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11/15/2023
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Media Advisory: Commission studying services for older Rhode Islanders to meet today
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STATE HOUSE – The House commission studying the services and programs for older adults in Rhode Island meets today for overviews of the Office of Healthy Aging and the supports provided by senior centers around the state.
The Special Legislative Commission to Study and Provide Recommendations Pertaining to Services and Coordination of State Programs Relating to Older Adult Rhode Islanders is scheduled to meet today, Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 1 p.m. in the House Lounge on the second floor of the State House.
The meeting will feature a presentation by Office of Health Aging Director Maria E. Cimini, followed by a presentation on senior center supports, provided by Edward King House Executive Director Carmela A. Geer. Both Cimini and Geer are members of the commission.
No public testimony will be taken at this meeting. The meeting will be televised by Capitol Television on Cox Communications, channels 15 and 61 for high definition; i3 Broadband (formerly Full Channel) on 15; and Verizon, on channel 34. Livestreaming is available at https://www.rilegislature.gov/CapTV/Pages/default.aspx.
The commission was created by legislation (2023-H 5224A) sponsored by Rep. Lauren H. Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport), who now serves as its chairwoman. Besides Chairwoman Carson, Cimini and Geer, the commission include Rep. Thomas E. Noret (D-Dist. 25, Coventry, West Warwick), Rep. Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung (R-Dist. 15, Cranston), Nancy Sutton of the Department of Health, Warwick Senior Services Director Meg Underwood, Coventry Human Services Director Robert Robillard Jr., Paul Salera of the Rhode Island RI Association of Community Action Agencies, AARP Rhode Island Director Catherine Taylor, Paula McFarland of the Rhode Island Long Term Care Coordinating Council, James Burke Connell of Age-Friendly RI, Cindy Coyne of the Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island, Robert Marshall of the Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Council, former Department of Elderly Affairs director Maureen Maigret and former AARP RI Director Kathleen Connell.
The commission is to study key statistics about services for older adults in Rhode Island, examining strengths, vulnerabilities, and demographic and financial statistics; assess the current state, federal and local services currently available, as well as any duplication of services; recommend ways to coordinate services within agencies and focus on better service delivery, including housing options and various living arrangements, health status and health care resources; provide recommendations for the creation of a portal to coordinate aging services in employment, education, independent living, accessibility and advocacy, as well as local older adult centers and services; provide recommendations on mental health, transportation, food access, and health care; provide recommendations for the funding of services through state, federal and private grants and for more efficient distribution and use of these dollars; and explore more regionalization of services.
Currently, more than 240,000 Rhode Island residents are age 60 or older. That number is expected to increase to almost 265,000 by 2040, constituting an increase of nearly 75 percent since 2010.
For more information, contact:
Meredyth R. Whitty, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-1923
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