Boston Age Strong Commission Fielded Over 10,000 Pandemic Calls From Older Residents

Uncategorized 2026-07-22 clip6473 · Meeting of July 22, 2026

Boston's Age Strong Commission has fielded more than 10,000 pandemic calls from older residents and placed roughly 20,000 outgoing wellness checks, Commissioner Emily Shea said in a public-access TV interview. Shea, speaking on Commissioner's Corner hosted by Lois Leonard, outlined a range of city programs including the SHINE free Medicare counseling service — open enrollment runs October 15 through December 7 — and the Senior Saves grant, recently increased to $8,000 for qualified older adults purchasing energy-efficient heating systems through the Boston Home Center. The Meals on Wheels program has expanded 35 to 40 percent during the pandemic, and the Age Strong Shuttle continues free rides to medical appointments and grocery stores for residents over 60.

Shea also said the commission is nearing completion of its Age-Friendly Boston action plan, which produced 75 action steps including installation of 111 new benches citywide based on a bench equity study. All services are accessible by calling 311.

In the full story:

• Background and stakes
• Background and stakes
• Background and stakes
• Shea outlined four mechanisms for residents facing heating costs
• Background and stakes
• Completed projects Shea described
• The complete report — 2,034 words

Source: the Uncategorized 2026-07-22 clip6473 meeting of July 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.