Public News Service

Massachusetts residents can call the MassHealth Service Center to speak with a counselor and determine if they qualify for a dual-eligible special-needs plan at 800-841-2900. (Adobe Stock)<br />

MA seniors encouraged to take advantage of dual-use special needs plans

Health care advocates in Massachusetts said special health care plans are available for seniors and people with disabilities to help ensure they get t…

More than 71 million Americans saw a 3.2% increase in their Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income payments this year with the average retirement benefit increasing by more than $50 per month. (Adobe Stock)

GOP proposal threatens cuts to MA Social Security benefits

Congressional Republicans' proposed changes to Social Security have advocates for Massachusetts beneficiaries concerned about the future of the key sa…

Physical inactivity in adults age 65 and older in fair or better health increased 6% between 2018 and 2021, according to United Healthcare's 2023 Senior Report. (Adobe Stock)

MA Makes Top Ten List of States for Senior Healthy Living

Massachusetts ranks tenth in the nation when it comes to healthy senior living, according to a new report. United Healthcare's 2023 Senior Report …

In a Pew Research Center survey, 57% of Americans cited reducing the budget deficit as a top priority for the president and Congress to address this year. That's up from 45% a year ago. (Adobe Stock)

MA Activists Urge Congress to Raise Debt Ceiling, Resist Spending Cuts

Local activists will rally in Boston Common tomorrow to urge Congress to lift the debt ceiling without cuts to social programs in return. President …

1st Lieutenant Joe Mondello, U.S. Army (Retired), at Fort Sill Artillery and Guided Missile Center in Oklahoma, 1956. President Joe Biden declared July 16 as National Atomic Veterans Day to remember the service and sacrifices of America's atomic veterans. (Photo courtesy Joe Mondello)

Atomic Veterans in Massachusetts Seek Greater Recognition

The majority of atomic veterans who participated in America's nuclear bomb testing program between 1945 and 1962 are now gone, but one from …

Research from the National Institute on Aging links social isolation and loneliness to higher risks of high blood pressure, depression and cognitive decline. (Citizens for Citizens)

Retired MA Seniors Bring Life Experience, Hugs to Kids at School

A program matching low-income seniors with area schools in need of additional help is providing some retirees with a new outlook on life. The Foster …

The average value of home weatherization installation, including appliance replacement, attic insulation and more, is over $4,000, according to National Grid. (Adobe Stock)

Keeping Out the Cold: Weatherization Help for Those in Need

Community service agencies say many low- and moderate-income homes in the Commonwealth are unprepared for the winter cold and could benefit from a num…

It's “Make A Will Month": Expert Tips to Save Time, Money

August is "National Make a Will Month," and it's something the experts say too few people have done. They have some tips on saving you and your heirs …

July 2020 was the hottest recorded month in Boston, and climate planners predict it's a record that could be broken often in the future. (Paolese/Adobe Stock)

MA Climate Planner Warns of Extreme Summer Heat

BOSTON -- More and more summer days in Massachusetts are reaching temperatures above 90 degrees, and climate resiliency planners say the trend is …

A Greater Boston Food Bank survey found that only one in three adults experiencing food insecurity in Massachusetts is getting food from charitable sites, like food pantries. (Adobe Stock)

High Demand for Food Assistance Persists in MA

BOSTON -As COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and the country opens up, some Massachusetts residents are still feeling the ripple effects of the …

One in five Americans reported a family member became ill or even died during the pandemic without having an end-of-life plan in place. (Adobe Stock)

Groups Urge End-Of-Life Conversations This National Healthcare Decisions Day

ROCKPORT, Mass. - On National Healthcare Decisions Day, advocates are urging folks to make a formal plan for the end-of-life medical care they want…

If the End-of-Life Options Act is passed, Massachusetts will join 10 other jurisdictions across the country that have authorized medical aid in dying. (Photographee.eu/Adobe Stock)

MA Lawmakers Urged to Pass End-of-Life Options Act

BOSTON, Mass. -- Groups advocating for terminally ill Massachusetts residents say a bill reintroduced this session, the End-of-Life Options Act…

More than 70% of Massachusetts voters support medical aid in dying, according to the most recent poll on the issue in 2013 by Purple Insights. (Gundula Vogel/Pixabay)

Bill to Legalize Medical Aid in Dying Advances in MA

BOSTON -- The Massachusetts Legislature may soon vote on the End-of-Life Options Act. The Joint Committee on Public Health recently approved the bill…

The patients in the highest quartile for symptoms of early-onset dementia were three times more likely to receive a dementia diagnosis in the future in comparison to patients in their overall sample. A team at Mass General and Harvard analyzed the records of 500,000 patients. (Gerd Altmann/Pixabay)

Mass General Group Detects Dementia With Electronic Health-Records Algorithm

BOSTON -- Massachusetts researchers can detect early dementia symptoms just by combing through existing data from healthy people. A team from Mass …

Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno acknowledges that the rising cost of living is tough for older residents, and says he'll support a property-tax break for those who volunteer for the city.<br />(mass_osd/Flickr)

Mass. City Rewards Seniors Who Volunteer

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The city council of Springfield, Massachusetts, passed a bill this week that offers a unique tax break – if senior …

