Help Spread the Word: Study Opportunity for Caregivers of People Living with Dementia

Oct 16, 2025 | Age & Dementia Friendly, Public Health

Boston College researchers are conducting a research study aimed at developing and evaluating a 6-week virtual group lifestyle intervention designed to promote social connection and reduce loneliness in older adult informal caregivers who are providing care for a loved one with dementia.

We are looking for caregivers who meet the following criteria:

  • Aged 65 or older
  • The primary informal (unpaid) caregiver for someone living with dementia
  • Live with the person with whom they are providing care
  • Fluent in English (to participate in group sessions and complete surveys
  • Have access to a computer, tablet or smartphone
  • Are comfortable using the internet
All participants who complete the six group sessions & final interview will receive a $50 Amazon gift card.
Interested individuals can complete a short eligibility screening here. If eligible, you will be asked to complete the consent form and then fill out a short survey.

We would also be very appreciative if COA staff could share the study flyer with its community members

If you have questions, please contact the Principal Investigator, Jane Flanagan (flanagjg@bc.edu), Boston College William F. Connell School of Nursing Associate Professor

Are You Joining the Walk to End Alzheimer’s?

Oct 2, 2025 | Age & Dementia Friendly

It’s that time of year again–time to join a team and show your support for people living with Alzheimer’s and those who care for them. Walks in Massachusetts are happening on various dates this month–the earliest one coming up is Saturday, October 18. If you aren’t able to join a walk, please consider making a donation to a team near you. It is so encouraging for teams to receive the support of donations of any size!

The Alzheimer’s Association MA/NH Chapter has made it very easy to get involved: check out their webpage, see if there’s a walk happening in your neck of the woods, and lend your time and/or money to support all the good things that the Alzheimer’s Association does!

Advocating for Caregivers

Sep 9, 2025 | Age & Dementia Friendly, Economic Security & Outreach Blog, Legislative Alerts

An Act supporting family caregivers, S.1938/H.3159, has been scheduled for a hearing in the Joint Committee on Revenue on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 10:30am in Hearing Room A1 and Virtual. This bill is supported by MCOA.

Staff members at Councils on Aging know that caregivers are often spouses, and they know that caregivers shoulder a massive responsibility that can lead to negative health impacts and financial strain. If you’ve witnessed caregiver challenges, your testimony can make a difference.

The hearing notice is linked here, where you can find all of the information you’ll need for providing oral and/or written testimony. The deadline to sign up to provide oral testimony is Monday, September 15, 2025 at 12 PM, (see instructions in the linked hearing notice on how to sign up). The deadline for submitting written testimony is testimony is 53 days from the date of the hearing.

Senator Joanne Comerford filed S.1938 in the Senate and Reps. Kushmerek and Rogers filed H.3159 in the House. Both bills have the same text.

Senator Comerford’s office prepared this short summary of the bill (please note that this bill contains language from a bill Senator Comerford filed in previous sessions, An Act allowing spouses to serve as caregivers):

Family caregivers provide care and support for a relative with a physical or mental health problem, allowing their loved one to receive dignified care and remain in their home. While providing this essential care and service, family caregivers often experience hardships including a loss of income if they have to leave their job, workplace discrimination, and their own mental and physical health challenges. This omnibus bill creates new benefits and policies to support family caregivers and their loved ones, including providing a tax credit to family caregivers, allowing spouses to be paid as caregivers by MassHealth, expanding unemployment insurance eligibility to people who leave their job to care for a relative, protecting family caregivers from workforce discrimination, and creating a permanent advisory council on family caregiving.

Thank you for considering sharing your important first-hand experiences with legislators and advocating for caregivers!

The Benefits of Physical Activity for Older Adults

May 6, 2025 | Age & Dementia Friendly, Healthy Aging

women in an exercise class lifting dumbbells while lunging forward

Osteofitness class participants at the Lexington Council on Aging

As we age, staying physically active is one of the best ways to maintain overall health, independence, and quality of life. Regular physical activity helps older adults stay strong, mobile, and mentally sharp. While aging naturally brings changes to the body, exercise can slow down many of these effects, making it an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. Whether it’s walking, swimming, yoga, or strength training, staying active provides numerous benefits that enhance both physical and mental well-being.

