AARP Urges Legislators to Fund Key Items for Older Bay State Residents

AARP Massachusetts is urging Bay State legislators to fully fund programs and resources that support older residents in the fiscal year 2026 budget which begins July 1.

AARP sent a letter to the Senate and House Ways and Means Committees stressing the importance of programs such as Medicaid and SNAP. Read the letter here.

AARP Massachusetts State Director Jen Benson writes: “As your committee considers funding and policy changes that could impact Medicaid, we urge you to keep in mind those who rely on Medicaid to stay in their own homes and communities as they age, get basic health care, or access nursing home care.”

In the letter, AARP asked the committee to prioritize programs and services that support older residents of the Bay State, including increased funding for Fiscal Year 2025 for:

• Funding for home and community-based care.
• Development of affordable, high-quality long-term care facilities and services.
• Funding for nursing home residents' leaves of absence.
• Funding for Elder Protective Services.
• Living wages for direct care workers.
• Support for family caregivers.
• Funding for Councils on Aging, Senior Centers, and legal assistance programs.

AARP believes as Massachusetts' aging population grows, surpassing the under-20 age co-hort, the state must address unique financial, health, and long-term care needs.

“AARP believes the Commonwealth must invest in these vital programs, services, and budgets now. We know that with each budget, difficult decisions must be made. We also know that the most vulnerable among us must be protected.”

AARP sent another letter to the House Ways and Means committee running down a list of ammendements the committee should adopt. You can read the letter here.
Among the Budget ammendments AARP backs include:

• Healthy Incentives Program: Increases Health Incentives Program funding
• LGBTQIA+ Aging Project: Increases funding for training and technical assistance
• Food Source Hotline to Increase SNAP Participation: Increases funding for the Food Source Hotline
• CORE Plan: Raises the threshold from 20 employees to 100 employees
• Dementia Care Coordination: Funds Alzheimer’s Association dementia care coordination program
• SHINE Benefits Counseling Program: Increases funding for SHINE

Once the Ways and Means Committees hammer out a budget, both the Massachusetts House and Senate must approve it before it goes to the governor’s desk for her signature. In the past several years, legislators have needed extensions to the July 1 deadline.