Tag Archives for Long Term Care Coordinating Council

Challenging Ageist Language in Rhode Island

Rep. Carson’s Bill Challenges Ageist Language in Rhode Island Statutes

Published on March 2, 2026

During the 93rd Legislative Session, a law enacted in Massachusetts caught the attention of Lauren H. Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport), who chairs the House Study Commission on Services for Older Rhode Islanders (HSCORI). Carson was convinced of the need to confront ageism in the state’s statutes. She understood the importance of how Rhode Island lawmakers talk about aging.

On Jan. 9, 2025, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed Senate Bill S. 3006, “An Act Renaming the Executive Office of Elder Affairs to the Executive Office of Aging and Independence,” into law. Sponsored by Joan B. Lovely (D–Second Essex), the measure formally changed the name of the Executive Office of Elder Affairs to the Executive Office of Aging & Independence to better reflect the agency’s mission of supporting older adults in maintaining independence and dignity.

Beyond the name change, the law sought to modernize statutory language and reduce the stigma often associated with aging. It replaced outdated terms such as “elder,” “elderly person(s),” and “handicapped” throughout state law with more respectful and person-centered language, including “older adult(s)” and “adult with a disability.”

Carson believed that Massachusetts’ move to systematically remove ageist language from state law was a public policy Rhode Island could follow.

A Rhode Island Response

More than a year later, on Feb. 5, 2026, Carson introduced similar legislation, H. 7496, aimed at reviewing state statutes to identify negative or outdated references to older Rhode Islanders — including terms such as “elders” and “elderly person(s)” — while strengthening advocacy for older adults.  At press time, Sen. Victoria Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingston) plans to introduce the Senate version of this bill.

Carson’s special legislative commission is identifying ways to improve services and maximize resources available to older Rhode Islanders in the face of an expected surge in that population over the next 15 years. Over the more than two years the commission has been meeting, Carson has noted that, with life expectancy having increased over the decades, people over 60 are not all living lifestyles that could be described as “elderly,” and they certainly do not appreciate being labeled as such.

The legislative proposal, referred to the House State Government & Elections Committee, would initiate a review of state laws for references to “elders” and “elderly person(s)” and enable the drafting of legislation next year to replace those terms with the phrase “older adults.”

“Words matter. When we apply labels to people, we are telling them and everyone else how we think of them, what we expect of them. Many people over 60, 65 or 70 are still working like any other adults. They are contributing to their communities, they are active, and they simply are not what we think of when we hear the word ‘elderly.’ They don’t want to be called ‘senior citizens,’” Carson said in a statement announcing the introduction of H. 7496. “Being older than middle age doesn’t mean you are elderly. Our language should better reflect that this is a huge swath of our population that includes a wide range of ages, abilities and lifestyles. They aren’t all elderly.”

Her legislation also specifies that references to “handicapped” and “disabled” in the parts of the General Laws relating to older adults be replaced with the term “adult person(s) with disabilities.”

Carson’s bill, which also includes changes designed to give older Rhode Islanders a seat at the table in state planning and to better empower a panel on long-term care, stems from the work of the commission she chairs to study services provided to older Rhode Islanders.

The legislative proposal makes two additional changes to address issues identified during the commission’s work.

It adds a representative from a statewide aging advocacy organization as a member of the State Planning Council and specifies that the new member must be at least 60 years old. The purpose of the change is to sharpen the state’s focus on issues affecting older Rhode Islanders by ensuring their interests are represented in state planning, helping to prepare and direct resources appropriately as the state’s 60-plus population grows. Currently, more than 240,000 Rhode Islanders are age 60 or older. That number is expected to increase to nearly 265,000 by 2040.

The legislation also makes it easier for the Long-Term Care Coordinating Council to reach a quorum. With 33 members — many of whom are busy leaders of state agencies, organizations or businesses — the panel at times struggles to meet quorum requirements. The bill would allow 12 members to constitute a quorum. The change is supported by Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, who chairs the council.

Talking About Ageism, Language and Older Adults

At a two-hour HSCORI public meeting held Sept. 18, 2024, at the Pilgrim Senior Center in Warwick, Dr. Philip Clark, director of University of Rhode Island’ Program of Gerontology and Jim Connell, executive director of Age-Friendly Rhode Island, spoke about the negative impact of ageism and the importance of reframing aging using more positive language. It was one of three such meetings held “on the road” in different communities — Newport, Warwick and South Kingstown — to increase public visibility and engagement.

