Diverse Elders Coalition

09/10/2026

Large and small employers are bracing for what looks to be the sharpest increase in health care costs in more than two decades. The cost per worker is projected to go up an average of 11 percent next year, or somewhat lower if workers’ insurance benefits are reduced, according to a U.S. survey released Wednesday.

A new U.S. survey anticipates an average increase of 11 percent unless benefits are cut, the highest rate in decades. Other findings also predict a sharp rise.

09/02/2026

The share of the world population age 65 and older is projected to nearly double from 10.5% to 19.6% between 2025 and 2060, according to a new report released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

An Aging World: 2025 finds that the global population is aging faster than ever before. Between 2020 and 2025, the proportion of the population age 65 and older exceeded the population age 5 and younger for the first time in recorded history.

https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/older-adult-population-projections.html?utm_campaign=20260831pios1&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

08/28/2026

A major scientific review is challenging the idea that more is always better.

The review found that eating protein, or less of certain amino acids that make up protein, may turn on body processes linked to healthier , as well as , the process by which the body turns food and drinks into energy.

https://buff.ly/F5Zh4EU via ABC News

A new review has found that eating less protein, or less of certain amino acids that make up protein, may turn on body processes linked to healthier aging and metabolism.

08/27/2026

Daniel, an LGBTQ+ of color, has cared for his partner, Mark for decades. Yet in healthcare settings, he was often treated as “just a friend”. That changed when he found an LGBTQ+-affirming care network: “For the first time, I felt safe bringing Mark to appointments.”

Stories like Daniels’, echoed in the DEC’s national caregiving survey and the 2025 literature review remind us why inclusive training matters, especially for people living at the intersections.

The updated DEC x SAGECare “Caring for Those Who Care” now includes an expended intersectional lens, with focused content on LGBTQ+ people of color, and new materials that reflects the realities of the direct care workforce, including workers who are also caregivers at home

Start today. Help you team safe, affirming for every caregiver with Caring for Those Who Care on the SAGECare platform: [email protected]

08/25/2026

health care providers are grappling with how to prepare for more patients without .

As premiums rose and tax credits expired, the number of people enrolled in the state’s health insurance marketplace dropped by thousands from 2025 to 2026. Now, thousands more Mainers are expected to lose their Medicaid coverage when a new federal law takes effect.

But no one knows exactly who will lose their Medicaid or where they live, making it difficult for providers to predict what could happen when the new eligibility rules start rolling out in three months.

Thousands of people are expected to lose Medicaid, but no one knows exactly who will lose coverage or which parts of Maine will be hit hardest.

08/21/2026

Today we honor the resilience, wisdom, and contributions of older adults in our communities as we mark .

But as a reminder, it’s just as important to question the language we use — terms like “senior citizen” often reinforce ageist ideas that devalue older adults and justify disinvestment in their care.

Let’s celebrate older adults the right way: with dignity, equity, and language that reflects their power.

📖 Read DEC’s blog post: https://bit.ly/DEC_StopAgeism

08/21/2026

NPR is launching the Senior Podcast Challenge, a chance to hit "record" and send in stories, in audio form. Stories of love, of family, of finance and health. Memories of the past – or fears and hopes for the future.

Here's how it will work: The competition will open Aug. 16 and close on Nov. 30.

Podcasts submitted must be completely original work, no longer than eight minutes in length. NPR encourages stories of all kinds – from personal narratives to in-depth interviews to fully reported audio journalism.

This fall, we're asking seniors to send us their stories in audio form. Our judges will pick the best ones and air them on NPR.

08/21/2026

Earlier this month was the International Day of World’s Indigenous Peoples, a timely reminder of challenges facing the AI/AN community. DEC’s latest blog looks at the need for true sovereignty in Tribal communities. Read more:

08/20/2026

The H.R.1 bill proposes historic cuts to , with $792 billion in reductions over the next decade. These changes could leave 16 million people without health insurance and jeopardize coverage for older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income families. Learn more in our .

https://bit.ly/Health_CareFactsheet

08/17/2026

The H.R.1 Bill would reduce funding by nearly 30%, the largest cut in the program’s history. The proposal would shift costs to states, eliminate benefits for millions, and increase barriers for older adults, , and people with . Get the facts on how these changes would affect food security across the U.S.

Read more: https://bit.ly/FoodAssistanceFactsheet