URI Lecture on Healthspan, Not Just Lifespan, in Aging Well 

Published in RINewsToday on April 20, 2026

Over 300 people packed Edwards Auditorium on the University of Rhode Island’s (URI) Kingston Campus on April 7th to attend the 20th annual Malford Thewlis Lecture on Gerontology and Geriatrics. This year, Dr. Laura Kubzansky from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health spoke, offering research-based, practical tips for living longer and better.

Each year, URI’s lecture highlights important issues related to aging, with particular attention given to policies and programs affecting older adults. Dr. Phillip G. Clark, director of URI’s Program in Gerontology and the Rhode Island Geriatric Education Center, expressed excitement in focusing on personal attributes and longevity at this lecture.

Clark, who serves as emcee, explained that the lecture aims to unite different fields and engage people outside academia. “We show that every field contributes to understanding aging,” he said, adding, “we work hard to keep it accessible—grounded in science but understandable to the general public.”

This message is particularly relevant to Rhode Island. After Clark introduced the event, URI Provost Barbara Wolfe welcomed everyone and highlighted that more than 20% of Rhode Islanders are now aged 65 or older, achieving “super-aging” status. She emphasized that this demographic shift will significantly affect the state’s future budget.

Wolfe also highlighted that by 2050, about 2 billion people worldwide will be age 60 and over, underscoring the significance of the Ocean State’s graying population.

“As a public flagship university, we believe it’s our responsibility to get involved with important social, economic, and policy issues like aging,” says Wolfe.

Building on Wolfe’s remarks, Kubzansky brought decades of expertise to the lecture. She has studied how psychological well-being connects to physical health. Her research examines both traditional risk factors and how traits like optimism and social connection affect health over time.

The Harvard professor has led or co-led many research projects funded by organizations such as the Veterans Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. She is also a fellow of the American Psychological Association and the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research.

Focusing on “Healthspan” Rather Than Only Lifespan

In her one-hour lecture, “Optimism and Kindness: Ingredients for a Long and Healthy Life,” Kubzansky urged researchers and the public to rethink how we approach aging. She explained that we should aim not only to live longer, but to remain healthy for more years, free from long-term illness or disability.

Kubzansky describes an “asset-based approach” to health as part of this new way of thinking. This approach means focusing on positive resources or strengths—such as optimism, kindness, and strong relationships—rather than only on problems like stress or depression.

Meanwhile, she suggested that researchers should also study how these positive traits and experiences influence health.  She explained that for a long time, physicians doubted whether these factors truly affect physical health. But now, research increasingly shows their impact.

Kubzansky cited studies showing that activities such as volunteering, spending time in nature, and building social connections improve health and extend life.

She also explained that negative experiences, such as loneliness or post-traumatic stress disorder, increase the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease.

“The key question,” she said, “is whether positive factors do more than just show the absence of something negative, and if they actually offer their own unique benefits.”

Kubzansky cited a study that suggests optimistic people live about 15% longer and are 24% more likely to age in good health. These benefits extend beyond the absence of depression.

This leads to an important question for researchers: ” She asks, can improving mental well-being also improve one’s physical health?

“If we can improve psychosocial functioning,” Kubzansky said, “we may also be able to improve physical health later on. That’s a very promising idea for healthy aging.”

Kubzansky discussed a large United Kingdom study that found people who volunteer or donate to charity experience less chronic pain years later. She noted that another long-term study links loneliness to a much higher risk of heart disease.

One of the most striking research findings Kubzansky shared came from the Baltimore Experience Corps Study. It showed that older adults who volunteered slowed the decline in brain volume, essentially turning back the clock on brain aging by about three years.  She found these results both “striking and encouraging.”  She said, “They’re solid, have been repeated in other studies, and show actions people can really take.”

At the end of the lecture, the question and answer session allowed Kubzansky to discuss topics she hadn’t covered earlier. She talked about practical issues, such as the roles and impacts of pets, family, and faith communities on health; research topics, such as causality and financial differences; and broader social questions, such as optimism among younger people. These conversations helped connect her research to real-life situations.

 A Rhode Island Gerontologist’s Perspective

For URI’s Clark, this year’s Malford Thewlis Lecture on Gerontology and Geriatrics demonstrated that researchers increasingly approach aging in new ways.