During his 34-minute presentation, Clark argued that language shapes perception and policy, and that the pervasive use of ageist language and stereotypes has detrimental health and social consequences for older adults. Ageism is a significant public health problem, he said, citing research by Dr. Becca Levy of Yale University indicating that negative self-perceptions of aging can shorten one’s lifespan by as much as seven years.

“How we talk about aging matters and particularly ageism language and “older adults.” And the operative word here is older adults. That is the term in the field of gerontology that has become standard language,” says Clark.  He  advocated using the term “older adults” instead of labels such as “seniors” or “the elderly,” which often carry negative connotations.

“Ageism is the last of the ‘ism’s’ to be recognized and confronted as discriminatory.  Even older adults themselves fall victim to ageist attitudes and believes,” says Clark.  He identified veiled ageism — including patronizing language such as “dear” or “sweetie” and infantilizing humor — that reinforces negative stereotypes about aging.

Clark stressed the vast diversity within the older population, repeating the mantra, “If you’ve seen one older person, you have seen one older person.” He warned against policies that treat this diverse group as a monolith.

“Older adults are more unique than any other age group,” Clark said, noting that they have had a lifetime to become who they are. Their needs, abilities and desires vary widely, and policy must reflect this diversity rather than relying on one-size-fits-all solutions.

“We must analyze the meaning of words and the wording of meanings,” Clark added, urging policymakers to critically examine language and underlying assumptions in policies and programs to ensure they are grounded in accurate data and reflect values of independence and dignity rather than ageist bias.

During Q&A, Commissioner Maria Cimini, Director of the state’s Office of Healthy Aging, asked Clark how best to balance inclusive language with recognition of each older adult’s unique identity. “When I go into different communities, like the Center for Southeast Asians, they specifically use the word ‘elder,’” she said. “Not ‘older adult.’”

Clark responded, “If you’re in a community where ‘elder’ carries a sense of respect, appreciation, and value, you obviously don’t want to impose your white, middle-class values on that group.”

“We use catastrophic language. It makes the problem seem unsolvable and it makes it very hard for us to be successful in our advocacy,” said Commissioner Catherine Taylor, state director of AARP Rhode Island, reinforcing Clark’s testimony by explaining how negative framing can undermine efforts to secure legislative support for aging-related issues.

“So, to use the right language is really important to the success of our work in getting things through,” adds Taylor.

Following Clark’s presentation, Connell argued that the common negative narrative of aging is incomplete and fails to account for the many older adults who are active, working and seeking new opportunities.

According to Connell, 71% of Americans aged 65 and older say the best time of their lives is right now or still ahead of them. He also cited a recent Harris Poll indicating that 83% of U.S. adults 65 and older feel it is more important to feel useful than youthful in retirement.

Connell introduced the concept of “middle essence” to describe the period from ages 60 to 80, highlighting it as a time for new careers, enrichment and purpose. He emphasized the power of personal narratives and lived experience to counter the societal view of aging as a period of frailty and decline.

Personal stories are a powerful tool for dismantling the dominant negative narrative of aging, Connell said. He characterized the growing older population not as a problem to be solved, but as a “longevity boom” full of potential for personal growth, continued work and community contribution — one that requires intentional, age-friendly planning.

Connell noted that society has gained 30 years of life expectancy since the mid-20th century and said this “longevity boom” must be factored into planning. He warned that “othering” — assuming all members of a group are the same — is the “absolute enemy” of effective planning for an aging population.

Connell concluded by saying: “So this Commission and indeed all of us were well positioned to have the power to change the aging narrative and he use of ageist language in our state. It’s important that lived experience be woven into everything we do.  Please keep telling your stories. It’s really, really important.”

Meanwhile, at the same public commission meeting, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) reported on several recent accomplishments, including passage of accessory dwelling unit (ADU) legislation, a law allowing cameras in nursing home rooms, an increased tax exemption for Social Security income and a state-level cap on insulin costs. He also highlighted a $120 million housing bond question that appeared on the November ballot, calling it a critical opportunity to fund affordable housing for older adults.

Shekarchi further noted the creation of a Senate commission to explore establishing a new medical school in Rhode Island as a long-term strategy to address the state’s primary care physician shortage. He also referenced Gov. McKee’s Healthcare Systems Planning Cabinet as another effort to address systemic issues, including primary care access and long-term care planning.

To watch HSCORI’s Sept. 9, 2024 public meeting, go to  https://capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/show/10590.

