Search results for: herb weiss
Changes coming to HHS elicit strong response from aging network – Herb Weiss
By Herb Weiss, contributing writer, aging issues The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under management of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., last week announced a major restructuring and renaming of the federal agency under the initiative “Make America Healthy Again.” This dramatic reorganization follows Trump’s Executive Order, Implementing the President’s ‘Department of…
Read MoreSeniors in hock over credit card debt. Cap attempt a rare tri-partisan (D), (I), (R) effort – Herb Weiss
AARP Survey: Seniors Find Themselves in Hock Over Credit Card Debt by Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues Over two weeks ago, a new AARP survey revealed that 47% of respondents who carry credit card debt use their credit cards to pay for basic living expenses that they do not have enough money to…
Read MoreSenior Agenda Coalition of RI unveils its 2025 legislative priorities at forum – Herb Weiss
By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues Photo, top: Retiring SACRI Director Robert Cox received a House Citation from House Speaker Joe Shekarchi by Rep. Lauren Carson at Legislative Forum. Cox here with SACRI Executive Director Carol Anne Costa On March 14, 2025, hundreds of older Rhode Islanders, aging network providers, state officials, and lawmakers gathered at the…
Read MoreA snapshot of older travelers, and travel tips – Herb Weiss
By Herb Weiss, contributing writer, aging issues Larry Tetreault, 78, and wife Diane, 72, don’t spend their days sitting in rocking chairs on their porch in Narragansett. For over 20 years, the former educators have traveled quite a bit, mostly taking international trips,” says Larry. These trips, usually to warmer climates (Bahamas, Bermuda, and Aruba), “put…
Read MoreSurviving, even thriving, when caring for a person with Alzheimer’s – Herb Weiss
By Herb Weiss, contributing writer, aging issues Photos: Provided by C. Mellor Last Wednesday, Colleen Kelly Mellor, author and former feature writer for the Providence Journal, captivated a crowd at the Coventry Library with a talk about her caregiving journey. In her inspiring presentation, Mellor shared how she not only survived but thrived while caring…
Read MoreIt’s now time for Congress to give tax credits to America’s caregivers – Herb Weiss
By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues Just a few days after the 119th Congress was sworn in on Friday, January 3rd, AARP, along with 94 organizations, sent a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to enact legislation to provide financial relief for America’s caregivers. This could be accomplished by including the bipartisan bicameral Credit for…
Read MoreNew study gives Congress a road map to fix Social Security – Herb Weiss
By Herb Weiss, contributing writer, aging issues As Social Security celebrates its 90th anniversary on Aug. 14, 2025, this essential retirement program has long been facing a significant long-term financing gap. According to the 2024 Social Security trustees report, unless Congress acts the trust funds will be depleted by 2035, forcing the program to reduce benefits by…
Read MoreOlder adults attract scammers with popularity of cyberdating – Herb Weiss
by Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues Digital technology is not just a way to find information and news, shop, or even search and apply for jobs. For older single adults, getting back into the dating scene can be difficult. It could be after a divorce, or death of a spouse, or just deciding…
Read MoreFirst Senate Aging Committee hearing of new congress looks at wellness – Herb Weiss
By Herb Weiss, contributing writer, aging issues Over a week after the 119th Congress began on Friday, Jan. 3, U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) took the reins of the U.S. Special Committee on Aging, becoming its 20thchairman. He follows in the footsteps of former Chairman Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), a 3-term Democratic Senator, who lost his reelection bid for a…
Read MoreNational survey says care for older adults needs urgent rethinking – Herb Weiss
By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues With President Trump’s administration beginning and a new Congress poised to rethink, among other issues, Social Security, Medicare and federal aging programs and services, it might be prudent for the president and lawmakers to take a quick glance at the findings of a recently released national survey,…
Read More