Massachusetts has a large number of job opportunities for veterans compared with many other states. (rawpixel.com)

Vets Do Better in Mass., NH, Maine Than Most Other States

BOSTON – While Memorial Day was a day to honor military veterans, barbecue, shop for sales, or maybe take a motorcycle ride, some vets are …

Almost two-thirds of Massachusetts college students graduate with student loan debt. (Pixabay)

Student Loan Bill of Rights Passes Mass. Senate

BOSTON – A bill to protect student-loan borrowers from deceptive loan-servicing companies has cleared the state Senate. Almost two-thirds of …

Studies show that SNAP benefits help families purchase healthier diets. (Pexels/Pixabay)

Study Says Food Assistance Improves Health

BOSTON – A new report links access to SNAP benefits to improved health and lower health care costs. The paper, published by the Center on …

The U.S. Dept. of Labor wants to allow the sale of insurance plans that don't include the essential health benefits outlined in the Affordable Care Act. (Engin_Akyurt/Pixabay)

Healthcare Advocates Slam Proposed Insurance Rule

BOSTON -- The federal Department of Labor is proposing a rule that critics say would allow the sale of what some call "junk" health insurance…

Proposed SNAP food assistance cuts are likely to hit low-income seniors and people with disabilities hardest. (USDA)

Proposed SNAP Cuts Put MA Seniors, People with Disabilities in Crosshairs

BOSTON – President Donald Trump wants to take a $193 billion slice out of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program over the next 10…

While the fate of the American Health Care Act is uncertain in the Senate, opponents warn the current House version could leave folks over 50 facing an

Potential "Age Tax" Looms for Folks Over 50, say AHCA Foes

BOSTON -- Analysts predict health insurance premiums could go up by as much as $8,000 a year for people age 50 and older under the American Health Car…

Utility scams are making the rounds at record levels around the nation, and advocates say consumers in the Commonwealth need to beware. (SmartMeters.org)

Shut-Off Swindle Making Rounds in New England

BOSTON — It's called the "Shut-off Swindle" and consumer advocates say the scam has reached record levels this winter, in part by preying on …

Employers have to meet a Jan. 31 deadline to get your W2 information to the government under new rules designed to prevent income-tax refunds from being stolen. (M. Bisanz/Wikimedia)

New IRS Deadline for Employers Designed to Beat Tax Scammers to Your Refund

BOSTON – Employers across New England and the nation are scrambling today to meet a new end-of-month deadline that is designed to protect your i…

A Boston nonprofit is ditching the fancy banquet tables in favor of soapboxes Tuesday night in an event that will focus on patient-centered care. (National Institutes of Health)

Nonprofit Tosses Fancy Banquet Tables in Favor of Speaker Soapboxes

BOSTON - Forget the banquet table with expensive flowers and a fancy meal. A major Boston nonprofit is replacing that with soapboxes for speakers to …

Drink up! Older Americans, especially men, and certain ethnic groups need to drink more water to stay healthy, according to the CDC. (Mike Clifford)

CDC Advice: Most Folks Need to Drink More Water

BOSTON - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has followed up on a study done about a decade ago that looks at whether Americans are drinki…

The Commonwealth is an expensive place to retire, ranking near the bottom at 48th in the nation for affordability in a new report. But the state scores better on quality of life and health care. (Mike Clifford)

MA Lags in Affordability, Ranks Better for Quality of Life

BOSTON - Massachusetts is near the back of the pack in a new survey that ranks the Commonwealth at 48th among states when it comes to retirement and a…

At 101, Kay Roberts still dresses up to read to students from the Cat in the Hat. After a half-century as an educator, she knows what makes a good teacher, and a good student. Courtesy: Massachusetts Teachers Assn.

Advice from MA Teacher, Age 101, on Good Teachers, Students

BOSTON - If you want to know what makes a good teacher and a good student, you might want to ask someone with classroom experience. Now that she is 10…

As the White House Conference on Aging approaches, advocates in the Commonwealth says the nation needs to shift focus to support seniors in their desire to live independently. Credit - Mike Clifford

Aging Care Choice: Now “Paramount”

SCITUATE, Mass. – The White House Conference on Aging kicks-off next month, and local advocates say the Commonwealth and the nation need to …

A recent AARP survey finds that while there can be some costs associated with employing older workers, the experience they bring to the job provides benefits that exceed the costs. Courtesy: Sebastiaan ter Burg via flckr

Report: Tide Shifts Towards Value of Older Workers

BOSTON – The trend in New England and the nation finds an increase in the number of older workers on the job and looking for work, and a recent …

Health Care For All's 1996 victory march after state lawmakers passed legislation creating MassHealth and expanded coverage for kids. The group's 30th anniversary will be celebrated tonight in Boston. Courtesy: Health Care for All.