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The RI Budget proposal, as seen by our fastest growing demographic, Seniors

Published in RINewsToday on January 22, 2024

This Tuesday, Jan. 16th, Governor Dan McKee officially kicked off the legislative debate on the state’s $13.68 billion FY 2025 Budget in his 48 minute (4,481 word) State of the State address that laid out his spending priorities.  

Over the next six months the General Assembly will hold hearings on the proposed budget blueprint, rewriting it considering state revenues identified during the May Revenue and Caseload Estimating Conferences, and priorities of the legislature.

With passage by the House and Senate and signed into law by McKee, the final FY 2025 Budget will take effect July 1. 

Governor McKee’s budget proposal, which came 2 days after the State of the State, makes funding investments in education, small business, and Rhode Island’s health care system without raising any broad-based taxes. FY 2025 Budget specifics can be found in an article published by RINewsToday on Friday, Jan. 19th – HERE.

With the official release of McKee’s 2025 budget proposal on Thursday afternoon, Jan. 18, his statement along with comments from the top House and Senate legislative leaders were quickly issued.

“The Team Rhode Island budget that I’m sending to the General Assembly today prioritizes programs and initiatives that will help raise the incomes of our fellow Rhode Islanders,” said McKee. 

“By using available resources in targeted and strategic manner, we will continue to make progress on our RI 2030 goals while putting Rhode Islanders to work in good-paying jobs on projects that will pay dividends for decades to come,” he adds.

Legislative leadership

“Over the next several months, Chairman Lou DiPalma and the Senate Finance Committee will conduct a rigorous review of all aspects of the proposed budget through their public hearing process. At this early stage, I am pleased that the budget proposal reflects some of the Senate’s top priorities, including moving our state towards universal public pre-kindergarten, increasing funding for multi-language learners, increasing access to no-cost meals for students, fully funding recommended reimbursement levels for Early Intervention and increasing Medicaid rates,” says President of the Senate Dominick J. Ruggerio.  

“Now that Governor McKee has submitted the budget, our robust review process will begin. Chairman Marvin Abney and the House Finance Committee will soon commence the public hearing process and we look forward to working collaboratively with the Senate and Governor McKee over the next several months. With the federal pandemic funds having been allocated, we must live within our means and carefully scrutinize all spending requests,” says House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi.  “The Senate will continue working with all partners and stakeholders to adopt a budget that meets the needs of all Rhode Islanders.” adds the Senate President.

 Aging Groups and Advocates share thoughts

“It was good to see attention to older adults’ financial security by the proposal to increase the amount of pension income that can be exempted from state income taxes which would bring an estimated $500 benefit to about 10,000 persons,” says Maureen Maigret, The Senior Agenda Coalition’s policy advisor and former Director of the RI Department of Elderly Affairs.

“The Governor is looking for ways to increase Rhode Islanders’ incomes and the Senior Agenda Coalition has been working with several partners on a legislative proposal that would save $2,000 a year for many thousands of lower-income older persons and persons on disabilities on Medicare by having the federal government pay the cost of their Part B premiums,” she says, noting that this policy would not only save seniors money they can use for basic living expenses, but would bring millions of dollars into the state economy. It would also make them eligible for a federal program that helps pay for prescription drugs.

“We hope the $10 million in proposed bridge funding for nursing homes will help them to continue to provide necessary services for their vulnerable populations and avoid more closures which are so traumatic for residents,” says Maigret. 

“Although welcome, we had been hoping for more than the modest increase of $200,000 for senior centers as it gets distributed across around 40 senior centers. We know our older population is growing and our senior centers help hundreds of older adults stay healthy and connected to their communities,” adds Maigret.

“With many older adults waiting three months or more to get home care services and the home care worker shortage continuing it is disappointing to see the reimbursement increases recommended by the Social and Human Service Rate Review Study spread out over three years especially when the Executive Office of Health and Human Services had recommended funding the recommended increases over two years. And home care is not only what persons say they prefer but it costs far less to state government than institutional care,” notes Maigret.

“AARP Rhode Island applauds the Governor’s goal of increasing financial security for all Rhode Islanders,” said AARP Rhode Island State Director Catherine Taylor in a statement released days before the release of McKee’s budget blueprint. “Everyone should be able to choose how they live as they age,” she says.

AARP Rhode Island calls on the General Assembly to pass three pieces of legislation that would help to ensure financial security for all. AARP Rhode Island is pushing lawmakers to give all Rhode Islanders access to a retirement savings vehicle. We are pleased that Governor McKee called for the passage of the Secure Choice program, which would provide an optional, voluntary Roth-IRA plan to the 172,000 Rhode Island employees who do not have access to a plan through their employer,” says Taylor.

