Category Archives for Aging Group

Brown University alum Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan leads AARP, follows Jo Ann Jenkins

Published in RINewsToday on November 18, 2024

With AARP Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jo Ann Jenkins announcing her decision eight months ago in a statement by Lloyd Johnson, Chair of AARP Board of Directors, he pledged that his Board would move “diligently to find the right person to lead AARP on the next leg of its journey.”  The Board supported by Heidrick and Struggles, an international executive search and management consulting company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, recruited Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan to serve as its next CEO.

Minter-Jordon, 52, a physician and former president and CEO of CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, a nonprofit group that promotes dental health, will oversee 21 departments at the Washington, DC-based AARP, which has state affiliates in all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.  According to Forbes, as of February 2024, AARP had 2,250 employees and was ranked No. 31 in its America’s Best Midsize Employers listing.  The Paddock Post reported that the organization’s total revenue in 2022 was $ 1.8 billion.

Leading AARP into the Future

“Dr. Minter-Jordan joins us with the necessary attributes to successfully guide AARP on the next leg of our journey to help people live better as they age,” says AARP’s Board Chair Johnson in a Nov. 12 statement announcing her hiring. “She is an accomplished physician and innovative business leader who brings to AARP a strong passion for our social mission, demonstrated ability to balance strategic decisions with financial discipline, build strong teams, foster collaboration and lead organizations through rapid change and growth. We’re thrilled to have her leading the fight for what matters most to older Americans during this time of increasing social and technological change,” he says.

According to AARP, prior to Minter-Jordan’s new role at AARP, she served as President and CEO (2021-2024) of CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. As a physician and business executive, she played a key role in advising and shaping strategic initiatives aimed at improving dental health care outcomes through advocacy, policy development, and philanthropic efforts. In the spring of 2024, she testified before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) about the dental care crisis in America.

Before joining CareQuest Institute, Minter-Jordan’s bio noted that she served as chief medical officer and CEO of the Dimock Center, one of the largest community health centers in Massachusetts. During that time, Dimock was recognized as a national model for comprehensive, integrated health and human services.

AARP’s new exec was also active as a Board member to an array of nonprofits.  She served on several boards and committees at BlueShield of California, the Yawkey Foundation, Penn Dental Medicine, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and board emeritus at The Boston Foundation, and Point32 Health. Previously, she held appointed positions at agencies including the Massachusetts Health Planning Council Advisory Committee and the City of Boston Public Health Commission.

Once a Rhode Islander, Brown grad

Minter-Jordan once called Rhode Island her home. She earned both her undergrad degree and doctor of medicine degree from Brown University School of Medicine and a master of business administration degree from Johns Hopkins University Carey School of Business. She also received honorary doctorates from Northeastern University and Newbury College.

“This is a pivotal moment for AARP and the nation,” says Minter-Jordan, noting that for more than 65 years, the nonprofit has been instrumental in improving the lives of older Americans by “helping people age on their own terms and live their lives to the fullest.” 

“As AARP looks ahead, we have exciting opportunities to empower, uplift and make a positive impact on the health, wealth and wellness of the more than 110 million Americans ages 50 and older and the entire country,” she says.

Jenkins’ farewell to AARP

Jo Ann Jenkins

On March 21, 2024, AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins, 66, announce her decision to step down when her contract expired at the end of the year.  She began her long-time relationship with AARP in 2004 when she joined the AARP Services, Inc. (ASI) Board of Directors. She served as ASI’s Chair from 2009 to 2010.  In 2010, she became President of AARP’s Foundation, and three years later became AARP’s Executive Vice President and later its CEO.

With the announcement of her departure, AARP Board Chair Johnson recognized her “impressive record of accomplishments in advancing AARP’s mission and serving our members.”   He added, “Jo Ann has led AARP on a transformational journey to redefine the organization’s vision, challenge outdated attitudes and stereotypes about aging, and spark innovative solutions that empower people to choose how they live as they age.”

Among the accomplishments during her tenure, Jenkins championed the multi-generational workforce, healthy longevity, protecting Social Security and Medicare, and lowering the cost of prescription drugs. She has led through a spirit of innovation, creating AgeTech and launching a Digital First journey to help AARP better serve our members in the future.

Under Jenkins leadership, AARP has received the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, has been recognized by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies, has been named as one of Fast Company magazines Best Workplaces for Innovators, and for the past seven years has been named as a Washington Post Best Workplace. In 2019 and 2021, Fortune magazine named her as “One of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders.” Her national best-selling book, Disrupt Aging: A Bold New Path to Living Your Best Life at Every Age, became a signature rallying cry for revolutionizing society’s views on aging.