“There’s more focus now on human flourishing,” he said, emphasizing Kubzansky’s work at Harvard as a prime example. He stressed that this research challenges old assumptions about aging.

“Many people tend to associate aging with decline,” Clark said. “But research tells us that’s not the whole story,” he continued.

Clark said what stood out most to him during Kubzansky’s presentation was the idea that people have more control over their health than they might realize. “Each of us can develop habits and ways of thinking that improve our chances of living longer and staying healthier,” he said.

Many of these new habits are simple and easy to start, says Clark, including volunteering, staying active, spending time outdoors, or keeping in touch with friends. Even small things, such as caring for a pet or gardening, can make a difference, he says.

For people who have trouble getting around, connecting with friends or family by phone, joining online groups, taking virtual classes, or writing letters can be meaningful. The most important thing is to find activities—big or small—that work for each person and help them build positive connections with others.

Clark sees loneliness as a major social problem that the entire community and system must address—not just individuals.

Volunteering stands out in particular. “People often gain as much or even more from it than those they help,” Clark observed. Having a sense of personal agency is central to all of this. While genetics plays a role, Clark pointed out that research shows we control about 30 percent of our lifespan.

“The takeaway of the lecture,” he said, “is that a positive outlook matters. Even when things are difficult, there are ways to respond that support better health.”

In summary, Kubzansky’s lecture aimed to change how people think about aging, moving beyond just a medical view to one that also values psychological and social well-being. She encouraged everyone—academics, URI students, and community members—to think more broadly about what it means to age well.

Hopefully, her evidence-based arguments may inspire Congress, state policymakers, and public health leaders to allocate more funding to programs that foster social connections, kindness, and a sense of purpose. Attendees heard Kubzansky make a strong scientific case for volunteering, maintaining strong social ties, staying positive, and looking forward. Yes, these practical steps can extend not just your lifespan, but also your healthspan.

In 2006, URI started the Malford Thewlis Lecture on Gerontology and Geriatrics to get people talking and thinking about aging. It is named after Dr. Malford W. Thewlis, a pioneer in geriatric medicine and co-founder of the American Geriatrics Society in 1942. He lived in Wakefield and wrote an early textbook on geriatrics, “The Care of the Aged: Geriatrics,” first published in 1919. He was also an amateur magician and a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

To view Kubzansky’s lecture, go to

2026 Thewlis Lecture “Optimism and Kindness: Ingredients for a Long and Healthy Life” Laura Kubzansky

Home Foot Care Legislation Gains Momentum Toward Passage in RI

Published in RINewsToday on April 13, 2026

Through the efforts of aging advocates and older Rhode Islanders, the House last week followed the Senate’s lead in passing legislation that would allow certified foot care nurses to provide routine foot care to homebound patients. Under the legislative proposal, nurses must receive proper training and certification and demonstrate clinical competency.

At press time, the two chambers must still reconcile and pass identical versions of the bill before the legislation can be sent to the governor for signature.

On April 7, the Senate unanimously passed S. 2116A, introduced by Sen. Lori Urso, to expand access to routine foot care for homebound patients. Two days later, the House followed suit, passing Rep. Jennifer Boylan’s H 7029A by a vote of 65–0.

The sponsors—Rep. Boylan (D-Dist. 66, Barrington and Riverside) and Sen. Urso (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket) —say the legislation addresses a critical need for basic, preventive foot care in the home. Many elderly and disabled patients require assistance with services such as toenail care and treatment of corns and calluses, yet are often unable to access care outside the home, including visits to a podiatrist.

Under the legislation, nurses must demonstrate knowledge and clinical competency in foot and nail structure and function, common foot conditions, and appropriate care techniques. They must also be certified by a national professional organization, such as the American Foot Care Nurses Association (AFCNA), or an equivalent approved by the Rhode Island Department of Health. Additionally, two of the required 10 continuing education hours per certification period must focus specifically on foot care. In addition to CEUS, 30 hours of training with a podiatrist are required for certification.

“This bill is about expanding access for vulnerable Rhode Islanders who currently have no safe options for routine foot care,” said Sen. Urso. “While this care may seem simple to some, for others it is difficult or even impossible to perform safely on their own.” She noted that similarly trained nurses already provide this care in most other states, including Massachusetts, whose regulations served as a model for the legislation.

