Download Testimony in Support of Bills at Aging and Independence Committee (pdf)
“There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.”
If you’re old enough to remember watching the Wizard of Oz when it was only on television once a year, you remember that line. An overwhelming majority of older adults feel that way about living in their home and community with dignity!
Dignity Alliance Massachusetts strongly supports efforts to improve, expand, and strengthen home and community-based services and supports, according to a December 2024 AARP survey. In fact, 75% of adults age 50 and older wish to remain in their current home as they age. Many older adults face challenges such as rising housing costs, limited community infrastructure, and the need for home modifications to support independent ageing, it was noted in a May, 2024 article in Forbes, entitled, “Aging in Place Statistics in 2025.
“Aging in place” refers to living independently, safely, and comfortably in one’s home for as long as possible, and it’s an important goal for many older adults and their families. Without home modifications and additional support from others, however, unexpected medical events and declines in health can make it challenging to remain in one’s home. Over January and February 2022, the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging asked a national sample of adults age 50–80 about their perspectives on aging in place, their homes, and available social supports. An even higher number was reported in a 2022 survey by the University of Michigan noting that 88% of people over age 50 who answered the poll, want to “age in place” where they currently live.
The Healthy Aging Access Report for Massachusetts 2025, released in May calls for action on a number of fronts. “We are all aging and all have a role to play in making Massachusetts a great place to grow up and grow older. The report highlights the growth of the state’s older population, its increasing diversity, the unequal distribution of chronic conditions within it, and the impact of the pandemic on mental health. While there is impressive momentum to build a healthy, age-friendly state, this is no time to let up.”
Dignity Alliance respectfully urges the Committee to favorably report and advocate for passage the following fills that are under consideration today. It is our considered belief that enactment of these measures would help Massachusetts to become an age-friendly Commonwealth. At the sane tune, we are concerned that insufficient investment in programs that help older adults to remain in their home will lead to waiting lists for home care services within the next fiscal year. At least some of those who end up on such a waiting list are likely to live out their lives in nursing homes – exactly where they don’t want to be! This trend should concern budget planners and all taxpayers since the cost of a person in a nursing home is substantially more than providing care at home.
H776, An Act relative to LGBT and HIV-positive seniors in the Commonwealth.
This legislation is intended to expand the rights of people in Massachusetts by interpreting the provisions of the Older Americans Act to be inclusive and support a diverse population of older adults. Dignity Alliance believes that, given current policies emanating from the federal government, it is imperative for the Commonwealth to guarantee rights to all older adults. However, we express our concern that the Older Americans Act has not yet been extended by the U.S. Congress and that programs authorized by the Act or under significant budgetary and policy threats.
S495/H780, An Act establishing the hospital to home partnership program.
Dignity Alliance strongly supports expansion of the hospital to home program across the Commonwealth. The program had been shown to reduce patient stress, provide shorter hospital stays, improve recovery in a familiar environment, lower risks of hospital-acquired infections, and improve patient satisfaction. Such programs also allow for greater family involvement in care planning and can be more cost-effective than nursing home care. We recommend that the legislation include a provision to authorize and direct the Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety pursuant to Chapter 12C of the General Laws to develop recommendations to ensure safe, high-quality care and minimize infections and medical errors in the home setting.
S477/H781, An Act establishing the program of all-inclusive care for the elderly.
This legislation is intended to provide a statutory basis to PACE programs similar to that established by Senior Care Options and One-Care programs so that options for dual eligible older adults are more readily available across the Commonwealth. Currently, PACE programs have to seek annual authorization for MassHealth funding rather than be permanently authorized in the General Laws.
S464/H782, An Act to strengthen the state home care program workforce.
The legislation appears to promote a positive and health working relationship between employers and employee organizations in order to prevent disruption of care to those being served. If that is the primary function of the proposal, the bill would enhance the delivery of home care supports and services. We should not that the definition of the “department” in Section 1, should be updated to refer to the Executive Office of Aging and Independence.
S472/H783, An Act relative to home care eligibility.
Dignity Alliance recommends that the legislation be redrafted to incorporate the provisions of H776 and that the bill provide for programs subject to appropriation with the understanding that additional funds be provided to cover non-elderly people who are currently not covered. We are concerned that expanding eligibility for programs that are already under-funded, without increased financial support will only exacerbate services for older adults seeking home care and expand the anticipated waiting list. We recommend that the committee ensure that any waiting list for home care services be publicly available to ensure transparency in the operation of the program.