“The state must stop taxing Social Security benefits,” says Taylor. “We are one of 9 states that still tax these benefits. We encourage legislators to keep more money in the pockets of older Rhode Islanders by eliminating the state tax on Social Security,” she says.

“Lastly, we must reframe how we think about housing as we grow older, and Accessible Dwelling Units (ADUs) are part of the equation,” adds Taylor, urging the General Assembly to pass legislation providing housing options that are suitable for differing incomes, ages, and life stages. “ADUs are one way to accomplish this goal,” she notes.

This budget is an important step forward in helping our industry, says James Nyberg, president, and CEO of LeadingAge Rhode Island, a nonprofit representing providers across the long-term care spectrum from nursing facilities to home and community-based providers. “We appreciate Governor McKee and his staff recognizing our concerns and providing an infusion of funds across multiple settings to support older Rhode Islanders wherever they call home, their families, and our dedicated workforce,” he adds.  This includes the $10 million in stopgap funds to help nursing homes in critical financial distress as they await their permanent rate adjustment effective October 1. 

According to Nyberg, the October adjustment also included in the budget is expected to provide over $60 million in funding to help nursing homes address workforce challenges, the dramatically increased costs of operating their business, and remain financially viable. “We cannot lose any more nursing homes and hopefully this budget will help mitigate that well-documented threat,” he says.  

Similarly, the budget includes the phase-in of rate increases for assisted living residences and adult day providers, per the OHIC recommendations, to support these providers, consumers, workers, and families,” says Nyberg. “We also hope the proposed housing bond will help address the shortage of safe and affordable housing for seniors, the lack of which was highlighted in the Long Term Care Coordinating Council’s recent report entitled “Meeting the Housing Needs of Rhode Island’s Older Adults and Individuals with Chronic Disabilities and Illnesses,”  he adds.

“While there are financial and other challenges that persist, we look forward to working with the Administration and the General Assembly to advance these and any other initiatives to support our long-term care providers, those for whom they care, and their workforce,” says the nonprofit executive director. 

Governor’s budget doesn’t adequately address Seniors’ needs

While aging groups recognize Gov. McKee’s funding provisions that will benefit older Rhode Islanders, one aging advocate calls on the House Finance Committee to beef up funding for seniors in its budget.

“Once again, the senior population of Rhode Island is the fastest growing demographic in the state, and the most neglected,” charges Susan Sweet, former state associate director of the Department of Elderly Affairs and an advocate for seniors facing hardships and low-income difficulties. “The Governor McKee Budget provides no relief for seniors in the proposed 2025 spending plan other than a small gift to nursing homes that may help that senior care industry and a small increase of $200,000 statewide for dividing up among R.I. Senior Centers,” she says.

According to Sweet, seniors receive nothing in the budget other than a proposed tax reduction of “pension and annuity income” to begin in calendar year 2025.  In other words, nothing for this year.  She notes that the current exemption would be raised from $20,000 to $50,000 while the state remains currently only 9 of 50 states that tax Social Security and a minority of states that tax retirement pensions.

“There is also not one cent for retirees who had their pensions frozen in 2011 and have been stripped of their contracted pension benefits of a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) each year which they were required to sign and to contribute to from their pay each year of employment,” she says.

“Just down the road in our neighboring state of Massachusetts, there is no state income tax for Social Security or pensions. Their proposed budget includes a new $2,400 per senior payout for housing assistance, rental, or ownership costs,” says Sweet. During the State of the Commonwealth speech just one day after RI Governor McKee touted his Team RI game plan, a representative of the (Massachusetts) Senior Action advocacy group was invited and recognized as a leading voice in enabling seniors to stay in their homes with cash assistance from the state, she noted.

As the founder of the R.I. Minority Elder Task Force which provides financial assistance to poor RI elders in dire circumstances, Sweet regularly sees the neglect of seniors without adequate resources for the basic needs of life. “This is not a senior-friendly state, and this is not a senior friendly budget,” she states. 

Expect aging groups and advocates to gear up to push for their senior legislative priorities in the upcoming months. The budget debate now begins.

To listen to Gov. McKee’s State of the State Address on the FY 2025 Budget, go HERE. 

Details of Gov. McKee’s FY 2025 Budget. Go HERE.

To read Gov. McKee’s FY 2025 budget proposal (H 7225), go HERE.  

