Search results for: herb weiss
Bipartisan Push to Restore House Permanent Select Committee on Aging – Herb Weiss
by Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues Magaziner Again Pushes House to Restore Aging Panel  According to Meals on Wheels America, every day, 12,000 Americans turn 60. By the end of this decade, one in four Americans will be over 60—an irreversible and historic change in population.  Yet even as the nation ages, older Americans…
Read MoreGov. McKee’s Proposed FY 27 Rhode Island Budget: What’s in It for Seniors – Herb Weiss
By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on senior issues Gov. Dan McKee outlined key elements of his proposed $14.8 billion FY 2027 budget during his State of the State Address on Jan. 13, 2026. Two days later, his full budget, proposing a 3.6% increase over the previous fiscal year, was officially released via press release. The budget…
Read MoreIf you want a friend in Washington, get a furry friend – Herb Weiss
By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on senior issues With an increasing number of adults reporting a decrease in the number of close friends, the old adage, “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog,†might also be applicable outside the Beltway.  This companionship can also boost your physical and mental health. Your furry friends’…
Read MorePandemic Lessons: “Essential Caregivers Act” Can’t Wait. A Merciful, Bipartisan Bill for a Voiceless Population – Herb Weiss
By Herb Weiss, contributing writer, aging issues As COVID-19 spread rapidly across the country in March 2020 entering nursing homes largely through community transmission and staff movement the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance calling for nationwide visitor bans in nursing homes. These strict restrictions barred all visitors and non-essential health care…
Read MoreVeteran Lawmaker Steny Hoyer Bids Farewell After 45 Years in Congress – Herb Weiss
By Herb Weiss, contributing writer, aging issues According to Ballotpedia’s tracker of incumbents not seeking re-election in 2026, 20 House lawmakers are retiring at the end of this Congress, 17 of whom are age 50 or older. Last week, Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD), a long-serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives, announced his retirement…
Read MoreMedicare Drug Savings Eclipsed by Part B Premiums, COLA Challenges and ACA’s Rising Costs – Herb Weiss
Medicare Drug Savings Eclipsed by Rising Part B Premiums, COLA Challenges and ACA’s Skyrocketing Costs” By Herb Weiss The official arrival of the New Year was marked by millions of viewers channel surfing between ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN, eager to watch the ball drop in Times Square and ring in 2026. The iconic New…
Read More2025: A Year on the “Age Beat” in Rhode Island – Herb Weiss
By Herb Weiss, contributing writer, issues on aging Throughout 2025, this “Age Beat†columnist published a weekly commentary covering an extensive list of aging, healthcare, and medical issues. During this year, this columnist followed Congressional debates inside the Beltway involving Medicare, Medicaid, reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, and Social Security, reporting on how these…
Read MoreCooling Heated Political Banter at the Christmas Dinner – Herb Weiss
By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues Over the years, nearly everyone has encountered an iconic archetype at holiday gatherings: “Uncle Bob.†At Christmas dinner, Bob predictably launches into uncomfortable political arguments. Other family members scramble to avoid his decisive political chatter—some using humor, others retreating to watch football games on the tube or…
Read MoreCombatting Loneliness Through Connection and Community Engagement – Herb Weiss
By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues On April 30, 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy published an essay in The New York Times, announcing the impending release of U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory report titled “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation.†In this essay he talked about his own personal struggles with loneliness and called loneliness…
Read MoreCongress Moves on a National Anti-Scam Strategy to Protect Older Adults – Herb Weiss
By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues Last month, the AARP, recognizing that the holiday season leading up to Christmas is widely viewed as “prime time†for scams targeting older Americans, released findings from its 2025 Holiday Shopping and Scams Survey. According to the AARP Fraud Watch Network, fraud aimed at online shoppers and…
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