Harry Margolis, a fellow with the Gerontology Institute, hosts the podcast, Risking Old Age in America. His conversations with lawmakers, scholars, housing experts, and more reveal not just the immensity of the emerging care crisis but the ingenuity of those who work to alleviate it.
The Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging leads engaged research in neighborhoods around the city to learn the needs of older adults. The findings from these conversations guide the city’s Age Strong campaign. “This research allows the City of Boston to implement programs that are closely aligned with what residents need and look for,” says Caitlin Coyle, PhD, CSDRA director.
The Innovations in Aging Forum invited special guests from the Gerontological Society of America to learn about the work being done by the Gerontology Department and the Gerontology Institute, as well as their partners.
The third special issue of the Journal of Aging & Social Policy addressing COVID has been published, nearly five years after its first COVID issue. “Putting these 25 articles together in one volume will hopefully further draw attention to the work around COVID and its impacts globally, particularly for older adults,” says Edward Alan Miller, Ph.D., JASP editor-in-chief.
Gov. Maura Healey signed legislation that approved changing the name of the Executive Office of Elder Affairs to the Executive Office of Aging & Independence.
“The name change is a signal of the investment that the state has made in terms of eroding ageism, specifically in the way that we communicate about aging,” says Caitlin Coyle, Ph.D., director of the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging, part of the Gerontology Institute. “That is a huge and very public-facing action that signals that change is happening.”
The Gerontology Institute at UMass Boston welcomes Dr. Michelle Putnam as its new director, beginning January 27, 2025.
“I love the Gerontology Institute. It’s such a storied institution and important place,” Putnam says. “It’s a privilege for me to serve as the director of one of the first institutes solely focused on gerontological research in the United States.”
During a tenure that saw record-breaking fundraising and strengthened connections, Mutchler created significant impact for the Institute. On January 25, 2025, Jan Mutchler will retire as the director of the Gerontology Institute and as professor of gerontology at University of… Continue Reading →
OLLI at UMass Boston begins a new winter session, inviting Boston-area residents to try the program, free of charge.
“We’re not just an organization, but we’re a lifelong learning community,” says director James Hermelbracht. “It’s an amazing experience that allows folks to continue their lifelong learning journey.”
Last fall, a report by UMass Boston researchers showed that Medicaid reimbursements fall short of covering the actual costs of nursing home care for Medicaid residents. That research will now go a step further and try to examine how closely Medicaid payment-to-cost ratios affect outcomes in nursing homes.
On November 19, 2024, people gathered at the University of Massachusetts Club to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Pension Action Center, a center within the Gerontology Institute at UMass Boston. Current staff, previous directors, board members, and friends of… Continue Reading →
