Massachusetts State News AARP Bulletin

Massachusetts State News AARP Bulletin

Massachusetts State News - AARP Bulletin Advocacy

Massachusetts News

Northeast region

Looming Deadline

by Will Yandik - 12/01/2011 The clock is ticking for more than 11,000 older people who depend on adult day health services to live independently. Although Gov. Deval Patrick, D, included $35 million for such services in his proposed supplemental budget, legislators must approve the funding by Dec. 31.

Adult day health services provide preventive care, chronic disease management and other medical and therapeutic services in a community setting. AARP and other advocacy groups have fought to preserve these services since funding was cut from the 2012 budget, which took effect in July.

"Time is running out," said Deborah Banda, AARP state director. "If nothing is done, more than 20 percent of these people will have an immediate need for nursing home care."

To urge legislators to fund adult day health services, call 1-888-259-9789 toll-free.

Working Together

by Will Yandik - 11/01/2011 Four Massachusetts employers are among the 50 nationwide named 2011 AARP Best Employers for Workers Over 50.

The University of Massachusetts Medical School, DentaQuest, Massachusetts General Hospital and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology received the designation this year.

"By 2012, almost one in five Bay State workers will be at least age 55," said Deborah Banda, AARP state director. "Employers who prepare for the coming age wave today will be more competitive tomorrow."

Employers that make the list recruit and retain 50-plus workers by providing flexible work schedules, professional development, job sharing, good health benefits and retirement savings plans. For more information visit

Reading Skills

Will Yandik - 10/01/2011 AARP Massachusetts is recruiting members to volunteer as mentors and reading coaches for elementary school children. Generations Incorporated, the Boston host of Experience Corps, matches volunteers with students in low-income neighborhoods such as East Boston and Roxbury. After training, volunteers commit to two to 10 hours per week and may work one-on-one or in small groups during the 2011-2012 academic year.

Generations Incorporated links older adults and youth to strengthen individuals and communities. Experience Corps has helped students increase their literacy skills by as much as 60 percent, a recent study showed.

To learn more, visit or call 1-866-448-3621 toll-free. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures

Close In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails related to AARP volunteering. Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly receive communications related to AARP volunteering. In the meantime, please feel free to search for ways to make a difference in your community at Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again.
Share:
0 comments

Comments (0)

Leave a Comment

Minimum 10 characters required

* All fields are required. Comments are moderated before appearing.

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!