UMASS BOSTON GERONTOLOGY NEWS

SEPTEMBER 2026

The Overlooked Middle: Ineligible for Medicaid, Unable to Afford Long-Term Care

A growing number of older adults live in an economic gray area: They’re not poor, yet they can’t afford to pay for long-term care without significantly cutting into their everyday expenses. Marc Cohen, co-director of the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston, and many others now refer to this group as the Overlooked Middle. It’s a group that has received little attention from both policymakers and researchers – until a project this year brought their needs into sharp focus.

Meet UMass Boston Gerontology’s New PhD Students

UMass Boston Gerontology welcomed seven new doctoral students this fall. They come from around the world and bring expertise in big data, epidemiology, health equity, and health systems management.



Get to know these impressive students: where they come from and where their studies and research may take them next. 

A Record Year for the Pension Action Center 

For people who have been wrongly denied their retirement benefits, recovering that money can make a considerable difference—and even be life changing. It’s crucial work, and this year, the Pension Action Center is breaking its own records in helping people recover benefits.

“The need is there. The need has always been there,” says Tyler Compton, director and managing attorney of PAC. “More people are learning that the issues they’re having with their retirement funds are actually legal problems, and more people understand that this is something they can get help with.” 

You're Invited: Upcoming Events

Annual Fall Fundraiser for the Pension Action Center
October 6, 2026
Virtual
Please join PAC for its Annual Fall Fundraiser, bringing together friends and supporters of the Center for a special virtual event. The guest speaker will be Lisa Gomez, who served as the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employee Benefits Security at the U.S. Department of Labor during the Biden Administration, leading the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

Framingham Needs Assessment: Results
October 14, 2026 | 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Callahan Center
Learn the results of the Framingham community needs assessment for older residents, led by researchers at the Gerontology Institute.

BrooklineCAN Fall Forum: Making Our Voices Heard

October 15, 2026 | 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Brookline Senior Center

This program will share results of the UMass Boston Community Needs Assessment on Aging in Brookline. Researchers from the Gerontology Institute will share key findings on housing, financial security, transportation, caregiving, and more.

UMass Boston Gerontology in the News

The Medical Frailty Rule is Illegal and Irrational; the Consequences for Medicare are Profound

Milbank Quarterly

This piece, with authors including Jane Tavares and Marc Cohen of the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston, argues that additional scrutiny from courts is needed to address the faults of recent Medicaid eligibility restrictions.

Private Insurance Didn’t Solve Long-Term Care. Can Government Do Better?
Boston Globe
Rate increases have meant that more companies have stopped selling plans, putting Massachusetts on the brink of a caregiving crisis. This editorial about possible solutions cites Marc Cohen of the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston.


Kevin O'Leary Says You Can Retire on $500K - We Ran the Math in 8 Popular Retirement Cities
Finance Buzz
Based on numbers from the Elder Index, this story evaluates a claim by Kevin O'Leary that people could retire with $500,000.

It’s Worth Knowing: An Aging State Faces Challenges with its Senior Population
NH Business Review
How is older adult landscape faring in New Hampshire, the state with the second-oldest population in the country? These are important statistics that show the state of the aging population, drawn from the Healthy Aging Data Report from UMass Boston Gerontology.

Shoring Up the Nation’s Fraying Social Safety Net
RI News Today
Using figures from the Elder Index, the story explores the reasons why economic insecurity is rising among older Americans.

Beacon Bash 2026

Beacon Bash 2026 was a weekend-long celebration at UMass Boston this month, and our Gerontology team was there to join the homecoming festivities.

During the 5K, Edward Alan Miller -- chair of the Department of Gerontology -- completed the race with his daughter. At the finish line, members of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UMass Boston awarded medals to the runners.

OLLI at UMass Boston members also attended the Golden Reunion Society reception, recognizing alumni who graduated 50 or more years ago --

-- some of whom joined OLLI that night. If you're interested in joining the lifelong learning community, learn about an OLLI UMass Boston membership.