H784, An Act relative to assisted living residences appeal of findings.
Dignity Alliance STRONGLY OPPOSES this legislation since it appears that the dispute resolution mechanism is stacked in favor of the long-term care industry. Such bias toward “landlord” vs. tenant is unacceptable.
S474/H791, An Act relative to assisted living and the frail elder waiver.
Dignity Alliance SUPPORTS the concept included in this bill that would make more MassHealth participants eligible for assisted living services as opposed to nursing home placement. This is especially important now that Assisted Living Residences are able to offer limited health services to residents. We have long-advocated to lower income residents to be able to live in assisted living if they do not need round the clock care.
H1369, An Act to strengthen supportive housing and reduce chronic care costs for low- income seniors.
Dignity Alliance believes that this legislation would provide more housing opportunities for low-income older adults and provide an option for housing other than nursing home care which may actually be more intensive than needed/
H4039, An Act relative to universal breakfast and lunch at senior centers.
Dignity Alliance recommend adoption of a program of universal breakfast and lunch. We believe that seniors centers, provided they receive sufficient support, would be an appropriate expansion of community services for older adults. We suggest that schools, which are also supported in part for taxes paid by older adults may be another appropriate option.
In Massachusetts, about one in five older adults face food insecurity. A recent study by the Greater Boston Food Bank found that 33% of households in the state experience food insecurity, meaning about 1.8 million older adults are struggling to afford enough food. Food insecurity rates are particularly among groups such as Blacks and Latino adults, those who identify as LGBTQ, and those who may be raising their grandchildren.
In view of threats from the Federal government to eliminate or reduce the Meals on Wheels program, it is vital that options to address food insecurity and improve proper nutrition be expanded in the Commonwealth.
S469. An Act further regulating the Assisted Living Advisory Council
Dignity Alliance STRONGLY OPPOSES this legislation unfairly creates an imbalance between the long-term care industry and consumers by creating four industry representatives and only three consumer representatives. Dignity Alliance recommends that NO LESS than 51% of the Council be designed consumers and that in the absence of consumer attendance, no quorum can be achieved. .
S475, An Act promoting housing stability for older adults across the Commonwealth.
Dignity Alliance believes that creating an advisory council for transitional housing is a positive step toward increasing transparency for housing services. We strongly commend the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities for their progressive efforts to seek input from the public and those being served by public housing compared to other state agencies that appear to present a proposal without sufficient public input. We would suggest that terms such as Aging and Independence be substituted for elder affairs, wherever the outdated term appears.
S478, An Act relative to disclosing continuing care retirement community entrance fees.
Dignity Alliance believes that this legislation enhances consumer rights and is an important step toward greater transparency in long-term housing options.
S486, An Act to ensure resident safety within assisted living facilities.
Dignity Alliance supports a requirement for Automated External Defibrillator devises in assisted living facilities to improve safety for residents, staff, and visitors and for the training of staff to safely operate such devices. We believe that such devices and staff training are vitally important given the increasing health concerns of older residents.
S489, An Act establishing a statewide volunteer program to assist seniors.
The program envisioned in this bill is important, especially to those older adults living in the community. Volunteers need to be trained, coordinated and supervised in order to be most effective in delivering service. We strongly suggest that the range of duties be expanded to cover other function such a lawn mowing, debris removal, delivery of groceries, etc. It’s difficult for older adults, who are often isolated, from finding neighbors willing to assist with some basic chores and an organized effort would be an improvement over current condition. Such a program could reduce accidents and health emergencies on the part of older adults trying to age in place in their homes.
Dignity Alliance Massachusetts is dedicated to transformative change to ensure the dignity of older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers. We are committed to advancing new ways of providing long-term services, support, living options, and care, while respecting choice and self-determination. Through education, legislation, regulatory reform, and legal strategies, this mission will become reality throughout the Commonwealth. As a non-profit, all-volunteer, grass-roots coalition of aging and disability service and advocacy organizations and supporters, Dignity Alliance Massachusetts works to secure fundamental change
For more information on the proposed amendments to the above legislation, please contact: Former Senator Richard T. Moore, Legislative Chair, at rmoore8743@charter.net or visit the Dignity Alliance web site. info@dignityAllianceMA.org