Looking back at 2024, sharing some favorites

Published in RINewsToday on January 7, 2025

Like many national news organizations, RINewsToday, The Pawtucket Times and Woonsocket Call (now combined into one newspaper called the Blackstone Valley Call & Times), offers its readers an ‘age beat’ editorial commentary, covering a myriad of aging issues, Congress (including Social Security and Medicare) retirement, the long-term care continuum, consumer issues, spirituality, pop culture, health care and even economics. Throughout these years

I’ve covered these issues as they relate to older Rhode Islanders, also covering Smith Hill, when there are state policy debates on issues that will impact older Rhode Islanders.

As a Rhode Island ‘age beat’ journalist for over 45 years, I have penned over 1,000 stories covering issues of interest to our readers. These authored and coauthored pieces have appeared in national, state and trade publications.

For many of these editorial commentaries, I have consistently drawn on the invaluable research produced by the Washington, DC-based AARP. Their insightful reports, polls, and studies have provided a wealth of information that has deepened public understanding of the challenges and opportunities of aging. I’ve also drawn on the expertise of professionals in the Rhode Island aging network for their perspective and comments on these topics, giving the editorial a good, local slant, where possible.

In 2024, my commentaries have appeared weekly in daily news outlets, also in other media outlets including RINewsToday – that’s about 52 articles a year – over quite a few years now! I’ve written for digital news publications, Senior Digest, a monthly publication for those over age 50, the Narragansett Times, Kent County Daily, Cranston Herald, Warwick Beacon and the Johnston Sun who have picked up stories, and of course, my own blog.

As we celebrate the New Year and look forward to 2025, looking back, I have selected my top five favorite commentaries published in 2024. Specifically:

“Stoic Tips for the Class of 2024,” May 27, 2024.

Generally, thousands of commencement speeches occur annually at university and colleges in the U.S. The common themes of these speakers (traditionally 10 minutes in length, up to 2,500 words) that typically emerge in their speeches in 2024 were: resilience and overcoming challenges; embracing change and innovation; social responsibility and making a difference; the power of community and collaboration; and personal growth and lifelong learning; mental health and well-being and finally embracing diversity and inclusion.

Over the years, never being invited to give a commencement speech, I have traditionally penned my own. So, in 2024, advice was giving to graduating seniors, pulling from stoicism, a school of Hellenistic philosophy that thrived in Ancient Greece and Rome. Advice came from: Epictetus, a former slave in Hierapolis (modern-day Turkey) around 50 CE; Seneca the Younger, who lived in the 1st century CE; Stoic Philosopher Marcus Aurelius, a Roman Emperor who ruled from 161 to 180 CE; and Stoic Greek philosopher, Heraclitus.

Graduating seniors were advised to remember the teachings of Stoic philosophy that would offer them a timeless roadmap for living a life of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment.

“Congressman Magaziner Takes Baton on Bring Back House Aging Committee,” March 4, 2024

Over 30 years ago, the US House Democratic leadership’s belt-tightening efforts to save $1.5 million resulted in the termination of the House Permanent Select Committee on Aging. This commentary announced Cong. Seth Magaziner (RI-2) legislative attempt to bring back the House Select Committee on Aging (HSCoA) when he picked up the baton from former Cong. David Cicilline who sought to bring it back during the 114th-117th Congresses.

The Commentary announced that Cong. Seth Magaziner’s introduction of H. Res. 1029, on Feb. 23, 2024, (cosponsored by Cong. Gabe Amo (RI-1) and 27 House Democratic lawmakers) to reestablish the HSCoA. It was referred to the House Committee on Rules for mark-up, (which never occurred) and the legislative resolution died at the conclusion of the 118th Congress.

According to the commentary, every day 12,000 Americans turn 60. By 2030, nearly 75 million people in the U.S. — or 20% of the country — will be age 65 or older. With the graying of our nation, the need for support and services provided under programs like Social Security, SSI, Medicare, Medicaid and the Older Americans Act increases.

Magaziner’s 213-word resolution would have authorized the HSCoA to study the use of all practicable means and methods of encouraging the development of public and private programs and policies which will assist seniors in taking a full part in national life and which will encourage the utilization of the knowledge, skills, special aptitudes, and abilities of seniors to contribute to a better quality of life for all Americans.

Finally, the House Resolution would also allow the HSCoA to develop policies that would encourage the coordination of both governmental and private programs designed to deal with problems of aging and to review any recommendations made by the President or by the White House Conference on aging in relation to programs or policies affecting seniors.

Hopefully, we will see Magaziner continue his attempt to bring back the HSCoA by reintroducing a new resolution during this new Congress. With his

“If You Want a Friend in Washington, Get a Furry Friend,” Aug. 5, 2024.

