The Social Model of Disability National Library of MedicineThe medical model views disability as a problem that exists within an individual and focuses on diagnosis, treatment, or cure. The social model offers a different perspective. It suggests that people are often disabled not by their bodies or minds, but by the inaccessible environments around them, […]
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The Landscape of Elder Care in the United States: Part 1—Where Older Americans Live and Why It Matters By Kelli Marquardt, Aryan Safi, and Anthony Lo Sasso In the first installment of a three-part research series, economists from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago analyze the macroeconomic impacts of the United States’ shifting demographic landscape, […]
By James A. Lomastro, PhD James A. Lomastro, PhD, is a freelance, international surveyor, and advocate with Dignity Alliance Massachusetts. He holds a doctorate in Social Welfare Administration from Brandeis University’s Heller School and has spent more than four decades working in healthcare administration. Most non-disabled think of a wheelchair as a piece of medical […]
June 2025: Dignity Alliance Massachusetts welcomes ongoing discussions led by the Executive Office of Aging and Independence (AGE) regarding the future of Prescription Advantage and the best use of available resources to support older adults and people with disabilities. The Current State of Prescription Advantage in Massachusetts Federal reforms to Medicare prescription drug coverage have […]
Family caregivers are now slackers and crooksMcKnights Home CareBy Liza Berger, Editor (liza.berger@mcknights.com)May 1, 2026 Among the more unconventional and perplexing statements of the second Trump administration was one that surfaced in recent weeks when the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services pointed a finger at paid family caregivers in the Medicaid […]
Editor’s Note: While the focus of this opinion piece is about nursing homes in Connecticut, the scope of the issue and the recommended policy and practice solutions are fully relevant to Massachusetts. When ‘care’ becomes controlCT Mirror By Michael A. D’Amico, May 11, 2026 Nursing homes, dementia, and chemical restraints we can’t ignore Families place […]
When: Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Register: https://tinyurl.com/DignityMA-StudySessionMay13 Presenter: Wynn Gerhard, Esq, Guardian Community Trust and the Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute Topics covered: Registration or https://tinyurl.com/DignityMA-StudySessionMay13
The Boomers Are Turning 80. Now They Want to Change Old Age.*Wall Street JournalBy Clare AnsberryApril 13, 2026 The Wall Street Journal report, “The Boomers Are Turning 80: Now They Want to Change Old Age,” explores the significant cultural and economic shift occurring as the first wave of the 76 million baby boomers—those born in […]
Interviewer: Dignity DigestGuest: Peter Tiernan Note: For more details on this issue, visit DignityMA Campaign to Restore Elder Care Services. Dignity Digest: Peter, let’s start with the problem. What’s happening with the Enhanced Community Options Program (ECOP) in Massachusetts right now? Peter Tiernan: The situation is deeply concerning. Over the past year, ECOP—Massachusetts’ enhanced home […]
Issue Nursing home ownership changes and facility closures are often carried out with limited transparency and minimal opportunity for public input, despite their profound impact on residents, families, and staff. Greater transparency and oversight are essential to protect residents, families, and staff. Urge lawmakers to strengthen disclosure, review, and transition requirements to ensure safe, resident-centered […]