NEWS

Upcoming Events in Healthy Aging: World Elder Abuse Day, CCRC Public Hearing, Caring for the Caregiver Webinar, Dementia Friends

Jun 11, 2025

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

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) was launched by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations. The purpose of WEAAD is to provide an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.

The USC Center for Elder Justice maintains a list of resources and tools for raising awareness along with a listing of local events, including some in Massachusetts. The National Center on Elder Abuse webpage that previously maintained a list of resources links out to the USC website.

Massachusetts-based resources, including how to report abuse, are available here through the Executive Office of Aging and Independence.

  • Virtual Public Hearing – Special Commission on Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC’s), (June 16th at 1:00 PM)
The Special Commission on Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), co-chaired by Representative Thomas Stanley and Senator Patricia Jehlen, will hold a virtual public hearing on June 16, 2025 at 1:00 PM. Established in Section 29 of Chapter 197 of the Acts of 2024 (An Act to improve quality and oversight of long-term care), Special Commission on Continuing Care Retirement Communities is tasked with analyzing and studying continuing care retirement communities, including their care contracts, financial viability, and impact on consumers. It will examine regulatory oversight, entrance fee policies, advertising practices, and procedures for closure or ownership changes.
The commission welcomes both written and verbal testimony.
To sign up to testify virtually, please follow this link: https://forms.office.com/g/mawawA2av2
To submit written testimony, please either:
US Mail: Chair Thomas M. Stanley
Joint Committee on Aging and Independence
ATTN: Jennifer L’Heureux
24 Beacon St., Room 167
Boston, MA  02133
Please direct any questions to committee staff via email:  jennifer.lheureux@mahouse.gov, julianna.fernandez@mahouse.gov, and victoria.halal@masenate.gov.

Talk 1: Wearable Diagnostic Sensors and Personalized Bioelectronic Therapeutics for the Treatment of Neurophysiological Conditions – John Ralston, PhD, CEO and co-founder, Neursantys Inc Talk 2: From Motion to Meaning: Quantifying Fall Risk in Older Adults Through Accessible Visual AI Assessment – Hamed Tabkhi, PhD, CTO and co-founder, Foresight Cares

Registration is available 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.