The Department of Housing and Community Development is pleased to announce the opening of the 2023 Housing Choice Communities Designation application. Age-and dementia friendly community efforts that include improving housing options are encouraged to support and advocate within their cities and towns for this recognition, which provides access and priority in relevant state funding opportunities. Continue reading
Tag Archives: social determinants of health
During ‘Digital Inclusion Week,’ New Report Shows Transformational Social Outcomes for Older Adults Through Tech Access
During Digital Inclusion Week (Oct. 3-7), which aims to raise awareness of solutions addressing digital equity, Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) from AARP released a report, “Fly Like an Eagle: Measuring Transformational Social Outcomes Among Seniors Using Technology.” The report details how access to technology devices and innovative training programs can yield transformational social outcomes for older adults and provides a blueprint for cities and communities looking to implement their own digital inclusion programs. Continue reading
FCC Seeks Input on How to Combat Digital Discrimination
The Federal Communications Commission opened a process on how to prevent and eliminate digital discrimination to ensure that everyone has equal access to broadband internet access service.
The Notice of Inquiry starts the process of establishing a shared understanding of the harms experienced by historically excluded and marginalized communities, with the intent of making meaningful policy reforms and systems improvements. Continue reading
Equity in Aging Work from MHAC and Partners Highlighted in Twitter Chat
The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative was joined by a range of statewide and national partners working to advance inclusive age-and dementia friendly communities in a Twitter Chat that focused on “Equity in Aging.” 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
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
Age-Friendly Funding Alert: Community Compact IT Grant, America Walks
The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative encourages communities working to become more age- and dementia friendly to consider the following funding opportunities: Continue reading
DCR Parkways Master Plan Aims to Improve Pedestrian and Bike Network for People of All Ages
At a time of increasing interest in walking and bicycling for transportation and recreational purposes, improving safety, access, and comfort for these modes on the parkways of metro Boston represents an opportunity to dramatically expand the regional greenway network. Continue reading
Issue Brief – Medicare and Telehealth: Coverage and Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Options for the Future
An issue brief published by Kaiser Family Foundation dives into the rapid expansion of telehealth during the pandemic. For example, among the vast majority of Medicare beneficiaries with a usual source of care (95%), such as a doctor or other health professional, or a clinic, nearly two-thirds (64% or 33.6 million) say that their provider currently offers telehealth appointments, up from 18% who said their provider offered telehealth before the pandemic.
But nearly a quarter of Medicare beneficiaries (23%) say they don’t know if their provider offers telehealth appointments, and this percentage is larger among beneficiaries who live in rural areas (30%). Continue reading
Age-Friendly Winter Spaces Guide Aims to Help Communities Embrace Winter, Promote Physical Activity and Social Engagement
Through grant funding, collaboration, and technical support, communities across Massachusetts have an opportunity to support residents of all ages in remaining physically active and socially engaged this winter.
The pandemic has heightened the awareness and importance of social engagement, which cities and towns can promote with a new guide developed by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, WalkBoston and the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative. Continue reading
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