A fond farewell

In a “Farewell to AARP” posted on the nonprofit’s Advocacy webpage on Nov. 6, 2024, Jenkins reflected on her first speech as AARP’s CEO at an AARP national member event at the San Diego Convention Center.

“That day I made a promise to AARP’s members: “As your CEO, I will be unapologetic in fighting for the wants and needs of people 50-plus. As AARP’s new CEO, I wanted to change the conversation about what it means to grow older. I said we need to “disrupt aging”—to challenge outdated stereotypes and attitudes about getting older and spark new solutions that help people live better as they age. I challenged our members to help me do that,” she recalled.

“We changed not just the conversation about aging but also what it means to grow older,” she stated in that posting. And she concluded, “As I wind up my tenure as the steward of the legacy of our founder, Dr. Ethel Percy ­Andrus, I’m proud that we have lived up to the motto she gave us more than 65 years ago — ‘To serve; not to be served.’ I leave confident that AARP is well positioned to continue building on that legacy.”

“Serving as your CEO has been a tremendous privilege and extraordinary experience. What I will miss the most is you, the members and volunteers, and the exceptional staff whose passion for our mission and commitment to service is second to none,” said in her swan song posting.

“As I bid you farewell, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support, your service and all you do to disrupt aging,” she added, noting that while leaving AARP, “rest assured that I will continue to be unapologetic in fighting for the wants and needs of people 50-plus.”

Jenkins has surely made her mark as the nation’s top advocate.  She leaves AARP in Minter-Jordan’s capable hands.  Good luck to both of you.

Senior Agenda Coalition of RI unveils legislative agenda to packed house of seniors

Published in RINewsToday on April 1, 2024

Last Wednesday, the main ballroom at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick was filled, to capacity. Hundreds came to the Senior Agenda Coalition of RI’s (SACRI)  2024 Legislative Leaders Forum to learn about the advocacy group’s issue priorities. House and Senate leadership, along with members of both caucuses came to listen, learn and to respond to SACRI’s four priority issues for 2024.

We’re back, and we are stronger than ever,” announced Maureen Maigret, SACRI’s Policy Advisor, to 275 attendees who came to this year’s annual legislative forum held on March 27, 2024.  Before she unveiled SACRI’s ambitious legislative priorities she painted a demographic picture of older Rhode Islanders.

The graying of Rhode Island’s population

“We know that 200,000 Rhode Islanders are age 65 and over, and this number is growing,” noted Maigret. According to the former state legislator and Director of the Department of Elderly Affairs, in just six years, 1 in 5 persons will be age 65 and over. Today, 20% of the population in 18 Rhode Island communities are in their mid-sixties and over.

Many seniors still work. They pay taxes, provide care to loved ones, volunteer to contribute to their communities, and religiously vote,” stated Maigret, who noted that they contribute over $3.28 billion to Rhode Island’s economy through Social Security benefits. 

Maigret pointed out that as the older population ages, the percentage of woman increases over men.  At age 65 and over , 56% of this age distribution are woman, 44% are men.  At age 85 and over, the percentage of women rapidly increase to 69% compared to 31% for men. And in nursing homes, 68% of residents are woman while 32% are men. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, many older Rhode Islanders have limited incomes. Twenty-seven percent of age 65+ households earn less than $25,000 a year, while 50% earn less than $50,000 a year.

With women leaving their jobs over the years to raise their family, it is no surprise to Maigret that women’s incomes are less than men, this ultimately resulting in a smaller Social Security benefit. The average Social Security benefits of women aged 65 and over ($20,333) is $5,000 less than their male counterparts ($25,204), she says.

Unveiling SACRI’s Legislative Agenda

“Keeping seniors strong” is the theme of this year’s legislative forum, Maigret told the hundreds of seniors and aging advocates in attendance before announcing the SACRI priorities. SACRI is pushing for legislative issues in the areas of:

·       Economic Security

·       Supports at Home

·       Community Connections

·       Housing Options

She called on the House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick), and Senate Majority Whip, Valarie Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence), in attendance, to support House and Senate legislation, and state budget proposals to address these issues.

SACRI’s top legislative priority is to addressEconomic Security issues. Polls show that healthcare affordability is a major concern, and this impacts many seniors.  Maigret pointed out that Medicare premiums  and co-payment gaps have a major impact on low-income Rhode Islanders who struggle to pay for healthcare, food, rent and basic needs.”

According to Maigret, legislative proposals (S. 2399/H. 7333) would be a legislative fix to reduce high out-of-pocket costs for persons on Medicare. The bills would expand income eligibility for the Medicare Savings Program (MSP), helping an estimated 17,000 low-income seniors and disabled residents pay their $175/month Medicare Part B premium and covering co-pays and deductibles for those with very low-income.