Urso also pointed to the state’s aging demographics. “With the City of Pawtucket joining the AARP Age-Friendly initiative, along with several other Rhode Island communities, it is imperative that we support residents who wish to age in place,” she said. “Rhode Island has more residents over age 65 than under age 20, and initiatives like this help meet their needs.”

Rep. Boylan emphasized the broader issue of healthcare access. While many Rhode Islanders are aware of shortages in primary care and specialty providers, she said, fewer realize that essential services like in-home foot care are largely unavailable. This gap leaves many older adults without safe options.

“It’s especially dangerous for individuals with diabetes, who are prone to infections and other foot problems that can lead to serious complications or even death,” Boylan said.

Strong Backing from Leadership and Advocates

House and Senate leadership, along with aging advocates, say the proposal addresses a longstanding gap in home- and community-based care.

“This legislation will provide a lifeline for vulnerable Rhode Islanders who rely on in-home health services and currently face significant barriers to receiving basic but essential foot care,” said Senate President Valarie J. Lawson. She described the bill as a common-sense solution that improves the quality of life for both patients and caregivers.

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi  called the measure a practical response to a widespread problem. “As someone with diabetes, I understand the serious risks associated with a lack of routine care. This bill helps protect the health and safety of Rhode Islanders,” he said.

Tina McDonald, a registered nurse licensed in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts who is certified in foot care, testified in support of H. 7029A. With 12 years of experience in foot care nursing, she argued that there is a significant unmet need among homebound elderly and chronically ill residents who can no longer visit a podiatrist’s office.

“It’s not a question of doctor versus nurse. It is a matter of nurse versus no one,” McDonald told House lawmakers, warning that podiatrists are not filling this gap in care.

Addressing the primary opposition from podiatrists, she clarified that nurses would not be practicing medicine but instead addressing a “self-care deficit” within the established nursing scope of practice.

During her testimony, McDonald emphasized that nurses are highly trained in assessment, infection control, and wound care.

Carol Anne Costa, executive director of the Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island (SACRI), said the legislation would benefit homebound and mobility-challenged residents and their caregivers.

“SACRI was proud to testify in strong support of this bill,” she said. “It represents a vital step toward ensuring that older adults have the care and support they need to age safely and with dignity in their communities.”

Costa noted that allowing trained nurses to provide limited foot care services at home supports both family caregivers and broader home- and community-based care systems. “Those needing these services are often older adults or individuals with disabilities who face mobility challenges, making it difficult to access care outside the home,” she said.

She added that aging and underlying health conditions can make nail care more difficult and increase the importance of proper foot care.

Catherine Taylor, AARP Rhode Island State Director, echoed those concerns. “Access to in-home foot care is critical for older adults facing mobility, vision, or chronic health challenges,” she said. “Without regular care, minor issues can progress into infections, pain, or mobility limitations that increase fall risk and lead to more serious conditions. Home-based care supports prevention, early detection, and aging in place.”

“The bill would provide relief not only to patients, but also to families and caregivers who are often forced to choose between going without care or attempting to provide it themselves,” Taylor added.

Mary Lou Moran, director of the Pawtucket Division of Senior Services at the Leon Mathieu Senior Center, highlighted the local impact.

“This bill removes unnecessary barriers to essential preventive care and helps close a significant service gap,” she said. “Many individuals we serve cannot safely perform their own foot care and face transportation, mobility, or financial challenges accessing clinic-based services.”

Moran added that regulated, in-home care provided by qualified nurses can help prevent avoidable complications, reduce healthcare costs, and improve quality of life.

Podiatry Association Flags Concerns

Following House passage of H 7029A, the Rhode Island Podiatric Medical Association (RIPMA) issued a statement acknowledging improvements in the bill while raising concerns.

“This issue has always been about ensuring patients can access care from certified and credentialed providers,” the statement read. “We appreciate the inclusion of language requiring nurses to be certified by an accredited organization approved by the Department of Health.”

The organization noted that the bill could benefit truly homebound patients by reducing the risk of self-injury, but emphasized that it is not a substitute for physician care. Patients who can access a podiatrist (in the home or office)—especially those with underlying medical conditions—should continue to receive regular professional treatment.

RIPMA also cited studies showing that Medicare patients with diabetes who receive podiatric care experience fewer hospitalizations and amputations. The group expressed interest in collaborating with certified nurses to ensure safe, appropriate care.

At the same time, Past RIPMA President Dr. Michael Reuter, DPM, FACFAS, voiced concerns about the legislation’s broader impact.