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, even in the Ocean State. This companionship can also boost your physical and mental health. Your furry friends’ capacity for unconditional love enables them to share our lives’ highs and lows.

This commentary stressed the powerful bond of owning a pet and how the relationship offers mental and emotion support to their owners.

According to the findings of an American Psychiatric Association (APA) Healthy Minds Monthly poll released jointly with the American Veterinary Medical Association, among the many mental health benefits of pets, nearly two-thirds of pet owners say that their animals offer companionship (65%), are a true friend (65%) and provide unconditional love and support (64%), the survey finds. Eighty-four percent of pet owners say that their pets have a mostly positive impact on their mental health, similar to the findings of last year’s polling on the same topic. The poll was of 2,200 adults, done by Morning Consult.

Furthermore, the survey’s findings indicated 62 percent of the survey’s respondents say that pets provide a calming presence and also help reduce their stress and anxiety. Thirty-five percent note that their pet encourages them to be more physically active, too. The findings note that owning a pet adds structure to a respondent’s schedule and can even increase social connections with others (19%).

Yes, in Washington or outside the Beltway, if you want a friend, get a dog (or even a cat, bird or hamster). Pets can become a protective buffer against physical and mental disorders and life stressors.

“Someone’s Trash is a Military Family’s Treasure: Ours,” June 3, 2024.

This commentary, in the Blackstone Valley Call & Times, highlighted my efforts to retrieve a military footlocker that belonged to my father, after being notified that a Detroit couple, Michael Shannon and his girlfriend Cetaura Bell, found it cast away on a sidewalk for anyone to claim. The trunk had sat in a vacant garage for over 60 years (with the owner having no relations with the owner Lt. Frank M. Weiss). The couple went out of their way to try and finally successfully track me down thru an internet search.

My story was picked up by RINewsToday, and then in several local papers. The Detroit Free Press, a Gannet publication also did a story, in both their digital and print editions, and then other Gannet papers, including the Providence Journal, the Cincinnati paper and the Indy Star. Perhaps the biggest connection, though, was made with Stars & Stripes – the US military’s independent news source with a circulation of over 1 million readers.

“Shortage of direct care professionals a local and national concern,” April 22, 2024

Over 23 years ago, commentaries in the Pawtucket Times that I wrote reported on the crisis of a direct care staffing shortage and inadequate reimbursement being paid to nursing facilities to care for Rhode Island’s frail seniors. As we enter 2025, NOTHING has changed and these staffing and reimbursement issues still continue to exit.

The commentary took a look at a U.S. Special Committee on Aging hearing, chaired by Chairman Bob Casey, (D-PA), showcasing S. 4120, legislation that he introduced with U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). The Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act, introduced during the 118thCongress,would ensure that direct care professionals have a sustainable, lifelong career by providing substantial new funding to support these workers in every part of the long-term care industry, from nursing homes to home care, to assisted living facilities.

The Senate Aging Committee hearing revealed a number of statistical findings showing the need for Congress to address the nation’s severe ongoing direct care professional workforce shortage. It was noted that a recently released survey revealed 92% of nursing facility respondents and nearly 70% of assisted living facilities reported significant or severe workforce shortages.

The April 16th hearing entitled, “The Long-Term Care Workforce: Addressing Shortages and Improving the Profession,” examined the challenges currently facing long-term care workers who are often underpaid and overworked, leading to widespread worker shortages that threaten the availability of care for those who need it.

“It’s a crisis that stems largely from a lack of support for and investment in our care giving workforce,” warned Casey in his opening statement. “Between 50 to over 90 percent of long-term care settings and providers report significant staffing shortages, affecting their ability to provide services, accept new clients, or even to remain open,” he said, with witnesses providing personal testimony about this policy issue.

John E. Gage, MBA, NHA, President & CEO, of the Rhode Island Health Care Association (RIHCA), Maureen Maigret, policy advisory of the Senior Agenda of RI (SACRI), offered their views of the nation’s severe ongoing direct care professional workforce shortage citing Rhode Island specific examples.

In conclusion…

I extend my heartfelt thanks to the thousands of individuals I have interviewed over these 45 years. Their comments reflecting insights and observations about aging, health care, and medical issues, have profoundly enriched these commentaries.

To review all my 53 commentaries that appeared in 2024 (including the above cited), go to http://www.herbweiss.blog.

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.

The Second Fifty: Seniors are happy, expect lives to improve, hold optimistic views

Published in RINewsToday on November 4, 2024

It seems that America’s older adults are not fearful of aging. With optimism they are embracing it. That’s what the findings of a new AARP survey reveal in exploring the second half of life. AARP’s 2024 survey of adults ages 50 and over reveals that older adults have an optimistic view and outlook on life and expect their lives to even improve as they grow older. Nearly 9 in 10 are at least somewhat optimistic about their future, with half being extremely or very optimistic, note the study’s finding.

