GERONTOLOGY NEWS FROM UMASS BOSTON
January 2022
The Everett, MA, Council on Aging and Grace Food Pantry teamed up in April 2020 to provide a grab-and-go food pantry for older residents. Photo: Katy Rogers/Media Punch
How Councils on Aging have adapted during pandemic: Research documents response
Four surveys of Councils on Aging throughout Massachusetts—in May, August, and November 2020 and August 2021—offer a comprehensive look at the challenges and activities of the state’s senior centers during the pandemic. UMass Boston researchers Ceara Somerville, Caitlin Coyle, and Jan Mutchler conducted the surveys as part of the Massachusetts Council on Aging Database, a project of the Institute's Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging. 
UMass Boston's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute board members meet via Zoom in December 2021
A pandemic silver lining: OLLI members find community, convenience in online classes
In March 2020, Jim Hermelbracht, director of the Gerontology Institute's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), led his staff and board in shifting their classes and programs for older learners online. Through all of the adapting and regrouping since then, it's become clear that OLLI has never been just about learning.
For winter doldrums: OLLI offers film series, history talks, and more
A second annual winter session of free online offerings keeps older adults connected and engaged.
Researchers drill deep for data-rich report on healthy aging in Connecticut
UMass Boston gerontology researchers tracked 190 health indicators in each of Connecticut's 181 cities, towns, and neighborhoods in their recent Connecticut Healthy Aging Data Report, their latest in a series of healthy aging state reports produced by the team over the past decade with support from the Tufts Health Plan Foundation.
Alumni news: Promotions, service, awards, research
Recent alumni news includes (above, from left) Bei Wu, MS ‘97, PhD ’00, named vice dean for research at NYU College of Nursing; Danielle Waldron, PhD ‘20, named chair of the Emerging Scholars & Professionals Organization by the Gerontological Society of America; Krystal Rae Kittle, PhD ’21, won a data science and health equity paper competition from the Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing at Northwestern University; and Kristen Porter, PhD ’15, awarded a grant from the Endowment for Health to test an intervention to increase knowledge around LGBTQ aging issues.
UMASS BOSTON GERONTOLOGY IN THE NEWS
Tooth Loss Associated with Increased Cognitive Impairment, Dementia. New York University cites research led by UMass Boston gerontology alumna Bei Wu as one of the school's top findings from 2021, Dec. 23, 2021.

ASNCM Welcomes Three New Board Members. Aging Services of North Central Massachusetts announces that Ellen Birchander, gerontology graduate program director, has joined the board. Dec. 20, 2021.

As U.S. Nears 800,000 Virus Deaths, 1 of Every 100 Older Americans Has Perished. Beth Dugan, associate professor of gerontology, talks with the New York Times, about pervasive ageism as evidenced by the focus on schools and youth during the pandemic, Dec. 13, 2021.
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
Caitlin Coyle, research fellow and adjunct assistant professor of gerontology, joined Sandra Harris, president of Massachusetts AARP, to talk about their #ReachOutMA campaign during the 41st Annual Senior Conference hosted Dec. 9, 2021 by MA State Senator Jamie EldridgeMassachusetts Taskforce to End Loneliness & Build Community."