launched to Help Measure Community Resilience to Disasters
Released last year as an experimental data product, the U.S. Census Bureau’s Community Resilience Estimates (CRE) garnered so much interest among public and government agencies that the Census Bureau decided to offer it regularly — with tweaks based on user feedback — to help decision-makers plan how to best serve their community.
The Census Bureau defines “community resilience” as the capacity of individuals and households to absorb, endure, and recover from the health, social, and economic impacts of a disaster such as a hurricane or pandemic. Continue reading
CDC Data Reveals Most Older Adults in Massachusetts Receiving COVID Vaccine
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 99% of Massachusetts residents age 65 and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Continue reading
MACDC Creates ‘Guide to Reading a Hospital’s Community Benefits Report’
The Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations (MACDC) created a Guide To Reading A Hospital’s Community Benefits Report.
Age and dementia friendly community coalitions are among the community-based partners that can use this guide, which is valuable for mapping out common ground with a hospital’s efforts to improving social determinants of health, as a resource to better understand their local hospital’s commitments to community health priorities, and to foster more collaboration between hospitals and community-based organizations. Continue reading
Baker Administration Announces Vaccine Mandate to Protect Older Adults in Skilled Nursing Facilities
The Baker Administration announced plans to implement a vaccine mandate for long-term care (LTC) staff to strengthen infection control and protect vulnerable residents. COVID-19 vaccination is the most effective method for preventing infection and serious illness from the virus, and staff at long-term care facilities and other health care providers serving vulnerable populations are critical in efforts to protect older residents. Continue reading
CDC, Archangels Studies Report Prevalence of Mental Health Challenges for Caregivers During Pandemic
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
HHS Launches Hotline to Improve Access to COVID-19 Vaccines for People with Disabilities
U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind national hotline to connect people with disabilities to information and services to improve access to COVID-19 vaccines. Continue reading
Poll Finds Risky Drinking Patterns in Older Adults During Pandemic
As many older adults get back to normal life across the United States thanks to high rates of vaccination and lower COVID-19 activity, a new poll suggests many should watch their alcohol intake. Continue reading