A 7- Point Affordability Agenda for Rhode Island’s Older Adults

by Carol Anne Costa and Maureen Maigret, for Senior Agenda Coalition of RI

As Rhode Island’s older population faces rising costs in housing, healthcare, and daily living, the Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island (SACRI) is advancing a bold 2026 7- Point Affordability Agenda for Older Adults.

This agenda focuses on practical, achievable policy changes that can make aging in our state more equitable and sustainable. From updating outdated asset and income limits to expanding access to essential services like home care, transportation, and property tax relief, SACRI’s proposals address the real-world pressures older adults face every day. By improving affordability across these key areas, Rhode Island can ensure that every older adult, regardless of income, has the opportunity to age with dignity, stability, choice, and security.

Our 7-points are:

• Address Inequities in Medicaid Eligibility for Older Adults – Persons age 65 and over and adults with disabilities are the only Medicaid recipients whose resources cannot exceed $4,000 (single person) which is especially unfair to those receiving home care. These asset limits must be more reasonable.
• Update Property Tax Relief (Circuit Breaker) Program – Eligibility for the state property tax credit/refund program for older and disabled persons is currently $39,275. Increasing the income to $50,000 would help more people offset rising property taxes and housing costs.
• Target Portion of Housing Bond Funds for Low-Income Units for Older Adults – Rent increases impact many older household budgets especially those on fixed incomes. SACRI research found wait lists as long as five years for some subsidized apartment developments for the elderly.
• Continue to Improve Access to Medicare Savings Program (MSP). MSP pays for Part B Medicare Premiums for low–income persons. However, persons cannot have more than $9,950 (individual) in assets to be eligible. RI should join with 13 the states (including Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont) and DC who removed the asset limit.
• Expand Access to Homemaker services – The Office of Healthy Aging @Home Cost Share program pays a share of the cost for homecare/homemaker services for older adults with income below 250% of the federal poverty level who need help with personal care and household tasks. Let’s allow those needing homemaker only services to participate – as privately paid homemaker costs average $34/hour.
• Allow the Elderly Transportation (ET) program to provide trips to Food Banks – Many older adults who cannot afford the foods they need to stay healthy also no longer drive. Allowing the ET program to provide rides to local food banks would help them better access nutritious food improving their food security and saving them money.
• Create a Caregiver Tax Credit – Rhode Island’s over 100,000 caregivers provide the vast amount of long term supports and services and are estimated to spend $7,200 out-of-pocket, an especial burden for our lower income older adults caring for loved ones.

Supporting SACRI’s Older Adult Affordability agenda is a way to help ensure that the future is reachable not to only the few, but achievable for a wider swath of RI’s older adults.

Carol Anne Costa is the Executive Director & Maureen Maigret is Policy Advisor for the Senior Agenda Coalition of RI

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About SACRI:

SACRI’s mission is to advance the rights, dignity, and quality of life for Rhode Island’s older adults and individuals with disabilities through bold legislative advocacy, rigorous policy research, and inclusive and educational community engagement. We strive to identify, expand, and amplify access to critical state and local community resources through our efforts – championing policies reinforcing healthcare, housing, transportation, consumer protection, and economic well-being – enabling Rhode Island’s older adults and persons with disabilities to thrive with dignity, independence, and equity.