My most popular reads as an “age beat” journalist in 2022

Published in RINewsToday on January 2, 2023

 As an ‘age beat’ journalist for over 43 years, I have freelanced more than 867 stories covering aging, health care and medical issues. These authored and coauthored pieces have appeared in national, state, trade and association publications and even statewide news blogs. In 2022, my articles appeared weekly in 52 issues of RINewsToday.com. Here are the top five articles read on this state-wide blog last year.

“Aging in Place in Your Rhode Island Community,” published in the May 2, 2022 issue of RINewsToday. 

According to this article, the aging of the nation’s population continues with seniors choosing to live out their remaining years, aging in place in their communities. The article discusses the findings of a study of adults age 50 and older conducted by the AP-NORC Center for Public Research and the SCAN Foundation. This study confirms that a majority of older respondents would like to age in place and are confident they can access needed health care services that will allow them to stay at home for as long as possible.  

In this article, Mary Lou Moran, Director, Pawtucket Division of Senior Services at the Leon Mathieu Senior Center, who noted, “the coordination, accessibility, and connection to services and programs is critical to the successful delivery of services and is where much work needs to be done.  

 Moran stressed the importance of senior centers located in communities throughout the state that delivered needed information and assistance to seniors on accessing the needed services to age in place. Social isolation, access to transportation, food and housing insecurity, economic stability, and connectivity to services, are obstacles to enabling a person to stay in the community in their homes, says Moran.

 Maureen Maigret, policy consultant and Chair of the Aging in Community Subcommittee of the Long-Term Care Coordinating Council, also described state programs that assist seniors age in place in Rhode Island.

 Finally, the article gave a history of the National Village to Village Movement and its impact on Rhode Island.  It noted that The Village Common of Rhode Island (TVC), with programs in Providence, Barrington, Edgewood/Cranston, and Westerly, provides supports to keep seniors at home through the efforts of almost 200 trained and vetted volunteers.

TVC supports include transportation, running errands, home visits and telephone assurance, minor home repairs and light yard work, assistance with technology, and a virtual caregiver support program. A robust weekly calendar offers virtual events, and a monthly newsletter keeps members and guests informed.

 To read this article, go to https://rinewstoday.com/aging-in-place-in-your-rhode-island-community-herb-weiss/

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“Calls for Rhode Island to Become more “Age Friendly,” published in the Jan. 24, 2002  2022 issue of RINewsToday. 

This article gave a background of a United Nation’s initiative to create “age friendly” communities.  Over two years ago, a proposal was endorsed by the 73rd World Health Assembly. It was presented to the U.N. General Assembly Dec. 14, 2020, (Resolution 75/131), leading to the proclamation of a U.N. Decade of Healthy Aging (2021-2030).

The four-page Resolution expressed concern that, despite the predictability of population aging and its accelerating pace, the world is not sufficiently prepared to respond to the rights and needs of older people. It acknowledges that the aging of the population impacts our health systems but also many other aspects of society, including labor and financial markets and the demand for goods and services, such as education, housing, long-term care, social protection and information. It thus requires a total whole-of-society approach to make “age friendly” changes.

Maureen Maigret, policy consultant and chair of the Aging in Community Subcommittee of Rhode Island’s Long-Term Care Coordinating Council, noted that many Rhode Island communities are involved to 1 degree or another in what we consider age-friendly activities. “The initiative is usually led by the local senior center and in some instances volunteer programs such as RSVP and AARP and The Village Common of RI,” she says.

 According to Maigret, over the last five years the state’s Long-Term Care Coordinating Council Aging (LTCCC) in Community Subcommittee has adopted and continues to work to support WHO’s decadelong initiative, adding the domains of Food & Nutrition and Economic Security and Supports to Remain at Home.

Newport was the first community to join the AARP age-friendly network; Cranston, Providence and Westerly following. The state’s Office of Healthy Aging has adopted its State Plan on Aging, calling for Rhode Island to become an age-friendly state, says Maigret.

 Maigret called on Rhode Island’s cities and towns review their community’s Comprehensive Plans to see how age-friendliness is addressed. “This is what Newport did. 

To read this article, go to https://rinewstoday.com/calls-for-rhode-island-to-become-more-age-friendly-herb-weiss/

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“Bill would (Re)create a RI Department of Healthy Aging,” published in the March 21, 2022 issue of RINewsToday. 

This article described a legislative proposal 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 (DHS) into a full-fledged state department, expand its director’s authority, and appoint local senior centers as hubs for service delivery, with authority to bill Medicaid for transportation services.

