April Advances: How living arrangements affect health of older adults with disabilities

GERONTOLOGY NEWS FROM UMASS BOSTON

April 2023

Rin Hurd, a junior political science major and intern at two Gerontology Institute centers

Internships at two gerontology centers open

student's eyes to struggles of older adults

Thanks to internships with the Pension Action Center and the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging (both affiliated with the Gerontology Institute), UMass Boston junior Rin Hurd understands much more about the financial struggles many older adults face. Hurd knows this insight—not to mention knowing the difference between pensions and 401Ks—is unusual for a college-age student.

BEACON DISCUSSION SERIES

Don't forget! Join us next Wednesday, April 12, 4-5 pm: "Engaged Aging," a Beacon Discussion Series online event, features UMass Boston aging experts Jeffrey Burr, professor of gerontology; Mary O'Connor, board member of our Osher Lifelong Learning Institute; and Caitlin Coyle, director of the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging.

Gerontology Institute Director Jan Mutchler will moderate the panel discussion. The panelists will welcome attendees' questions after giving brief presentations.

Registration fee is $15. Proceeds benefit UMass Boston's Gerontology Institute and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

Researchers Jeffrey Stokes, left, and Danielle Waldron

How living arrangements affect health of older adults with developmental disabilities

New research begun by Jeffrey Stokes, PhD, assistant professor of gerontology at UMass Boston, and his former student, Danielle Waldron, PhD ‘20, now an assistant professor of healthcare management at Stonehill College, aims to determine how living arrangements and loneliness affect the health of older adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Aging Studies program offering summer classes

This summer the UMass Boston Department of Gerontology is offering undergraduate classes from its bachelor of arts degree program, including Mental Health and Aging and Health and Physical Aspects of Aging. The recently renamed Aging Studies undergraduate program offers a wide range of courses designed to give students greater insight into the challenges and opportunities posed by an aging population.

Alla Roginskaya, 81, and her husband, Leonid Finkelshteyn, 83, return to their Brighton, Mass., apartment after shopping; from March 25 Boston Globe story on the challenges of living in Boston area on fixed incomes. Photo: Craig F. Walker/Boston Globe

UMASS BOSTON GERONTOLOGY IN THE NEWS

"Can you afford to retire in Massachusetts?," GBH talks with Caitlin Coyle, Friday, March 30, 2023.

"Boost your budget week helps put money in older adults' pockets," Yahoo Finance cites Elder Index data on costs of aging, March 28, 2023.

"'I have to take my time.' Growing old in Boston without much money is an everyday stress test," Boston Globe profiles a handful of older adults in the city, framed around latest data from Elder Index, March 25, 2023.

"Report: Mass. ranks most expensive for older people living alone," GBH talks with Jan Mutchler on the Elder Index and latest data for Boston and Massachusetts, March 22, 2023.

"Senior care is crushingly expensive. Boomers aren't ready.," Washington Post talks with Marc Cohen, March 20, 2023.

"Accidental deaths from falls at home are on the rise," Boston Globe talks with Jan Mutchler, March 15, 2023.

"More older people are opting to age in their homes. Here's how they're doing it.," Caitlin Coyle talks with the Washingtonian, March 13, 2023.