Looking back at 2024, sharing some favorites – Herb Weiss

Herb Weiss

By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues Like many national news organizations, RINewsToday, The Pawtucket Times and Woonsocket Call (now combined into one newspaper called the Blackstone Valley Call & Times), offers its readers an ‘age beat’ editorial commentary, covering a myriad of aging issues, Congress (including Social Security and  Medicare) retirement, the long-term care continuum, consumer issues, spirituality, pop…

Read More

Update: President signs: Historic Social Security legislation awaits President’s signature – Herb Weiss

By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues UPDATE: President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act this past weekend After 40 years, a polarized Congress actually worked together on behalf of millions of Americans with public pensions to push through bipartisan legislation repealing two Social Security provisions that would benefit these individuals. Just past…

Read More

The wall of separation, church and state – Herb Weiss

By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on issues of aging Lawmakers with strong religious beliefs can be found serving in state houses, congress, and state departments of education, etc., throughout the nation. Occasionally, we’ve seen the wall of separation of church and state crumble, or be taken up in the courts. According to PEN America, between July…

Read More

Chair Casey leaves mark on national aging policy. Leadership changes in DC and RI – Herb Weiss

Chairman Casey’s Leadership Leaves his mark on national aging policy  By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues Last week, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, held his last hearing, entitled “Empowering People with Disabilities to Live, Work, Learn, and Thrive, in SD 106.  This hearing was his swan song as…

Read More

Retirees reflect on financial fragility of retirement – Herb Weiss  

By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues Literally just hot off the press… the Los Angeles, California-based nonprofit Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies® (TCRS) in collaboration with Transamerica Institute®, released the findings of its 24 Annual Transamerica Retirement survey.  Considered to be one of the largest and longest running annual surveys of its kind, its…

Read More

Bipartisan efforts strengthens the Dementia public health infrastructure – Herb Weiss

Bipartisan Efforts Strengthens the Dementia Public Health Infrastructure By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues In the waning days of the Biden administration, Congress has moved one step closer to assisting states to continue to effectively implement dementia interventions.  Following passage of H. R. 7218 on Sept. 17th, by voice vote on Nov. 21st,…

Read More

Talking political turkey during Thanksgiving dinner – Herb Weiss

Talking Political Turkey During Thanksgiving Dinner By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues We face increased demands of family obligations planning for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Baking and cleaning to host dinner, and even unrealistic expectations about our families, or having a dysfunctional family, can produce extra stresses, feelings of anxiety, isolation, and depression.  …

Read More