AARP fighting for long-term care solutions
Massachusetts ranks 11th in the nation when it comes to meeting the long-term care needs of older residents and people with disabilities, and even more must be done, at an accelerated pace, to meet changing demographic demands. Specific areas of concern in Massachusetts include affordability, the quality of life and quality of care, and effective transition dimensions.
War on poverty now a war on the poor
The federal War on Poverty has turned into a war on poor people. The battle lines have shifted from alleviating poverty, to eliminating poor people. Instead of attacking poverty, the field has been reversed, and the attack is on poor people themselves.
Dementia information at your fingertips
I just dropped my 91-year-old father and his wife off at Logan Airport. They live outside of LA, and were visiting here for a week. My father has clearly deteriorated both physically and mentally with increased dementia since I visited him several months ago.
AARP’s 2017 budget priorities
Massachusetts elected officials prepared the Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) commonwealth budget proposal, a $40.5 billion spending plan which funds key priorities.
When will home care workers get ‘enough pay to stay?’
Picture a widowed elderly woman in her mid-80s. She needs help daily with bathing, dressing and toileting. But she has one more problem. She has been told that there are no workers available to come into her home to fill all the hours of care she needs.
This scenario is happening more and more across the commonwealth. The recruitment and retention of home care aides, home health aides, and care managers poses a real threat to the independence of many of our older neighbors. The image of a low-wage/high-turnover job makes it hard to find and keep home care workers. We must do better if we are to keep up with our fastest growing demographic - those over age of 60. We must give these workers "enough pay to stay."
Certificate in ‘Adulting’
By Marianne Delorey
Every generation creates its own lingo. Recently, Millennials have coined the word “Adulting” to mean “being responsible.” Many 20- to 30-year-olds are...
Male family caregivers: A population needing support
By Mike Festa, State Director, AARP Massachusetts
What’s your image of a caregiver? If you envisioned a middle-aged woman, one who is caring for an...
Trump’s ‘Skinny’ budget is all bones
By Al Norman
On March 16, President Donald Trump sent over his federal fiscal year 2018 Budget Blueprint to Congress. It was the president’s first...
Closing the ‘SNAP Gap’
By Mike Festa, State Director, AARP Massachusetts
Seniors on fixed incomes often have to make difficult choices between heating their homes, paying for essential medications,...
The health care nuclear option
By Al Norman
Congress and the White House are poised to dismantle health care protections in our state that may take decades to repair. It’s...