UMASS BOSTON GERONTOLOGY NEWS

MARCH 2025

A Data-Driven Approach to Creating Age-Friendly Programs in Massachusetts

“How do you Age Strong?”

When Boston launched its Age Strong campaign in 2019, it showcased people who defied stereotypes with their answers and their lives. They were trendsetters, activists, and athletes, people who redefined a senior moment. The campaign did more than defy stereotypes, however. It created partnerships and programs that made it easier to age well in Boston, such as shuttle buses, Age Strong exercise classes, dementia-friendly business designations, and a job guide for people over 50.



These changes were driven by data. The Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging (CSDRA), part of the Gerontology Institute at University of Massachusetts Boston, led engaged research in neighborhoods around the city to learn the needs of older adults. The findings from these conversations guided the Age Strong campaign.

A Crisis in Care is Coming: This Podcast Spotlights the People Who Create Solutions for Tomorrow

When people launch a podcast, they usually begin with a conversation that people should be having – but aren’t. Harry Margolis, a fellow with the Gerontology Institute who spent much of his career in elder law, began his podcast with a crucial conversation that he believes more Americans need to have right now: an upcoming crisis that the country is not prepared to handle.

“We're going to have an elder care crisis in about 10 years,” Margolis says, “when the oldest baby boomers will reach their late 80s. They're going to need assistance, and we don't have the infrastructure or the people needed to help. It’s going to be a real crisis unless we do something now.”

Is There a Connection Between Living Arrangements and Cognitive Aging?

How do living arrangements affect the cognitive health of Asian American and Latin American older adults? Is there a relationship between the cognitive aging of older adults and whether they live alone or with others?

These questions are at the heart of the research pursued by Qian Song, PhD, an assistant professor and the undergraduate program director of the Gerontology Department at UMass Boston. She’s focusing this research on two groups that are among the fastest-growing populations in the United States: older Asian American and Latin American adults. 

Upcoming Events

CHAI Speaker Series: Aging and Disability University of Minnesota School of Public Health

Monday, March 31 | Noon - 1:30 p.m.

Michelle Putnam, director of the Gerontology Institute, will be a speaker during this virtual webinar about the common challenges shared by older and younger adults with disabilities.

Register for Free Webinar

Do Medicaid Payments Cover Care Costs?

LeadingAge Leadership Summit, Washington, D.C.

April 7, 2025 | 11:00 a.m.

Edward A. Miller, professor and chair of the Department of Gerontology at UMass Boston, and Marc Cohen, LTSS Center co-director, will share findings from their independent assessment of Medicaid reimbursement and the costs associated with Medicaid-reimbursed nursing home care. 

Register to Attend

The Relationship between Medicaid Payments and the Costs of Care in Nursing Homes

The Long Term Care Discussion Group

Edward Alan Miller, Marc Cohen, and Elizabeth Simpson will share new information on the relationship between Medicaid nursing home reimbursement rates and the reported costs of care.

April 8, 2025 | 2:00 p.m.

Register for Zoom Event

UMass Boston Gerontology in the News

How Do I Stay Healthy in My 70s?: In this story in The Guardian, Jeffrey Stokes,

Graduate Program Director of the Gerontology Department, shares how people can maintain good health through their 70s. “Many transitions that are happening now at 70 are the types of transitions people in previous generations might have experienced in their early 60s,” he said.

Single Retirees Face New Challenges. Here Are Ways to Cope: In this feature story by Barron's, Michelle Putnam shares insight regarding the situations of older adults without partners.

New Middlesex Jail Unit Aims to Improve Well-Being of Older Adults in Custody: UMass Boston and Boston University consulted with Middlesex County to design a jail unit that addresses the unique needs of adults who are 55 and older. GBH covered the jail's opening. "The schools helped design, develop and implement a four-pillar approach that includes treatment, social enrichment, education and occupational therapy."

Doing this One Thing Could Shave $13,800 Off Your Annual Retirement Expenses: The Motley Fool uses the Elder Index to determine the most effective ways for people to maximize their retirement savings.

Living Off Social Security Alone Might Be Doable, But Here's Why I Wouldn't Try It: In another story in The Motley Fool, the Elder Index is cited in research to see how far Social Security benefits go in each state.

Volunteering is Good for Your Health: This article cites a story by by the American Heart Association in which Jeffrey Burr, professor of gerontology at UMass Boston, shares the health benefits that volunteering offers people of all ages.

Town of Brookline Appoints Emily Williams as New Council on Aging Director: Emily Williams, who earned a Master of Science in Gerontology at UMass Boston, has been appointed the new Director of Brookline Council on Aging and Senior Center.

Op/Ed: New Leadership Needed to Meet Worcester's Senior Housing Needs: Worcester City Council candidate Robert Bilotta cites research from the Gerontology Institute in this editorial about the need for policies that support housing affordability for older adults.