“The legislation aims to solve a problem, but I am concerned it may create new ones,” he said.

Reuter, a board-certified podiatric foot and ankle surgeon in Rhode Island, criticized the absence of a Rhode Island Department of Health recommendation requiring collaboration between nurses and podiatrists. He said such coordination is essential to ensure timely referrals when needed.

“I hope the Department of Health establishes strong safeguards and oversight for providers entering vulnerable patients’ homes,” he said.

He also noted potential cost implications. “Patients will have to pay out of pocket for these services, whereas visits to a podiatrist—whether in-office or through a home visit—are covered by insurance,” he said.

Here is the link to the Feb. 10th House Committee on Health and Human Services on H 7029 A, go to House Committee on Health & Human Services – RISE: 2-10-2026

Here is the link to the March 3rd Senate Committee on Health and Human Services on S. 2116 A, go to Senate Committee on Health & Human Services: 3-3-2026

New AARP Report: Unpaid Care Skyrockets to over $1 Trillion

Published in RINewsToday on April 6, 2025

AARP’s latest report reveals a staggering surge in the economic value of unpaid family caregiving, now exceeding $1 trillion. Since 2006, AARP’s Public Policy Institute has tracked this value through its Valuing the Invaluable reports. Last week, at a virtual media briefing, the organization released its seventh report, Valuing the Invaluable 2026: Family Caregivers’ Contribution Reaches $1 Trillion,  delivering a strong message: in 2024, family caregivers provided nearly 50 billion hours of mostly uncompensated care—valued at a whopping $1.01 trillion. Sixteen years earlier, AARP estimated the value of uncompensated care was just $350 billion.

 Building on the previous data, the 9-page report, released on March 26, 2026, by AARP’s Public Policy Institute, emphasizes throughout that caregiving impacts not just families, but also the economy, labor market, and healthcare system.

 It estimates that 59 million caregivers contributed a total of 49.5 billion hours of care each year, valued at $20.41 per hour. Using the Caregiving in the US 2025 data set (which uses new statistical methods that incorporate the range of tasks and support that family caregivers provide), this amounts to about $1.01 trillion annually. For comparison, family caregivers’ economic contribution surpasses the combined federal, state, and local Medicare spending in 2024 ($931.7 billion) and nearly doubles out-of-pocket health care spending ($556.6 billion).

 To further accentuate the magnitude, the report calculates that the nearly 49.5 billion hours of uncompensated care provided annually equal the labor of about 24 million full-time workers—that’s 17% of the nation’s full-time workforce.

According to the AARP report, American adults spend as much time on caregiving duties as on everyday activities, such as housecleaning and preparing meals, and almost twice as much time as they spend on religious activities and volunteering combined.

This unpaid care—delivered by caregivers to older adults, neighbors, and friends—enables millions to remain independent in their homes and communities. The report warns that, without this assistance, millions of Americans would be forced to rely on assisted living or costly nursing facility care, resulting in significantly higher costs for public programs such as Medicaid. However, it also recognizes that this support comes at a steep personal cost to caregivers, often undermining their health, emotional state, financial security, and general well-being.

 Beyond national implications, AARP’s caregivers report also provides state-by-state estimates of the number of caregivers, total hours provided, economic value, and the average hourly value of care.

These state figures, for example, show that the estimated value of caregiving ranges from $14.12 per hour in Louisiana to $27.05 per hour in Washington, reflecting regional differences. In Rhode Island, approximately 155,000 family caregivers provide 111 million hours of unpaid care, valued at $2.8 billion, or about $25.07 per hour.

Continuing this deeper look, the AARP report finds that family caregivers now provide more care than ever, averaging 27 hours per week. More than half—57%—deliver high-intensity care: tasks such as bathing, dressing, wound care, and administering injections.

 Presser Announces New Caregiver Report’s Release

 To explore the report’s findings in greater depth, AARP convened a 40-minute panel moderated by Ilse Zuniga, Director of External Relations. This discussion brought together Dr. Myesha Minter-Jordan (AARP CEO), Nancy LeaMond (Executive Vice President and Chief Engagement Officer), Paula Cunningham (AARP Michigan State Director), Rita B. Choula (Senior Director at AARP’s Public Policy Institute and lead author), and Megan O’Reilly (Government Affairs Department).

