Tag Archives: dementia friendly

Baker Administration Adds Age- and Dementia Friendly Best Practices to Community Compact Program

May 10th, 2018

In a major victory for the Healthy Aging Collaborative and the Age- and Dementia Friendly movement, the Baker Administration is taking another big step towards advancing and supporting the opportunity for cities and towns to become better places to grow up and grow old.

Governor Charlie Baker, who has already committed Massachusetts as one of only two Age-Friendly States in the country under the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, is adding Age- and Dementia Friendly best practice options to the Community Compact program. Continue reading →

AARP Revives Community Challenge Grant Program

March 21st, 2018

Recognizing that it takes time to build great communities, but also that quick action can spark longer-term progress, AARP launched the AARP Community Challenge to fund projects that build momentum for change in communities to improve livability for all local residents.

In 2017, the AARP Community Challenge awarded 88 grants, including several in Massachusetts.

2018 TIMELINE

  • March 21: Launch of the 2018 AARP Community Challenge
  • May 16: Applications are due by 5 pm ET
  • June 25: Winning applicants will be notified by email by this date
  • November 5: All projects must be completed
  • December 3: After Action Reports due

Grant applications must be submitted online by using the link below.  

However, we recommend that you first watch this short video, read all of the information noted below and download the following PDF attachments, especially the application questionnaire, which is provided so you can prepare your answers offline and then copy and paste your text into our web-based application.

When you’re ready to complete the online application APPLY HERE

Questions can be emailed to CommunityChallenge@AARP.org

Continue reading →

Age-Friendly News Clips – January 1-25

January 25th, 2018

Periodically, the Healthy Aging Collaborative will share news articles from local efforts to make cities, towns and regions in Massachusetts Age- and Dementia Friendly.

Check out the following articles on the momentum of this movement building across the state.

 

Dementia Friendly Cinemas Provide Engagement, Support

January 2nd, 2018

Britain is an international leader in creating Dementia Friendly Communities and one more business sector is joining the movement happening across the Atlantic. British cinemas have launched an initiative where a welcoming environment is made for those living with dementia as well as their caregivers. Continue reading →

Tufts Health Plan Foundation Awards $1.1 Million to Advance Policies and Practices Supporting Healthy Aging

December 29th, 2017

The Tufts Health Plan Foundation today announced new community investments of more than $1.1 million. The eight new grants reflect a commitment to advancing inclusive policies that create thriving and vital communities that work for people of all ages. For 2017, Foundation community investments top $3.15 million, including 30 new grants and on-going support for 15 multi-year initiatives.

“Communities have greater interest in age-friendly initiatives. There’s a growing understanding of the critical role older people play. They are an asset to community, and their voices and insights are invaluable to the public discourse on what communities need,” said Nora Moreno Cargie, vice president, corporate citizenship for Tufts Health Plan and president of its Foundation.

The Foundation’s new grants support initiatives to engage and train more advocates to participate in policy discussions; extend dementia-friendly programs to new communities; and address gaps limiting access to services and healthy, nutritious food. All are aligned with the Foundation’s focus on support for communities that work for everyone.

Grants in Policy and Advocacy

  • Healthy Waltham (Waltham, MA)
    Waltham Connections for Healthy Aging
    To build momentum for the second and third years of this city-wide, age-friendly initiative. Two-year grant for $100,240.
  • Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (Boston, MA)
    Older Adult Nutrition Access Project
    To improve older people’s participation in the SNAP program by training enrollment agency staff and promoting systemic advocacy and coalition building to defend federal nutrition programs. One-year grant for $60,000.
  • Massachusetts Senior Action Council (Quincy, MA)
    Seniors Power Up!
    To organize and train diverse low-income older people in Massachusetts to use their collective voices to influence key public policy issues affecting their lives and their communities. Two-year grant for $150,000.
  • Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island (Providence, RI)
    Senior Voices for Aging in Community – Year 3
    To engage low-income seniors and develop them as community leaders with the capacity to effectively advocate for policy change. One-year grant for $50,000.

Grants focused on collaboration and community engagement (James Roosevelt, Jr., Leadership Fund):

  • Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging and Senior Center Directors (Easthampton, MA)
    Dementia Friendly Massachusetts – Scale and Sustainability Phase (2018-2020)
    To scale the Dementia Friendly Initiative so more Massachusetts communities embrace and become active dementia-friendly communities. Three-year grant for $302,068.
  • Rhode Island College Foundation (Providence, RI)
    Building an Age-Friendly Rhode Island, 2018-2019
    To build a powerful community coalition to advocate, design innovative solutions and develop programs/services for an Age-Friendly Rhode Island. Two-year grant for $252,400.
  • SeniorCare, Inc. (Gloucester, MA)
    Age and Dementia Friendly Cape Ann
    To work with four Cape Ann communities to establish the first combined age- and dementia-friendly effort. Three-year grant for $190,650.

The Foundation also awarded a grant focused on Systems and Best Practices.

  • Alzheimer’s Association of Rhode Island (Providence, RI)
    State of RI Alzheimer’s Five Year Plan Update
    To support the update of Rhode Island’s five-year plan on Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders. One-year grant for $15,000.

The new grants engage nearly 80 community organizations in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

With Tufts Health Plan Foundation Grant, MCOA Continues the Work of Dementia Friendly Massachusetts

December 20th, 2017

Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging (MCOA) is pleased to announce that Tufts Health Plan Foundation’s prestigious President’s Leadership Fund awarded the organization a three-year grant of $302,068 to support Dementia Friendly Massachusetts (DFM).  The grant positions MCOA as the backbone organization for the Dementia Friendly Initiative so more Massachusetts communities embrace and become active dementia friendly communities. MCOA will ensure local, regional, and state actors are coordinating their activities –educating the public, training leaders of local communities, engaging regional service providers and businesses as participants in the DFM movement, developing new public policy, or creating media attention.

The DFM staff will closely collaborate with training partners from the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative and AARP to further develop and disseminate integrated approaches that communities may use to pursue both age-friendly and dementia friendly initiatives in a streamlined fashion.  David Stevens, MCOA’s executive director, stated “The Tufts Health Plan Foundation’s grant will provide the resources to build strategic partnerships, educate and empower municipal leaders who manage local aging services, advocate for policies to improve the quality of life for older adults living with dementia, and ensure the delivery of quality programming to advance healthy aging for older adults.”

MCOA will oversee the DFM Management Committee that includes members from the Alzheimer’s Association, MA/NH Chapter, Jewish Family & Children’s Services, MA Executive Office of Elder Affairs, Multicultural Coalition on Aging, and Leading Age.  Dementia Friendly means community institutions embed awareness about dementia friendly practices into their programs, staff training and customer service cultures.  For more information, please contact Director of Special Projects, Mary Kay Browne at 413-923-4161.

Bill Gates Investing $50 million in Alzheimer’s Research

November 14th, 2017

Bill Gates revealed personal connections, the emotional costs, and a deep concern for the growing prevalence in Alzheimer’s as some of the reasons behind his personal investment of $50 million to help find a treatment for the disease.

In his blog, the billionaire ticked off the financial burdens Alzheimer’s brings to families and the healthcare system, and had some specific goals for what he hopes to accomplish with the financial support he has added to the fight. Continue reading →