Thousands of low-income seniors and persons with disabilities on Medicare, but not eligible to participate in the state’s Medicaid program, struggle each month to pay their Medicare Part B premiums and co-pay costs for services and prescription drugs causing many to forgo needed health care as they cannot afford to pay the co-payments.

And eligibility to join MSP qualifies those on Medicare to enroll in the federal Extra Help program that provides significant additional financial assistance to pay for

SACRI also calls on the state lawmakers to provide necessary funding in the 2025 Fiscal Year Budget to enhance programs to assist seniors to age in place in their communities. “It’s a very important legislative issue for seniors,” notes Maigret, stressing that most seniors want to stay at home when they need care.   

In large part due to the existing home care staffing shortage, 75% of those referred for state-subsidized home care wait two months or more for these services. A state study recommended home care rate increases to improve access to home health care services which would help to address the worker shortage and provide livable wages for home care workers.  Maigret urged Shekarchi and Lawson to put funding in this year’s budget to implement the study’s recommendations.

Meanwhile, SACRI supports increased funding for local Senior Centers to enable them to continue to provide “community connections” to seniors. “They do amazing work by offering meal programs, technology assistance and training and all kinds of social, health and recreations programs, says Maigret.

Seniors benefit from, and enjoy going to Senior Centers, adds Maigret, reflecting on a comment told to her by a senior attending Warwick’s Pilgrim Senior Center. “It’s my home away from home,” she says.

Governor Dan McKee’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget would distribute $1.4 million (about $7 per person aged 65 and over in each community) to the local communities for Senior Centers and programs. SACRI calls on the General Assembly to increase this budget allocation by about $660,000 (making the funding tied to $10 per person aged 65 and over. “It’s a small funding request,” says Maigret.

Finally, SACRI urges the General Assembly to continue to address the lack of options and affordability of housing for seniors. Maigret notes that this problem is the result of the state’s growing older population with fixed incomes, combined with low housing production, skyrocketing rent increases, and high property taxes, 

There are many legislative remedies to address the state’s housing crisis, says SACRI, calling on the General Assembly to use a portion of the proposed Housing Bonds to support affordable housing options for older Rhode Islanders. She also suggested that lawmaker’s continue funding the Home Modification Program, expanding the Property Tax Relief Program and finally promoting  accessibility features in new housing developments.

Like previous years, SACRI worked hard to drive home the point of putting a spotlight to its legislative agenda by having “storytellers” translated the priorities into personal stories.  

House Speaker talks turkey at Legislative Forum

Aging is a very important and personal issue to House Speaker Shekarchi, who is taking care of his 98-year-old father, who remains at home. “That is where he wants to be, he says. “I know that not everyone is fortunate – not everyone has the same support system,” says Shekarchi. “But it’s important that seniors have options so they can choose what’s best for them,” he says

“We need to provide support for seniors to age in place and to remain in their homes, living independently,” states Shekarchi. A great option – which is also the top legislative priority for AARP Rhode Island this year – is creating Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). They enable seniors – even young college graduates – to live independently while remaining near family and others, he adds.

“As for seniors who live in assisted living facilities and nursing homes, we need to ensure those facilities are adequately staffed, and that caregivers are paid a sustainable wage,” says Shekarchi. 

“We expect this to be a very challenging budget year, with many worthwhile, but competing, priorities,” says Shekarchi.

“I know the Senior Agenda has legislative priorities in 2024 that I promise we will consider very carefully. And I have a request for all of you. Please stay involved, make your voices heard at the State House,” Shekarchi suggests, “give us feedback. You can testify in person at the State House, or in writing by letter or email.

Valarie Lawson, Senate Majority Whip, took the opportunity to discuss the Rhode Island HEALTH Initiative… a Senate legislative package designed to address affordability and accessibility of health care in the state.

According to Lawson, the HEALTH Initiative seeks to ensure the strength of the state’s community hospitals, attract, and retain primary care doctors and makes sure Rhode Islanders can access quality, affordable care. The legislation includes a bill by Sen. Alana DiMario to create a drug affordability commission in Rhode Island … which is a critical step to make the state’s prescription drug system less complicated and less costly. And Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski’s legislation to transform and mandate a continuous Medicaid reimbursement rate review process by the Office of the Health Insurance Commission.

Lawson noted the Senate was working on the SACRI MSP priority legislation and that she is a co-sponsor of the bill. She said that the Senate shares the Senior Agenda’s  priority of making Rhode Island a place where residents can age with comfort and security. “At the State House… we rely on your voices to help guide us,” she said.

Call to Action

Diane Santos, SACRI Board Chair, ended the forum with a Call to Action for attendees to let their voices be heard by contacting their local legislators to express their concerns and to support programs to help keep seniors strong.

