UMASS BOSTON GERONTOLOGY NEWS

MAY 2026

Introducing the New Caro Fellows

If you'd like a glimpse into the next generation of leaders in gerontology, meet the new cohort of Caro Fellows. The Caro Fellows are high-performing PhD students at UMass Boston Gerontology who conduct empirical research on health and health disparities topics that affect vulnerable and underserved older adults. 

“The students in this cohort have been identified as exceptional students who have the potential to develop and lead cutting-edge research projects on the diverse aging population,” says Sung S. Park, assistant professor at UMass Boston Gerontology and faculty organizer for the Caro Fellowship.

Learn about these remarkable students and the research they will conduct over the upcoming year.

Classroom Connections and Community Impact: MAS Alumni and Students Strengthen the Aging Workforce

The Management of Aging Services (MAS) program at UMass Boston extends beyond the classroom and past graduation. MAS has created a network of professionals committed to working together to strengthen the aging services workforce in meaningful ways.

“Any agency, whether it’s an aging services access point, or a home care agency, or a healthcare facility, looks up to UMass Boston,” says Stacey Michello, an MAS alum and executive director of The Community Family Inc. Dutton Center who looks to the program when she needs to make a hire. “It’s because it’s fairly unique to have specialized study in gerontology. It’s not human development, it’s not public health for all ages, but it really streamlines and homes in on older adults.”

You're Invited: Upcoming Events

Conversations on Aging: World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

The MAS program at UMass Boston is partnering with the Center for the Prevention of Elder Abuse & Neglect in this special event for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. All are invited to attend and to learn together about the problem of elder abuse in our community and what resources are available to help.

June 3, 2026 | 7:00 p.m.

Location: Zoom

Event link

OLLI Summer Open House

Discover what awaits you if you join the lifelong learning community at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UMass Boston. Attend this free open house to learn about OLLI’s programs and connect with fellow learners.

Thursday, June 25, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. - noon
Location: This program will be offered simultaneously at three locations: online via Zoom, in-person at Thayer Public Library, and in-person at the UMass Boston campus
Registration information

UMass Boston Gerontology in the News

Older Residents are Caught in the Affordability Gap in North Texas
Dallas Morning News
This feature story explores the economic hardships faced by older adults in North Texas. 
Caitlin Coyle, director of the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging at the Gerontology Institute, shares how the Elder Index quantifies the challenges these residents face.

Trump’s Medicaid Fraud Crackdown May Sound Sensible, But It Could Harm Americans Who Require Long‑term Care
The Conversation, reprinted in The Washington Post and Seattle Post-Intelligencer, among others

This Conversation piece echoes a call for the prevention of Medicaid fraud, but LTSS Center co-director Marc Cohen and colleagues urge caution about how certain anti-fraud strategies may unnecessarily disrupt the services of people who rely upon them.

Podast: What's Your Plan? 
Eileen Tell and Marc Cohen of the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston were recent guests on this podcast that helps listeners navigate the long-term care planning process.

Traditional Retirement Planning Is Failing Today’s Modern Homeowners Ahead of Their Golden Years

Realtor.com
This story, which cites the Elder Index, explores how people are re-thinking their expectations for retirement during a "complex retirement landscape."

Delaware to Indiana: 10 US States Where Retirees Can Live on Social Security Alone - Study

Hindustan Times
Based in the findings of the Elder Index, this story shares the ten states that allow residents to live comfortably from Social Security benefits alone.


A Lovely Day for a Cruise

The day began dreary and drizzly, but the sun came out just in time for the UMass Boston Gerontology team to take a cruise around Boston Harbor aboard the M/V Columbia Point. Isreal (Issi) Doron, a visiting professor from Israel (bottom right), enjoyed a beautiful view of Boston along with Associate Professor Beth Dugan.