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Home and Community Based News Study Session

Study Session: PACE Program and More

The Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is an evidence-based care model for older adults who meet a nursing-home level of care but live in community settings. These organizations blend funding from Medicare and Medicaid to integrate preventive, acute, and long-term care as well as services to address social needs. While many […]

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Facilities Home and Community Based News Policy

Dignity Alliance Wants to be Cool!

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 […]

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Advocacy Home and Community Based News Worker Support

Increase the rate of payment for PCA’s to at least $25 per hour

June 19, 2023 Dignity Alliance MA supports increasing the payment for PCA’s to at least $25 per hour. 45 individuals and organizations have endorsed the following letter to Governor Healey, asking her to implement this increase immediately. Letter to Governor Healey Dear Governor Healey, On behalf of the membership of the Dignity Alliance of Massachusetts, […]

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Home and Community Based News Worker Support

2023-04-24 Spotlight: Historic Exec Actions to Improve Care

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Most Sweeping Set of Executive Actions to Improve Care in History Scroll down to see the reactions Disability Scoop, the AARP and the American Association for People with Disabilities (AAPD). The White House, April 18, 2023 Today, President Biden will announce the most comprehensive set of executive actions any President has ever […]

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Home and Community Based News Worker Support

Updates from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA)

AARP Quarterly, Stakeholders Meeting, 16 February 2023 Download the Updates from EOEA (pdf). Topics include: PHCAST (Personal and Home Care Aid Skills Training) Expanded Training PHCAST New Website at MAHomeCareTraining.org PHCAST Marketing Campaign EOEA Branding and Promotion Project Information on End of Federal Extra SNAP Information on MassHealth Redetermination MassHealth Update on Medicare Savings Program

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Advocacy Facilities Home and Community Based News Resolution

Healey should settle, not litigate, disability lawsuit

Avoid unnecessary institutionalization in nursing homes. January 27, 2023 by Alex Green and Bill Henning EVERY DAY, thousands of Massachusetts residents with disabilities are admitted to segregated nursing facilities, be it to recover from medical procedures, to receive respite and care because they’re homeless, or because of a lack supportive services that are needed to […]

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Advocacy Home and Community Based News Worker Support

Healey vows to address shortage of PCAs

by Henry Kuczinski Daily Hampshire Gazette, December 26, 2022 BOSTON — Governor-elect Maura Healey said she will “absolutely” work with advocates and labor representatives to strengthen Massachusetts’ Personal Care Attendant Program by addressing a “crisis-level” workforce shortage. The MassHealth program provides funds for individuals with chronic disabilities to hire attendants for in-home care. This allows […]

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Advocacy Facilities Home and Community Based News

How to better care for our elderly and frail

Crisis of Care for Older Adults should be a Call to Action, not a Plea for More Tax Dollars. By Paul Lanzikos, Arlene Germain, Richard Moore, Lachlan Forrow. MD Boston Globe, December 23, 2022 The seriousness of our nursing home crisis, especially the severe shortages of available nursing and other support staff, is undeniable (“At a […]

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Actions Advocacy Home and Community Based News Resolution

DignityMA supports Class Action re: Violations of the ADA and Medicaid Act

Statement of Support Dignity Alliance Massachusetts and Its Partners Support Resolution of the Complaint Underlying the Class Action Suit filed by the Center for Public Representation Charging Massachusetts with Violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Medicaid Act WHEREAS, Aging in Place: A State Survey of Livability Policies and Practices, written by the […]

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Actions Home and Community Based Worker Support

Advocate to Pay to Spouses as Caregivers

S89 / H1305 An Act allowing spouses as caregivers Referred to Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities. Contact Senator Adam Gomez (Adam.Gomez@masenate.gov, (617) 722-1660) and Representative Michael Finn (Michael.Finn@mahouse.gov, (617) 722-2676) to urge favorable action. Sponsors – Senator Joanne Comerford and Representative Norman Orrall Read the full DignityMA Endorsement for S89 and […]