Will Magaziner fulfill call to reestablish House Aging Committee? – Herb Weiss

A man in a suit and tie standing in front of an american flag.

by Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues With Congressman David Cicilline retiring from Congress, no House lawmaker has yet stepped up to reintroduce, H.R. 583,  the Rhode Island lawmaker’s resolution to reestablish the House Select Committee on Aging (HSCoA).  Without receiving a vote in the House Rules Committee at the end of the 117th Congress, the resolution…

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House passes legislation to encourage the construction of ADUs – Herb Weiss

A kitchen and living room in a modern apartment.

By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues Rhode Islanders will be able to develop accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on their property under legislation sponsored by Rep. June S. Speakman (D-District 68, Bristol/Warren) and approved by the House. When the dust settled, H 6082 Aaa was passed by a vote of 61-10.  Of the 10 who…

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AARP awards 4 Community Challenge grants

A group of older men playing cards in a park.

AARP Awards Grants to Four Rhode Island Organizations as Part of Its Nationwide Program to Make Communities More Livable AARP Rhode Island today announced that four organizations throughout the state will receive 2022 Community Challenge grants – part of the largest group of grantees to date with $3.4 million awarded among 260 organizations nationwide. Grantees will implement quick-action…

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Bill would (re)create a RI Department of Healthy Aging – Herb Weiss

A woman helping an older woman on a computer.

By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues (This article has been updated) There are new efforts on Smith Hill to transform the state’s Office of Healthy Aging (OHA) into a department making it far more visible and effective as an advocate for the state’s growing senior population.  H. 7616, introduced by Rep. Lauren H. Carson (D-District 75, Newport), would expand the office in the Department of Human Services…

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RI State Budget must address long term care staffing crisis – Herb Weiss

A nurse is talking to an elderly woman in a chair.

by Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues As Rhode Island and states throughout the country loosen COVID-19 mask restrictions with the number of new coronavirus cases dropping by more than 75% since the highs in mid-January, and hospital admissions and death rates declining, AARP Rhode Island warns that now is the time to take…

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Rhode Island nursing homes fall below benchmarks for staff vaccination – AARP

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New AARP COVID Dashboard Shows Less Than Half of Rhode Island Nursing Homes Meet Industry Benchmark for Staff Vaccinations – AARP Urges Continued Vigilance to Protect Residents from Virus The latest release of AARP’s Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard incorporates new data on vaccination rates among staff and residents, and finds that just 47.3% of Rhode Island nursing homes meet an…

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