UMASS BOSTON GERONTOLOGY NEWS

APRIL 2026

Explore the New Release of the Elder Index

What is the true cost of aging in America? The new release of the Elder Index is now available, with a county-by-county look at the income that older Americans need to meet their basic needs. The Index, developed by the Gerontology Institute at UMass Boston, is led by Caitlin Coyle, director of the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging.

The Elder Index is a vital tool for advocates, policymakers, retirees, and journalists. Media coverage of the new release includes:

• Retirement, Old Age and the Cost of an Adequate Life (Deseret News)
• Washington is 7th Most Expensive State for Older Adults (Seattle Times)
• Midwest Cities Where You Can Retire Comfortably on $2,000 A Month (Money Digest)
• It's Expensive to Be Old in Massachusetts (Harry Margolis)

What is the cost of aging in your county? Use the new index to compare your location with others around the country.

Rebecca Tolman Appointed to New Hampshire Commission on Aging

New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte has appointed Rebecca Tolman to the state’s Commission on Aging. Tolman is the graduate program director of the Management of Aging Services at UMass Boston.

The New Hampshire Commission on Aging convenes leaders to study the needs of the aging population and to advise the governor and legislature regarding practical policy solutions.“The commission brings everyone together and becomes a coordinating factor,” Tolman says. “We’re all aging. We all start aging the day we’re born. This is a collective experience we all need to care about.”

UMass Boston Gerontology in the News

Minnesota’s Spending Doubled Across 14 Medicaid Programs at ‘High Risk’ of Fraud in Past Five Years 
Minnesota Reformer
While some people associate increased Medicaid spending with fraud, Jane Tavares, a researcher with LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston, calls for a more nuanced view. Tavares points to other explanations, including an aging population and an intentional shift away from away from institutionalization and toward home- and community-based services.

As Missouri Weighs Eliminating Income Tax, Higher Sales Tax Could Leave Seniors with Less Wiggle Room
The Beacon

The Missouri legislature is debating a repeal of the income tax, but how would that affect older residents? Marc Cohen, co-director of the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston, discusses the potential negative ramifications for older adults on fixed incomes who devote most of their spending to basic necessities.

Rethinking Aging on Campus
Inside Higher Ed
UCLA is becoming a more age-friendly campus, thanks to its collaboration with the Age-Friendly University Global Network (AFU_GN). UMass Boston joined the AFU_GN in 2017, and in 2019, the entire UMass System endorsed the AFU principles, becoming the first system-wide member of the AFU_GN.

Washington Seniors Struggle as State Becomes One of the Most Expensive in the Nation
Seattle Red
Taxes and limited housing create affordability challenges for older adults in Washington State, according to this story which uses the Elder Index in its reporting.

Hike for Hope 2026 Highlights Growing Need for Hospice Care in Alameda County’s Aging Community
Patch.com
Hope Hospice cites Elder Index figures to show the need for more services for older adults across the Tri-Valley in California.

Upcoming Events

The Nicotene Summit: Science, Regulation, and Public Health
May 8, 2026
Georgetown Marriott | Washington, D.C.
Jaqueline Avila, assistant professor of gerontology at UMass Boston, will present on a panel, Smoking and Aging: Rethinking Smoking Cessation for Older Adults. Event information

Social Innovator Showcase
May 14, 2026 | 5:00 p.m. Eastern
Artists for Humanity EpiCenter | Boston, Mass.

Boston leaders from the philanthropic, business, and community spaces gather to hear innovative nonprofits pitch solutions to our region’s toughest social issues. Caitlin Coyle, director of CSDRA, will present approaches that can deepen social connections across the lifespan to decrease loneliness. Registration form

Places, Times, and the Structure of Lives: Advancing Comparative Life Course Research
May 14, 2026 | Noon Eastern Time
Zoom
The Society for Longitudinal and Lifecourse Studies hosts three speakers who have recently published articles on best practices in comparative life course research. Researchers include Kent Jason Cheng, PhD of UMass Boston Gerontology. Registration form

Congratulations, Manning College Research Day Winners!

Congratulations to two UMass Boston Gerontology students for their awards in the Manning College of Nursing and Health Sciences Research Day!

Maryssa Pallis, a gerontology PhD student, won the award for exceptional oral presentation. Pallis presented, “Caregiver-Friendly Workplace Policies and Work-Life Balance Among Nursing Assistants in VA Nursing Homes,” a project she collaborated on with Whitney Mills, assistant professor of gerontology.

Sara Minemoto, an undergraduate nursing student, won the award for exceptional poster for her project, "Self-Determination Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in the U.S.: The Importance of Living Arrangements.” Minemoto, an undergraduate nursing student, is enrolled in an independent study in the Gerontology Department with Sung Park, assistant professor of gerontology. Her poster presented the results of this project, which was done in collaboration with Maki Karakida, a gerontology PhD student.