 

Improves Heart Health

One of the greatest benefits of regular physical activity is its positive impact on heart health. Exercise strengthens the heart, improves circulation, and helps regulate blood pressure. It also lowers the risk of heart disease, stroke, and high cholesterol. Activities like brisk walking, cycling, or swimming can help older adults keep their cardiovascular system strong and efficient.

Maintains Strength and Mobility

Muscle mass and bone density naturally decrease with age, leading to weakness and an increased risk of falls. However, regular strength training and weight-bearing exercises help maintain muscle strength and bone health. Activities like resistance training, bodyweight exercises, and even gardening can improve mobility, balance, and coordination, reducing the likelihood of injuries.

Aids in Weight Management

Metabolism slows as we age, making weight management more challenging. Regular exercise helps burn calories, maintain a healthy weight, and prevent obesity-related conditions like diabetes and hypertension. Even moderate physical activity, such as daily walks or light aerobic exercises, can make a significant difference in maintaining a healthy body composition.

Boosts Mental and Cognitive Health

Physical activity isn’t just good for the body, it’s also essential for brain health. Exercise reduces stress, anxiety, and depression by releasing endorphins, which promote feelings of well-being. Staying active improves cognitive function and memory, helping to lower the risk of dementia. Simple activities like dancing, tai chi, or even playing sports keeps the brain sharp and engaged.

Enhances Flexibility and Balance

Falls are a major concern for older adults, often leading to injuries and hospitalizations. Activities that focus on flexibility, balance, and coordination, such as yoga, Pilates, and tai chi, can help reduce the risk of falls. These exercises improve posture, strengthen core muscles, and enhance body awareness, making daily movements safer and more controlled.

Encourages Social Interaction

Exercise provides an excellent opportunity for older adults to socialize, which is crucial for mental and emotional well-being. Joining a fitness class, walking with friends, or participating in community sports fosters social connections and helps combat feelings of loneliness and isolation. Staying socially engaged has been linked to a longer, healthier life.

Promotes Better Sleep

Regular physical activity contributes to better sleep quality by regulating the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. Exercise helps reduce stress and anxiety, making it easier to fall and stay asleep. Engaging in light activities like stretching or an evening walk can promote relaxation and lead to deeper, more restful sleep.

 

Staying physically active is one of the best ways for older adults to maintain their independence, health, and happiness. Exercise helps prevent chronic diseases, strengthens the body, and supports mental well-being. No matter the activity, staying active contributes to a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life.

Building an Age and Dementia Friendly Community: It Takes a Village (and a Region!)

Building an Age and Dementia Friendly Community: It Takes a Village (and a Region!)

Feb 20, 2025 | Age & Dementia Friendly, Aging Matters Newsletter, Healthy Aging

A Conversation with James Fuccione of the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative

When it comes to creating communities where older adults can thrive, James Fuccione, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative, emphasizes one key ingredient: partnership. As he puts it, “It’s all about asking and listening and telling a story… getting the community to tell their story about what healthy aging means.” And a crucial part of that story is the concept of age-friendly.

This collaborative spirit lies at the heart of building age and dementia friendly communities. It’s about bringing together diverse voices – Councils on Aging (COAs), town officials, schools, businesses, healthcare providers, and older adults themselves – to create environments that support well-being and inclusivity. Because what constitutes “healthy aging” can vary significantly from one community to the next. What works in a bustling city might be very different from the needs of a rural town. That’s why understanding the specific context of each community is so vital.

A 500-Foot View of an Age-Friendly Community

An age and dementia friendly community is one that actively supports the health and well-being of its older residents. It recognizes that aging is a natural part of life and seeks to create environments where everyone can thrive, regardless of age. This often translates into improvements across several key domains that combines age friendly and dementia friendly principles so communities can be more inclusive. Based on feedback, communities may choose any combination of these focus areas and can even build or elevate other priorities. The “Salem for All Ages” initiative, for example, highlights volunteerism as a distinct priority.