The RI Department of Elderly Affairs (DEA) was created by law in 1977 and remained a department until 2011, when the legislature changed it to a division within the Department of Human Services (DHS). In 2019, the department was re-named the Office of Healthy Aging (OHA), shifting narratives and perceptions associated with growing older. At press time, the Office of Healthy Aging remains a division under the Department of Human Services. 

  “Restoring the OHA to a department status will strengthen its position at the budget table and elevate the importance of programs supporting older residents of our state. We hope that will make a difference,” says Bernard J. Beaudreau, Executive Director of the Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island.

 .“The legislation proposed by Rep. Carson elevates the conversation about the importance of age-friendly policies that enable Rhode Islanders to choose how we live as we age,” said AARP Rhode Island State Director Catherine Taylor. “AARP Rhode Island looks forward to being part of this conversation and continuing to advocate fiercely at both the state and local levels for enhanced home and community-based supportive services, accessible and affordable housing and transportation options, and full inclusion of people of all ages and abilities in community life,” she said. 

According to Maureen Maigret, policy consultant and chair of the Aging in Community Sub-committee of Rhode Island’s Long-Term Care Coordinating Council, H 7616 is a very significant bill that will help to stimulate a long due discussion as to how the state should fund senior programs and services in light of the state’s growing age 65 and older population. This age group is projected to represent at least one in five of  the state’s residents by 2040.

 To read this article, go to 
https://rinewstoday.com/bill-would-recreate-a-ri-department-of-healthy-aging-herb-weiss/

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 “RI Candidates for Governor Spotlight Senior Issues at Forum,” published in the August 8, 2022 issue of RINewsToday. 

This article reported on a 143-minute Rhode Island Gubernatorial form where five Democratic and one Republican gave two minute responses to seven questions previously given to them by the Senior Agenda Coalitionof Rhode Island (SACRI).   These questions were intended to how these candidates if elected Governor would fix Rhode Island’s fragmented long-term care continuum and provider payment systems.

According to Bernard J. Beaudreau, Executive Director of the Providence-based SACRI about 300 seniors and aging advocates came to personally see the Gubernatorial candidates outline their position on aging issues. Multiple platforms on Facebook and YouTube were promoted by a variety of senior advocacy groups that resulted in the over 300 virtual audience. Some held “watch parties” at one or more of the 12 senior centers, with approximately 135 people participating from throughout the state.

 Maureen Maigret, chair of the Long-Term Care Coordinating Council’s Aging in Community Subcommittee and SACRI Board Member reported that all candidates supported: “making the Office of Healthy Aging a full cabinet/department with review of sufficiency of resources; expansion of Medicare Savings Program which I have been advocating for at least 5 years and adding a state COLA to SSI payments; requiring better data on minority older adult inclusion; addressing community living, housing and transportation needs of older persons and developing and implementing a comprehensive, interdepartmental strategic Plan on Aging.

 To read this article, go to 
https://rinewstoday.com/ri-candidates-for-governor-spotlight-senior-issues-at-forum-herb-weiss/

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“Larson Pushes to Get Social Security Reform Proposal for House Vote, published in the  June 13, issue of RINewsToday. 

This article reported that the House Ways and Means Committee was preparing for a full mark-up on H.R. 5723, Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust, authored by Committee Chairman John B. Larson (D-CT) this summer.  

 Larson says that over 200 House Democrats [no Republican has yet to support the proposal], are cosponsoring H.R. 5723. Forty-two national organizations (aging, union, veterans, disability, and consumer health organizations) are calling for passage of H.R. 5723, including the Leadership Council on Aging Organizations and the Strengthen Social Security Coalition representing hundreds of national and state aging organizations.

 According to a legislative fact sheet, H.R. 5723 both expands the program’s benefits and financially strengthens its. Here are a few provisions:

 Specifically, it would give a benefit bump for current and new Social Security beneficiaries by providing an increase for all beneficiaries (receiving retirement, disability, or dependent benefits).

The proposal would also protect Social Security beneficiaries against inflation by adopting a Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E), to better reflect the costs incurred by seniors who spend a greater portion of their income on health care and other necessities.

This legislative proposal protects low-income workers by providing a new minimum benefit set at 25% above the poverty line and would be tied to wage levels to ensure that minimum benefits does not fall behind.

 It is expected that Larson will reintroduce this legislative proposal next Congress.  To read this article, go to https://herbweiss.blog/2022/06/13/larson-pushes-to-get-social-security-reform-proposal-for-house-vote/