SACRI Legislative Leaders Forum organizational partners included: Cranston Enrichment Center, Edward King House, Leon Mathieu Senior Center, Meals on Wheels RI, Pilgrim Senior Center, Ocean State Center for Independent Living, St. Martin de Porres Center, The RI Organizing Project and The Village Common of RI.

To watch the 2024 Senior Agenda Coalition Leaders Forum Conference, go to: https://capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/show/9023

Unique Partnership Creates Pilot Senior Fellows Program

Published in RINewsToday on December 11, 2023

Buoyed by the success of a pilot Senior Fellows Program, Leadership Rhode Island (LRI) and Age-Friendly Rhode Island (AFRI) are hoping to find the funding to offer another session in the summer of 2024.

The initial effort “to lift the voices, knowledge and vision of Rhode Islanders, age 62 and ver” prepared 25 Senior Fellows to advocate for improvements that address age-elated challenges. The initial eight-week program was tuition-free.

The first crop of Senior Fellows, residents of 13 different cities and towns in Rhode Island, ranged in age from 62 to 83. Nearly half were retired.

The idea to develop a senior advocates program came from Marianne Raimondo, a graduate of LRI’s Core Program, who made the connection between Leadership Rhode Island and James Burke Connell. Connell is the executive director of Age-Friendly Rhode Island, an initiative at Rhode Island College that represents a coalition of public and private agencies, organizations and individuals committed to healthy aging.

Empowering Seniors to Become Advocates

Connell proposed the pilot program because, he says, empowering seniors to become advocates, activists and champions of age-friendly thinking and practices “will result in a Rhode Island where older adults thrive and live their best lives.”  He was inspired by similar programs in Maine and New Hampshire.

Connell pitched the idea to Michelle Carr, LRI’s executive director, who could easily see the benefits of the proposed joint venture. One such positive: Nearly a fourth of LRI’s 3000 alumni are 62 years or older, many of whom are prime candidates for the program.

More importantly, Carr adds, LRI and Age-Friendly RI are both propelled by the belief that citizens of all ages who are actively engaged in their communities can make lasting impacts.

Age-Friendly RI raised the funds for the pilot program, and relied on LRI’s “talented team” to handle recruiting, participant selection, curriculum planning, and guiding participants in the development of individual community commitments, Connell says.

Gilda Hernandez, a 65-year-old research librarian at Providence College, participated with two goals in mind.  As the medical advocate for her 88-year-old parents, Hernandez wanted to become an educated caregiver, one who knows how to navigate state agencies to get appropriate services for them.  She also wanted to develop advocacy skills so she can address the societal problem of ageism, especially in the education sector.

The program was “what I expected. . . and more,” says Hernandez, who gave a thumbs up to the “exceptional programming and top-notch presenters.”

Most session days were divided into two parts, with half focused on knowledge-building around relevant issues, such as housing, food insecurity, transportation needs, and health care.

The other half focused on skill-building, such as writing persuasively,  public speaking and network building, to enable the Fellows to develop and eventually execute their own Civic Commitments.

Pitching Personal Civic Commitments at State House

The Fellows took turns describing their Civic Commitments during their final session, held at the State House.  The presentations, which included several “poignant and pin-drop moments,” were well received by the audience, which included representatives from the state’s Office of Equity and Engagement, and  from the AARP,  House of Hope, Meals on Wheels Rhode Island, and the United Way.

Senior Fellow Ron Caniglia, 77, from Warwick, applauds the advocacy program for emphasizing the importance of “living in place,” rather than “aging in place.”  In fact, his Civic Commitment — to urge the expansion of Medicare benefits to adequately cover hearing, vision and dental care — would enable more older adults “to live life to the fullest.” 

A retired contractor, Caniglia’s arguments for the expansion of these benefits are passionate and personal.  Hearing loss, if not addressed, can contribute to the breakdown of family and everyday social relationships, he says. This could lead to unhealthy isolation.

 Teresa DeFlitch, LRI’s director of leadership development, says she has high hopes that Rhode Island’s first 25 Senior Fellows will have a positive impact on senior citizens throughout the Ocean State. They are expected to begin their advocacy work within six months of leaving the program.

We hope, she says, that the Fellows have expanded their knowledge, network, and confidence when it comes to making a difference.

It is also hoped, she adds, that each participant feels more connected to a supportive and joyful community, including their fellow Fellows, and the LRI and Age-Friendly networks.

“We are eager to run the program again and incorporate feedback from this year’s cohort. Working with Age-Friendly Rhode Island has been wonderful and we are learning a great deal from the cohort members about what’s affecting them as older adults in the state. It’s been an inspiring and energizing experience,” DeFlitch says.