NEWS

Upcoming Events in Healthy Aging: Financing Long-Term Care, Caring for the Caregiver Webinar Series, Dementia Friends Champion Training

Jun 4, 2025

The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative is pleased to promote the following events from our Statewide Network of partners:

Massachusetts residents of all ages, especially our growing population of older adults, use long-term services and supports (LTSS) when functional limitations and chronic illnesses create a need for assistance with routine daily activities like bathing, dressing, preparing meals, and administering medications. Yet, individuals often face significant challenges in planning for and financing long-term care. The result is a growing gap in care and coverage that deeply affects families in the Commonwealth, leaving too many residents without reliable, affordable options to meet their essential long-term care needs.

Join the Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence for a dynamic webinar featuring the findings of the Massachusetts LTSS Feasibility Study, conducted by Milliman for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. The session will explore current long-term care financing options in the Commonwealth, analysis of several public insurance models, and viewpoints from an interdisciplinary panel of experts in the field.

Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in an informed discussion about the future of long-term care financing in Massachusetts.

Register here

Behavior is a powerful form of communication, especially for individuals with dementia who may struggle to express their needs verbally. However, some behaviors can be challenging for caregivers to manage. This webinar, presented by the Alzheimer’s Association of Massachusetts/New Hampshire, is part of the Empowered Caregiver Series and is being brought to you by the Executive Office of Aging & Independence (AGE) and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative as part of the Caring for the Caregiver Webinar Series. In this session, you will: 1) Learn to recognize common triggers for dementia-related behaviors (2) Develop strategies to assess a person’s underlying needs (3) Gain tools to effectively respond and intervene in challenging situations

By understanding the reasons behind certain behaviors, caregivers can create a more supportive and less stressful environment for their loved ones.

  • Dementia Friends Massachusetts Champion Training, hosted by Jewish Family & Children’s Services (virtual, July 16th from 1:00 to 4:00 pm)

This training will give you the knowledge and materials you need to lead a Dementia Friends Information Session in your community. An Information Session is a face-to-face or virtual session that lasts about an hour. It covers the five key messages everyone should know about dementia through activities and discussion. The goal of the Dementia Friends Information Session is to help community members understand dementia and the simple things they can do to make a difference for people living with dementia.

Trainings are led in English. However, Champions can use materials in nine languages and for specific communities. Champion trainings are led by Beth Soltzberg, MSW.
Read about the Champion’s role and expectations. This Dementia Friends Champion Training is open to any adult and high school student in Massachusetts.

Please register in advance here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Xz-MRX7QTsaVFy81qzz3LA
You will receive an automated confirmation from Zoom, along with your unique link to join the meeting.
Note: There is an option to attend only the first hour and 15 minutes for those who only want to become Dementia Friends. Those who would like to become Champions are required to attend the whole training.

After completing a training, you will need to register as a Champion on the Dementia Friends Massachusetts website in order to obtain the Dementia Friends Information Session materials. The instructions will be provided during the Champion training.