Submitted by James Lamastro This report examined and assessed efforts through community stakeholders and other sources to determine how better pantries fulfill their mission and the extent to which they serve the needs of older and disabled people with issues related to food security. The purpose was to examine different ways to address these unmet […]
Category: Home and Community Based
November 20, 2025Presenters: Attorney Stephen Schwartz and Kathy Walker, Center for Public Representation Stephen Schwartz and Kathy Walker are the lead counsel for the plaintiffs. Stephen reviewed the progress since the case was settled in June 2024. Marsters v. Healey is a lawsuit filed by seven individuals with disabilities living in nursing facilities and […]
Australia’s Department of Veterans’ Affairs updated its Aged Care Act and has issued new supporting information. There may be some ideas we could glean and put to use in Massachusetts. Summary of The Aged Care Act 2024 from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs The Aged Care Act 2024, effective from 1 November 2025, introduces a rights-based […]
Massachusetts is on a collision course with a predictable long-term care crisis, and we are flying blind. DignityMA offers a path forward for MA officials and legislators. Download Massachusetts at a Crossroads Report (pdf). Executive Summary: Facing a Predictable Crisis Massachusetts is on a collision course with a predictable long-term care crisis, and we are […]
What Donald Trump’s Medicaid cuts mean for caregivers NPR 1A (podcast), September 30, 2025 Looking out for a family member who’s aging or disabled can take a huge toll on caregivers. And the burden just got heavier thanks to President Donald Trump’s cuts to Medicaid — the single largest source of funding for long-term care […]
Editor’s note: This statement is the personal expression of the author. It does not necessarily reflect the position of Dignity Alliance Massachusetts or any other DignityMA participant. DignityMA is a non-partisan organization and welcomes statements from all parties who support older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers. About the Author: Richard T. Moore of Uxbridge […]
Media Release Calls for Executive Action and Legislation to promote cooling for older adults and people with disabilities As another heat wave with temperatures in the nineties begins this week, Dignity Alliance Massachusetts is calling on state government to protect older adults and people with disabilities from the dangers of extreme heat. In a letter […]
Trump Cuts Threaten Agency Running Meals on Wheels New York Times (free access), April 24, 2025By Reed Abelson A tiny division responsible for overseeing services for people with disabilities and older Americans is being dismantled as part of an overhaul by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary. Every Monday, Maurine Gentis, a retired teacher, […]
HHS’s Transformation to Make America Healthy Again U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, March 27, 2025 The restructuring of HHS is proceeding in accordance with President Trump’s Executive Order, “Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative.” Over the past four years, during the Biden administration, HHS’s budget increased by 38% […]
What Lies Ahead For Medicaid In Budget Reconciliation?Health AffairsBy Sara Rosenbaum and Alison BarkoffFebruary 11, 2025 President Trump recently stated, “We will love and cherish” Medicaid, promising that budget cutting would be limited to finding waste and abuse. But that sentiment is not likely to prevail as Congress moves forward with massive budget cutting efforts, […]