Using Local Data to Advance Healthy Aging in Rhode Island

As Rhode Island’s older adult population continues to grow, understanding the specific needs of this population has never been more critical. The newly released 2025 Rhode Island Healthy Aging Data Report offers community-level data on health, housing, income, and more—empowering local leaders, service providers, and advocates to better target resources and plan for the future. The report, developed by the Gerontology Institute at UMass Boston and funded by the Point32Health Foundation, is part of a broader effort to make aging-related data accessible and actionable at the neighborhood level. By highlighting disparities that are often hidden in broader state-level statistics, the report provides a clearer picture of the lived experiences of older adults across Rhode Island.

James Connell, Executive Director of Age-Friendly RI, underscores the value of the report:

“The Healthy Aging Data Report is extraordinarily helpful for nonprofits across sectors. I used it to support funding for a home-share program that pairs older homeowners with individuals facing housing insecurity—a creative approach to our state’s housing crisis. The 2025 Healthy Aging Report provides vital indicators of older adult well-being that are essential for policymaking, intentional planning, and program development. The data highlight serious concerns about the mental and emotional health of our community, with one in three Rhode Islanders experiencing anxiety and/or depression.”

To learn more about the report’s findings and how organizations are using the data to drive innovation and equity in aging, read Herb Weiss’s full article:

Community specific, RI Healthy Aging Data Report a boon for officials, policymakers – Herb Weiss
https://herbweiss.blog/2025/05/12/community-specific-ri-healthy-aging-data-report-a-boon-for-officials-policymakers/