30 Years Fighting for Health-Care Access, Focus Shifts to Affordability

BOSTON - While Tax Day has many Americans thinking about the new check-off box on income-tax forms that tracks whether they have health insurance…

Consumer advocates warn that unscrupulous contractors are raking in billions from home-improvement scams, and after the harsh winter in Massachusetts, scams are surfacing. They say you can protect yourself with a few simple steps. Credit: Mike Clifford

Harsh Winter Over: Don't Get Fooled By Home Repair Scams

BOSTON - Homes all across New England had to weather a rough winter and many are in need of repair. That's why local consumer watchdogs are warning …

PHOTO: Fueled by new research, oral health care advocates in the Commonwealth are continuing efforts to restore coverage for dentistry in clinics and dentists' offices for patients who have nowhere to turn but often-over-stretched hospital emergency rooms. Photo credit: Erik Christensen/Wikipedia.

Dental Work in the ER: The MA Pull to Extract It

BOSTON – Since severe cuts were made in 2010 to MassHealth adult dental benefits, more Commonwealth residents have turned to emergency rooms…

GRAPHIC: Without their Social Security benefits, the number of Massachusetts seniors living in poverty would jump by 34 percentage points, according to a new report. Courtesy CBPP

Safety Net for 328,000 Massachusetts Seniors: Social Security

BOSTON - Without their Social Security benefits, the number of Commonwealth seniors living in poverty would jump by 34 percentage points, according …

PHOTO: Kay Roberts, 99, here attending the NEA�s Representative Assembly this summer, has represented the Massachusetts Teachers Association at the gatherings for more than 60 years. She's been teaching or helping students since 1937. Courtesy NEA.

A Teacher’s Century: 99-year-old MA Educator Reflects

RAYNHAM, Mass. - Kay Roberts turned 99 this month, and the Raynham resident is still helping students in the public schools and representing the …

PHOTO: The Brockton Neighborhood Health Center is one of 35 such centers to receive a total of $3,448,106 in federal money to reach out to and enroll uninsured and under-insured Commonwealth residents.

MA Health Centers Get $3.4 Million to Reach Out To More Patients

BOSTON - The federal government is giving 35 community health centers in the Commonwealth a total of more than $3.4 million to better reach uninsured …

GRAPHIC: Learning Hands-Only CPR is easy, and could help you save someone's life.

Your Hands Can Save a Life

BOSTON - Learning Hands-Only CPR is very easy, and could well put you in a position to save someone's life - possibly that of a family member…

GRAPHIC: A plan to require photo ID on SNAP cards for Massachusetts food stamp recipients is being criticized as costly and discriminatory. Illustration courtesy AARP

No SNAP Shots - The Move to Nix Pix on Food Stamp Cards

BOSTON - Bills headed for final revision in the Statehouse would make numerous changes in the way Massachusetts administers programs such as cash assi…

Money Woes Continue for Many Renters in MA

BOSTON - Just because you have a job doesn't mean it's easy to pay the rent in Massachusetts. A new report, Housing Landscape 2013, from the …

PHOTO: Consumer advocates say land-line phones are still used widely, especially by seniors and those in rural areas, but telecom companies are pushing Internet-based alternatives which are much less regulated. Courtesy Mark Scheerer.

Land Lines – Endangered Phone Species?

BOSTON - Millions of consumers have cancelled their old land-line telephone service and replaced it with wireless phones. But many seniors and people …

Trouble on the Horizon as Cancer Screenings Decline?

BOSTON - The American Cancer Society, along with cancer experts across the country, has promoted cancer screenings as a way to cut cancer death rates…

PHOTO: Many struggling Americans face an impossible choice between paying for food or paying for energy.

Defending “Heat & Eat” in Massachusetts

BOSTON - Many struggling Americans face an impossible choice between paying for food or paying for energy, and some in Washington are considering …

In Home of First Thanksgiving, Fighting Food Insecurity

BOSTON - in the home of the first Thanksgiving, community groups and charities traditionally serve holiday dinners. But what about the rest of the …

Aline Travers and Denise Moran of HCFA providing information about health care options to small businesses and individuals at the BRAZIL EXPO USA in September. Courtesy: HCFA

Going Forward: Obamacare and MA Small Businesses

BOSTON - In the wake of President Obama's re-election, the signature achievement of his first term is safe from threats of repeal. The Affordable …

PHOTO: The David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex at Hofstra University, site of the second 2012 presidential debate. Courtesy Hofstra University

NE Advocates Hope Next Debate Keeps Focus on Dueling Medicare Plans

BOSTON - Health care was the subject of heated exchanges in the vice presidential debate, and advocates in New England and the nation are hoping both …

PHOTO: All across the nation the rising health care costs is a challenge for many.

Happy Birthday, Medicare

BOSTON - Happy Birthday, Medicare! On July 30, 1965, President Johnson signed into law the bill providing low-cost hospitalization and medical …

Health Insurance for “Thousands” of Bay Staters Okayed by Supremes

BOSTON - In a victory for the Obama administration's healthcare reform efforts, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld most parts of the Affordable Care Act …

Stitching Together a Health Cost Containment Law

BOSTON - The Massachusetts Senate worked Thursday on a bill aimed at slowing the spiraling costs of health care. The progress on addressing dozens of …

Seniors Want to "Have Their Say"

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Discussions in Congress that tied Medicare and Social Security to balancing the budget and reducing the deficit have made many …

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MA: Senior Issues