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 […]
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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 […]
Issue Another explanation of this issue and proposal is a DignityMA Interview with Pete Tiernan: Unlocking Federal Funding to Eliminate Home Care Waitlists. In February 2025, the Healey-Driscoll Administration critically impacted a vital program that provides home care services to low-income seniors with complex care needs. The Executive Office of Aging & Independence (AGE) imposed […]
Providing Long-Term Supports and Services at Home for Our Nation’s Elders March 2026, By Richard Frank, Sherry Glied, Jonathan Gruber, Vani Agarwal, and Wendell Primus This twenty-page report proposes a fundamental shift in how the United States finances and delivers long-term supports and services (LTSS). Scroll down to see responses by DignityMA participants. The Crisis […]