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This blog post by Keri Lipperini, ACL's Director of the Office of Nutrition and Health Promotion Programs, discusses how social isolation during COVID-19 has affected the health and wellbeing of older adults. The post also highlights ACL programs that are targeting this issue, including PEARLS, Healthy IDEAS, and BRITE, which are three evidence-based programs that aim to reduce the risk of suicide by tackling depression and substance abuse among older adults.

On Friday, September 24, 2021 the CDC recommended booster shots of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for people at highest risk of serious illness and those in high risk occupational and institutional settings. CDC guidance now reccomends that individuals should receive a booster shot if they are: 65 years old or older,18 years old or older and live in a long-term care setting, aged 50–64 years and have underlying medical conditions.

NAMD has released a report on leveraging American Rescue Plan Act investments to drive lasting transformation for people with complex needs. In summer 2021, NAMD convened an Executive Working Group of state Medicaid LTSS experts and national thought leaders to identify a framework of options that states could use to respond to this opportunity to improve and strengthen these services. The framework explores how states can meet the needs of individuals to maximize their health.

ACL is announcing two new grants to University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDDs) including Community-Based Transitions Planning and Implementation Grants and a National Training Initiative to Support People with IDD Experiencing Co-Occurring Mental/Behavioral Health Issues.

ACL is announcing a new National Adult Protective Services Training Center (NATC) to support APS workers and administrators as they serve clients impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. NATC will be established through a nearly $1.5 million two-year cooperative agreement with the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA). The project is funded through the Coronavirus Response & Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021.

Justice in Aging's fact sheet, Adding Dental to Medicare Part B: 31 Million Low-Income Enrollees Would Gain Access to Medicare Coverage, describes how millions of low-income Medicare enrollees and Medicare enrollees of color would gain access to coverage if a dental benefit is added to Medicare Part B.

Justice in Aging's new fact sheet, Investing in Medicaid HCBS is Good for Medicare, explains why investing in Medicaid HCBS is good for people with Medicare and the Medicare program. Robust funding for Medicaid HCBS would expand access to services, helping people with Medicare who are dually eligible for Medicaid avoid hospitalizations and other costly care.

The Arc has released two new videos that provide an overview of special needs trusts and ABLE accounts to help educate people with disabilities about these financial options. Each video explains why to consider using each tool, how they work, what they can pay for, and how you can get started. These videos areavailable in English and Spanish.

CMS is inviting states to participate in a Medicaid learning collaborative. The learning collaborative is an opportunity for states to develop new solutions and identify promising practices to improve the delivery of supports and services for people with I/DD and their aging caregivers. The collaborative will consist of six monthly virtual learning sessions between November 2021 and April 2022.

CMS has made vaccination data available in a user-friendly format to help people make informed decisions when choosing a nursing home for themselves or a loved one. CMS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are using this data to monitor vaccine uptake among residents and staff to identify facilities that may need additional resources or assistance.