AARP new survey, “The fountain of happiness: Older adults’ outlook on life and optimism toward the future,” exploring the second half of life serves as an update to the original second half of life study released in June 2022, which inspired the publishing of The Second Fifty authored by Debra Whitman, AARP’s Executive Vice President and Chief Public Policy Officer.

These and other findings are explored further in Whitman’s new book, The Second Fifty. The tome takes readers on a search for answers at a critical time in the nation’s history: by 2030, 1 in 5 Americans will be age 65 or older, and by 2050, the U.S. is projected to have nearly 1 million centenarians.

Taking a Look at “The Second Fifty”

“The Second Fifty provides a roadmap for navigating and celebrating the second half of life, emphasizing the importance of mindset to living well as we age,” said Whitman, in an Oct. 4, 2024 statement announcing the release of the 2024 survey’s findings. “Whether you are approaching 50, well into your later years, or caring for someone who is, The Second Fifty provides practical steps, grounded in research, to help us all create a better second half of life for ourselves and our loved ones,” she says.

According to the AARP’s recently released survey’s findings, older adults are optimistic and happy about growing older. Over four in five say they are optimistic (89%) about their future and feel happy (86%). Age 60 year and older respondents reported higher levels of happiness than those persons ages 50-59.

The study’s findings also indicate that old adult’s optimism about the nation’s future has grown, with 61% reporting they feeling more hopeful today than two years ago (54%). The researchers noted that the initial study released in 2022 was conducted following the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to researchers, health, gender and chronological age are three key factors that shape the aging experiences of older Americans. They say that gender differences are evident in the older respondents happiness about their future. A higher percentage of older men reported being very happy (24%) than women (17%). The study’s findings also indicated that older men are more likely than women to be very optimistic about their future (43% t0 34%, positive about the future of America (20% to 12%) and the world (15 % to 9 %).

Expecting longevity key to one’s outlook on aging

Expected longevity is key to one’s outlook on aging, say the researchers, noting that with a self-reported life expectancy of 85 years, older adults would choose to live even longer, to the ripe old median age of 93. At the same time, the study reveals that most older adults (74%) are currently afflicted with a chronic or serious health condition, and more than half (53%) are living with two or more chronic conditions.

As to viewing one’s longevity, researchers note that the older someone is, the longer they expect to live. The study’s findings indicated that those adults age 70 and over (39%) are more likely to hope to age into than nineties than their younger cohorts (50 plus-28 %, ages 50-59-19%, ages 60-69-26%).

As people grow older, they then begin to value each decade of their adulthood different, says the study’s findings. While most are currently happy and optimistic about their future, over two-thirds (67%) say their best decade came before age 50. For those ages 50-59, they most likely to consider their 20s (34%) as their best decade. But for those persons age 60-69, they value their time in their 30s. For those age 70, 22% favor their 30s, 20% consider their best decade the 40s and 21% favor their 50s and 19% remember their 60s as the best.

And the researches found that relationships tend to get better, improve and more meaningful with growing older. Over the past five years, more than 28% of the older respondents experienced improved relationships. Almost half (45%) expect their relationships to become more meaningful, too. The findings also indicated that persons ages 50-59 are significantly more likely to believe their relationships will become more meaningful in their future (51%) compared to those ages 70 and older (38%).

Taking a look at the study’s implications

As to implications, the study’s researchers note that existing health and gender disparities in aging are risk factors to older adults to age with hope and dignity. They call for local, state and national policies to address these disparities by improving access to affordable and quality healthcare (by increasing access to health insurance, primary care and preventative services). Policies should address gender-specific needs and support systems must ensure that older men and women equality benefit from improvements, they say.

Researchers also stress the importance of understanding that each generation of adults age 50 and over value different life stages and this is essential for providing support to these individuals as they age. Designing effective policies, interventions, and support systems can be accomplished by recognizing “diverse and evolving needs, values and priorities of older adults.”

As recognized by the U.S. Surgeon General, relations are importance to your health and well-being. The researchers recognize that “reliable and meaningful relationships are central to aging well.” The AARP study calls for “policies to prioritize the development and funding of programs that foster social connections among older adults.” These programs, recognizing that older men and women experience social connections different, might include creating accessible community centers and social engagement initiatives.

To download the original second half of life study released in June 2022, go to https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/research/surveys_statistics/life-leisure/2022/second-half-life-desires-concerns-report.doi.10.26419-2Fres.00538.001.pdf.

Herb Weiss

Aging Issues

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