Enhancing 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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RI General Assembly considers a bill that would provide regulatory flexibility to construct Accessory Dwelling Units

  Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) have become increasingly important in enabling older adults to maintain their independence and continue living within their communities. ADUs are separate living spaces that are added to existing homes or properties, providing an affordable housing option for older adults who may not be able to afford the rising cost of…

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Social Security and Medicare still face financial woes

In an article published on April 10th, Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues for RINewsToday, highlighted findings from the 2023 Social Security and Medicare Trustees Report and the importance of strengthening both programs.  The annual reports on the financial health of the Social Security and Medicare programs were recently released by the Trustees, and…

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Herb Weiss’s latest piece calls for more funding to deliver aging programs and services

The Senior Agenda Coalition of RI (SACRI) has criticized Governor Dan McKee’s proposed $13.7 billion budget for fiscal year 2024, calling it “unfriendly to seniors” and urging for more funding for aging programs and services. SACRI, representing 21 organizations, is advocating for an “age-friendly” budget and has brought 220 older adults and aging advocates to…

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Volunteering: Your Single New Years Resolution

The following post was authored by Herb Weiss and published in RINewsToday on January 9, 2023. It is featured here with permission. Access the full article at rinewstoday.com   As the ball dropped in New York’s Time Square, many Americans have already penned New Year’s resolutions for 2023.  Making these resolutions as January approaches has…

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Herb Weiss’s Top 5 Most Read Articles on Aging in 2022

Herb has been an ‘age beat’ journalist for over 43 years, covering hundreds of stories on aging, health care, and medical issues. This year, Herb’s articles appeared weekly in 52 issues of RINewsToday.com.  You’ll find the top 5 most-read articles on this blog below.    1. “Aging in Place in Your Rhode Island Community,” published…

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A recent article in JAMA explores the prevalence of everyday ageism among US older adults and its association with health

Past studies have suggested that significant incidents of ageism are associated with poorer health outcomes among older adults. However, we know less about the impact of more commonplace types of age-based discrimination, prejudice, and stereotyping that they encounter in their everyday lives. To explore the prevalence of everyday ageism and its relationship with health, researchers conducted…

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Improving Behavioral Health Care For Older Americans: If Not Now, When?

  A recently published article in Health Affairs highlights the behavioral health disparities that older adults contend with.  Behavioral health needs of older adults are often not identified or addressed, despite almost 20% meeting the criteria for a mental health diagnosis. The authors argue that we need more creative evidence-based solutions to effectively address key challenges…

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