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SACRI Advocates for Rhode Island’s Growing Older Adult Population
The Senior Agenda Coalition of RI (SACRI) held its annual legislative forum to advocate for the needs of Rhode Island’s growing older adult population. SACRI’s top priorities include economic security, with a focus on making healthcare more affordable for low-income older adults. They also want to see increased funding for home care services and senior…
Read MoreExpanding the Medicare Savings Program: A Potential Lifeline for Rhode Island’s Low-Income Older Adults
The high cost of healthcare can be a significant burden for many older adults, particularly those on fixed incomes. Medicare, the federal health insurance program for individuals aged 65 and older, helps cover some medical expenses, but it’s not always enough. Medicare Part B premiums, co-pays, and deductibles can create financial hardship, forcing tough choices…
Read MoreAffordability Crisis: Middle-Income Seniors Grapple with Housing and Care Burdens
In the United States, a silent crisis is unfolding as millions of older adults grapple with the daunting challenge of affording both housing and the essential long-term care (LTC) services they increasingly rely on as they age. This pressing issue is meticulously detailed in the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies 2023 report, “Housing America’s…
Read MoreRevolutionizing Housing: AARP Rhode Island and RISD’s ADU Design Competition Sparks Innovation
In a recent press conference at the Rhode Island State House, AARP Rhode Island and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) showcased Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) designs by RISD Interior Architecture students. The unveiling coincided with a scheduled hearing on zoning standards for ADUs. The designs, a result of a year-long collaboration, aimed to address…
Read MoreThe RI Budget proposal includes support for our fastest growing demographic but does it go far enough?
Herb Weiss covered the proposed state budget in an article for rinewstoday.com In it, he highlights that Governor Dan McKee has initiated the legislative debate on Rhode Island’s $13.68 billion FY 2025 Budget in his State of the State address. The proposed budget focuses on investments in education, small businesses, and healthcare without increasing broad-based…
Read MoreADUs: A Creative Way to Address Housing Affordability and Equity
The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies recently published an article about the potential benefits of accessory dwelling units (ADUs). It discusses the challenges of building ADUs and the efforts that states and localities have made to encourage their construction. Accessory dwelling units (ADUs), also known as granny flats, in-law suites, or carriage houses, are…
Read MoreSenate bipartisan proposal boon to nation’s family caregivers – Herb Weiss
The Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers (ABC) Act, introduced as S. 3109, aims to simplify the federal bureaucracy and streamline access to key financial and healthcare programs for the more than 48 million family caregivers in the United States. The bipartisan bill, introduced by Senators Edward Markey and Shelley Moore Capito, along with other co-sponsors, directs…
Read MoreThe Hidden Struggle: The Impact of Caregiving on Retirement Savings
In a recent article, Herb Weiss highlights a troubling finding from the 33rd annual Retirement Confidence Survey (RCS), which suggests that caregivers are more likely to have lower levels of assets and more likely to have problems with debt than non-caregivers. Because of this they are also less likely to have saved for retirement and…
Read MoreNew Census data reports the Graying of America and Rhode Island
In a new article published in RINewsToday by Herb Weiss, the changing demographics of our nation takes focus, serving as a wake-up call to Congress and federal and state officials who oversee aging programs and services to meet the needs of our growing population of older adults in Rhode Island and beyond. The following is…
Read MoreEnhancing Aging Programs and Services: A Closer Look at Rhode Island’s Proposed Budget
Rhode Island’s proposed budget for 2024 has recently garnered attention for its notable funding allocations toward programs and services benefiting seniors and older adults with disabilities. Maureen Maigret, chair of the Aging in Community Subcommittee of Rhode Island’s Long-Term Care Coordinating Council and policy consultant for the Senior Agenda Coalition of RI, expresses her satisfaction…
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