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Important HEAP/Fuel Assistance Update, Winter Moratorium, and Shut-Off Protection
GOOD NEWS: federal funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program has been released. As per the 12/3/25 press release on Mass.gov: “After more than a month’s delay, the federal funding was released yesterday, and all applications can now be processed.”
HUD Policy Changes and Impacts on MA Households
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) recently released Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) contains a policy change that...
LIHEAP/Fuel Assistance Update from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities
The following update was provided by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and is shared here with their permission: As you may...
Leveraging Local Cultural Council Grants
Many MA artists, performers, and other cultural program-creators routinely partner with senior centers to apply for Local Cultural Council grants....
Advocating for Caregivers
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.
Cooling Centers at Senior Centers
Many Senior Centers and other public buildings in Massachusetts are designated Cooling Centers. The Mass.gov website has a page devoted to the creation and implementation of Cooling Centers, which offers many good ideas. These ideas seem obvious when encountered in a list of best practices, but it’s easy to overlook some of the simple but important touches like signage with hours and the posting of rules of use for visitors. This is a great opportunity to think about whether or not your current signage indicating where restrooms are (among other things) is effective for people living with dementia.
MCOA Leads Dementia Friendly MA, Offering Resources and Grants
MCOA is the state lead for the Dementia Friendly Massachusetts (DFM) initiative, a community-based, grassroots movement to grow awareness, services, and infrastructure to support the lives of people living with dementia and their caregivers. Communities often choose to merge DFM goals with corresponding and overlapping goals for network membership in the Age-Friendly Massachusetts movement, which is steered by AARP-MA.
Latest News
Imminent MassHealth Rules Changes: How Beneficiaries Can Prepare
Imminent Federal Medicaid policy changes will affect MassHealth beneficiaries of all ages, including older adults.
Appealing Medicare Advantage Plan Denials: Worth the Effort!
Alice Bers, Elder Law Attorney with the Center for Medicare Advocacy and Community Legal Aid in Western MA, wrote a guest column for the Greenfield Recorder (July 21, 2026), encouraging enrollees of Medicare Advantage Plans and their advocates to appeal denials. Odds...