  • Access, Equity, and Cultural Inclusion: Ensuring that all older adults, regardless of background, identity, or ability, have equitable access to resources, opportunities, and services. This includes addressing disparities and promoting cultural sensitivity in all aspects of community life.
  • Outdoor Spaces and Buildings: Safe, accessible, and welcoming public spaces that encourage social interaction and physical activity. Think well-maintained parks, accessible sidewalks, and community centers designed with the needs of older adults in mind.
  • Housing: Diverse and adaptable choices allow older adults to age in place safely and comfortably. This could include home modification programs, accessible housing units, and supportive living communities.
  • Social Inclusion and Participation: Encouraged and celebrated through opportunities for intergenerational connections, volunteerism, and lifelong learning. Community centers buzzing with activities, shared spaces in schools and libraries, and mentorship programs connecting older adults with younger generations are all hallmarks of age-friendly communities.
  • Transportation: Accessible and affordable options connect older adults to social activities, healthcare, and essential services. Think ride-sharing programs, volunteer driver networks, and expanded public transportation options tailored to the needs of older adults.
  • Civic Participation and Employment: Opportunities for older adults to remain active in their communities through volunteer work, civic engagement, and flexible employment options. Valuing the experience and knowledge of older adults and providing avenues for them to contribute.
  • Communication and Technology: Accessible and user-friendly information channels keep older adults informed about community resources, programs, and events. Bridging the digital divide and ensuring older adults have the skills and access to technology they need to stay connected.
  • Services (Business, Health, and Community): Access to a range of health and social services, as well as businesses catering to their needs, that are tailored to the needs of older adults, promoting both physical and mental well-being.
  • Public Safety: Creating a safe and secure environment for older adults, addressing issues such as crime prevention, fall prevention, and emergency preparedness. Promoting a sense of security and well-being in the community.

Map of AF/DF current Communities

The Power of Regional Approaches

Fuccione highlights the importance of regional collaboration, particularly for smaller communities with limited resources. Often in Massachusetts, individual communities are left to pursue grants or address needs, but these regional efforts have proven that cities and small towns can support each other. By working together, neighboring communities can pool resources, share best practices, and create a broader impact. This could involve joint transportation initiatives, regional volunteer programs, or shared community spaces. This regional approach is especially valuable for creating age-friendly communities because it allows smaller towns to leverage the resources and expertise of larger partners.

Resources for Building Age-Friendly Communities:

By embracing a collaborative, community-driven approach, and by understanding the unique needs of each locality, we can create truly age-friendly environments where older adults are valued, supported, and empowered to live their best lives. As Fuccione reminds us, “It’s an investment in all of our futures.”

Living Well After the Diagnosis

Jan 9, 2025 | Age & Dementia Friendly

Living Well After the Diagnosis

  • Friday, January 31, 2025
  • 9:30 am – 12:00 pm ET
  • Live Virtual Program

Designed for individuals living with early stage dementia & their care partners

All are welcome to attend

The Alzheimer’s Association, New England Chapters, will offer a special half-day program, Living Well After the Diagnosis, for individuals living with early-stage dementia and their care partners. The program will feature a panel discussion of individuals living with memory loss.  Panelists will discuss coping with a diagnosis and combating the stigma associated with the disease. They will also talk about the importance of disease education, social engagement, and having a voice in your own care. In addition, Dr. Julie Brody Magid will present Living Well with Cognitive Challenges: Tips and Strategies, featuring cognitive strategies to help manage common difficulties encountered in daily life to improve feelings of well-being and self-reliance.

This program is sponsored by Lorenzo’s House and Jewish Family & Children Services.

Learn more and REGISTER HERE

Alzheimer’s Association’s Free, CEU-Earning Program

Nov 22, 2024 | Age & Dementia Friendly

Person-Centered Dementia Care: Understanding Behaviors and Effective Communication

Thursday, December 12, 2024
12:00-1:30 PM
Zoom
As people living with dementia progress in their journey, their ability to communicate also changes. Professionals must discover new ways to communicate effectively for all stages of the disease. Behavior is a powerful form of communication and is one of the primary ways for people with dementia to communicate their needs and feelings as the ability to use verbal communication diminishes. Join us to learn how dementia affects communication, how person-centered approaches can improve communication, how to decode behavioral messages, identify common behavior triggers, and learn strategies to help intervene with some of the most common behavioral challenges of Alzheimer’s disease.
Free CEUs for social workers and nurses

Registration link