During the panel, Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan, AARP’s CEO and physician, addressed the 30 journalists present, stating that family caregivers are underwriting a service that millions depend on daily.

 She emphasized that, with family caregiving now exceeding $1 trillion annually, employers, healthcare providers, and policymakers must do more to recognize and support caregivers as they fill essential gaps in the healthcare system.

Dr. Jordan said caregiver stories are powerful and often painful, stressing that AARP is working to magnify these voices and advocate for concrete policies that recognize caregivers’ economic contributions.

 “Given that most Americans will either be a caregiver or need one at some point in their lives, we need to do better,” Dr. Jordan told the journalists.

 “AARP is supporting bold solutions to assist America’s caregivers, says Dr. Jordan. “These include a national paid family and medical leave policy, as well as greater respite services and resources, such as those offered in states through partnerships with United Way and AARP’s 211 Caregiver Support Hotline.”

She concluded that the released report should be a wake-up call and an opportunity for action, hoping that it will drive real, long-lasting change.

Nancy LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer, noted, “Caregiving is not simply a family issue; it’s a labor force, economic, and healthcare issue that compels action. Behind every data point is a person—a daughter, husband, grandchild, or neighbor.”  

According to LeaMond, AARP has been working relentlessly to raise caregiving as a national priority and to push for common-sense, bipartisan solutions that can save caregivers time and money.

LeaMond added that the organization has worked to raise the visibility of caregiving, making it a national priority at both the state and federal levels. She noted, “Oklahoma became the first state in 2023 to pass a comprehensive state-wide caregiver tax credit to put money back in the pockets of family caregivers,” with Nebraska following the next year.

Additionally, she stated that 12 other states have considered enacting statewide caregiver tax credit legislation during the 2026 legislative session.

LeaMond further reported that on Capitol Hill, AARP has been advancing legislation such as the Credit for Caring Act, which offers a $5,000 federal tax credit to offset caregiving expenses, and the Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act, which allows family caregivers to use Health Savings Accounts or Flexible Savings Accounts for care expenses for parents.

Paula Cunningham added a personal dimension, relating stories to illustrate the intense, unceasing nature of caregiving. She narrated stories of caregivers forced to draw from their savings or reduce work commitments, such as Deb Conja, an attorney from Okemos, Michigan, who left her job to care for her mother.

She also shared the experience of a Detroit military veteran who, after two tours of service, described caregiving for her mother as the hardest job she’s ever had—an indication of the intensity of these responsibilities.

“Navigating through who to call and when to call, and what kind of services are available is another layer of stress that we’re trying to help reduce,” says Cunningham. She noted that AARP Michigan is calling for funding for a Caregiving Resource Center to provide one-stop online shopping and connect 1.6 million Michigan caregivers across the state with the support services they need.  

 AARP Michigan is also pushing to expand access to funding for home- and community-based services that are necessary for caregivers to stay in the workplace, says Cunningham.

 Finally, during the Q&A, Megan O’Reilly from AARP’s government affairs department responded to Politico journalist Robert King about whether a federal crackdown on fraud in personal care services could undermine governmental efforts to support family caregivers. “Fraud is a crime, and those who commit fraud should be held accountable. But we have to make sure that we’re protecting the care and the need for the essential care and services that our communities and loved ones need to remain at home…,” she said.  

 In response to a question, Rita B. Choula, the AARP report’s lead author, provided extra insights as to how the economic value of care was calculated for the latest report.  

Today, caregiving encompasses much more than just taking someone to a provider’s office, paying bills, or even mowing the lawn, says Choula, noting that the economic value of care must account for the complexity of the care provided.  “Individuals are now doing things in the home that medical providers and professionals were trained to do,” she notes, explaining that these new duties have resulted in using a higher hourly wage to calculate the cost of unpaid care.  

AARP provides resources to help families navigate the myriad of caregiving challenges by connecting them to reliable resources in every state. AARP’s state-by-state Family Caregiver Resource Guides help family caregivers access key programs, services, and agencies right in their community. Additionally, through its partnership with United Way Worldwide, caregivers can access local support services in 28 states by calling 211, including help finding in-home care, respite care, transportation, and other essential services.

A Final Note…

Urgent policy action must be taken by Congress and state legislatures to provide the concrete financial support needed to deliver real financial relief and structural support for America’s caregivers through measures such as tax credits and paid family leave. It is the right thing to do!