Tag Archives: elder economic security

Home Alone Revisited: Family Caregivers Providing Complex Care

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AARP’s Public Policy Institute announced a follow-up study that builds on the landmark Home Alone study, which was the first national look at how family caregivers are managing medical/nursing tasks, such as managing medications, changing dressings, and other tasks in the home setting, that are typically performed by trained professionals in hospitals.

The new study – called Home Alone Revisited, focuses on cross-generational and multicultural caregivers and provides a list of 10 recommendations based on their findings.

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EOEA Compiles Legal Resources for Low Income Elders

Data and Reports,

The Executive Office of Elder Affairs has collected information resources related to legal services for low-income elder consumers and established a helpful guide.

The document, available only for the state of Massachusetts, contains a helpful glossary of terms, phone numbers and links to where older adults, their families and those working on their behalf can access information related to General Legal Service Resources, Title III-B Legal Service Providers, Court Service Centers and Training/Education Resources for Professionals.

Nesterly Home-Sharing Platform Expanding Beyond Boston

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Nesterly, an inter-generational online matching service for older adults and college students is expanding their service for home-sharing and looking for local partners.

After a successful pilot with the City of Boston, Nesterly is expanding their service to the greater Boston area to include communities like Medford, Somerville, Newton and others. Specifically, Nesterly is looking to identify “hosts” to create listings for spare rooms using their simple signup process and match with an already strong number of students that have created profiles. Continue reading →

Celebrate Older Americans Month in May

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The  Healthy Aging Collaborative joins the Administration on Aging, the state’s Executive Office of Elder Affairs and many organizations from across Massachusetts and the country in celebrating May as Older Americans Month.

The 2018 theme, Engage at Every Age, emphasizes that you are never too old (or young) to take part in activities that can enrich your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It also celebrates the many ways in which older adults make a difference in our communities.

Here are some links where AoA and other organizations are providing resources and materials  in recognition of Older Americans Month to help promote wellness and awareness of issues facing older adults:

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Boston Food Resource Maps Aim to Provide Better Access to Healthy Meal Options

Data and Reports, Systems and Best Practices

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh’s Office of Food Access has created food resource maps in six languages for each of the city’s neighborhoods with a goal of improving the availability to healthy eating options for all residents.

The Massachusetts Municipal Association highlighted the maps in a recent article in their “Community Corner” newsletter that promotes best practices and examples that other cities and towns can follow. The Healthy Aging Collaborative is recognizing the Boston Food Access Maps as a best practice specifically for Age-Friendly Communities. Continue reading →

Age-Friendly Funding Opportunity Round-up

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Proof of momentum in the Age-Friendly movement can be seen with new communities joining the network of cities and towns, but also with the funding opportunities that advance not only local efforts, but also the broader healthy aging work of stakeholders.

The Healthy Aging Collaborative hopes the following three funding programs will be the first in a new periodic series that raises awareness about funding support for Age-Friendly activities. Continue reading →

Boston Globe: Many of state’s elderly struggle to pay their bills

News and Updates

A recent Boston Globe article highlighted the state’s struggling performance on the elder economic security index, a tool developed by UMass Boston and promoted by healthy aging advocates.

As the article states, “More than 60 percent of single older adults in the state can’t afford food, housing, or other living expenses, the second-highest rate in the country, behind only Mississippi.” The problem is even more pronounced for women and people of color.

Turning to potential solutions, the article notes Governor Charlie Baker’s Council to Address Aging in Massachusetts and the Age-Friendly Communities movement, specifically the City of Boston’s 75-point action plan, which includes many elements aimed at bolstering an older adult resident’s ability to remain economically secure and independent.

Anyone interested in commenting to the Governor’s Council in regards to elder economic security, or any other suggestions to enhance the well-being of older adults in Massachusetts, can submit written comments here.