UMASS BOSTON GERONTOLOGY NEWS

JULY/AUGUST 2026

GSA Elects Edward Alan Miller to Three-Year Leadership Term

The Gerontological Society of America (GSA), the nation’s oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to research, education, and practice in aging, has elected Edward Alan Miller, chair of the Department of Gerontology at UMass Boston, to its three-year presidential leadership succession. Representing thousands of members across the United States and around the world, GSA elected Miller to serve as vice president in 2027, president in 2028, and chair of the board in 2029.

Lessons in Aging from a Penguin Retirement Home

Meet Lambert, a 34-year-old penguin at the New England Aquarium. He and his buddies in the penguin retirement home can teach us a thing or two about aging well.

The New England Aquarium has a separate island that caters to older penguins, giving them the healthcare, accessibility, and enrichment they need. It turns out: What penguins need to thrive as they age is remarkably similar to what we need.

At the Gerontology Institute, we've been charmed by the aquarium's initiative, and we believe it can spark important conversations about the elements of age-friendly communities. Learn about the penguin retirement home and the surprising things we have in common with Lambert and his roomies.

Strengthening International Collaboration with Issi Doron, Visiting Professor from Israel

For the past three months, the UMass Boston Gerontology team had a special new member: Israel “Issi” Doron, a visiting professor from the University of Haifa in Israel.

International connections are vital for the field of gerontology. Sharing knowledge across contexts and settings helps scholars think more critically about the social, physical, and financial issues and trends experienced by older adults, their families, and their communities.

“The beauty of international collaboration is that you don’t need to re-invent the wheel," Doron says. "Many times, we find that other places have solutions that we can learn from.”

Photo: Doron presents at the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Human Rights of Older Persons in Geneva in July 2026.

You're Invited: Upcoming Events

Understanding PACE: Helping Older Adults Live Independently at Home

Wednesday, September 2 | 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Zoom, Free
Details and registration



Join this engaging conversation with Jenn Maynard, UMass Boston alumna and executive eirector with MassPACE, as we explore one of the nation's most innovative models of care for older adults in September's Conversations on Aging.

The Caregiving Compendium: Policy Solutions to Support Family Caregivers
September 22, 2026 | 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Zoom, free
Details and registration

Join this virtual congressional briefing to learn about the challenges facing the growing number of family caregivers and a new resource developed for policymakers interested in exploring legislative solutions to better support family caregivers. Opening remarks will be delivered by Senators Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) and Katie Britt (R-AL). Panelists include Marc Cohen of the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston.

UMass Boston Gerontology in the News

Need Long-Term Care? Many Middle-Class Families Are Out of Luck.

Boston Globe
Washington state became the first to offer state-based, payroll tax-funded long-term care insurance. Could Massachusetts be next? This opinion piece explores how middle-class families in Massachusetts are struggling to care for aging relatives, and cites Marc Cohen of the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston in its discussion of possible solutions.

Ask a Care Manager: Women Who Are Living Longer and in Poverty 
Mountain Democrat
This editorial includes data from the Elder Index in its analysis of women who experience poverty in retirement. The Elder Index is led by a team of researchers at UMass Boston Gerontology's Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging.

Boston's Older Adult Households: Over Time, in 2025, and the Challenges They Face
City of Boston Planning Department: Research Division
The Boston Planning Department incorporated the Elder Index into its work examining the needs of Boston's growing older population, recognizing that understanding what it actually costs to age in place is essential for effective planning.

Closing the Long-Term Care Knowledge Gap
CLCTC Digest

Few Americans understand that they may need long-term care one day -- and, if they do, many believe that Medicare or their private health insurance will pay for that care. In this piece, Eileen J. Tell of the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston helps financial planners close this knowledge gap with their clients.

Gerontological Society of America Selects 2026 Fellows

GSA

GSA announced the 50 professionals who will become its newest fellows. "Fellow status is peer recognition for outstanding contributions to the field of gerontology and represents the highest category of GSA membership," according to the GSA. Among the new fellows is Caitlin Coyle, director of the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging at the Gerontology Institute.

Gerontological Society of America Announces New Officers
Bioengineer
Bioengineer covers the recent GSA election, in which more than 6,000 members--among them, researchers, educators, clinicians, and policy professionals--chose a new slate of leaders, including Edward Alan Miller, UMass Boston Gerontology department chair, and Taylor Jansen, UMass Boston Gerontology PhD alumna.

Four Things to Know
GBH
In its daily news roundup, GBH shared information from the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Data Report that informed recent legislation about dementia. The Healthy Aging Data Reports are led by a research team at UMass Boston Gerontology.

International Collaboration in Gerontology

This summer, gerontologists gathered in Amsterdam for the 2026 World Conference of the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics to share research on aging well in a globalized world. Among them were Caitlin Coyle, director of the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging, and Michelle Putnam, director of the Gerontology Institute.

Multiple global developments are affecting the lives of older adults, including increased life expectancies, a changing climate, and greater international migration. This conference brought experts together to learn from each other and to discover how scientific and technological advancements can improve the lives of older adults around the world.