Press Release  The Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates One Year of the Massachusetts Community Living Initiative

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration celebrated the successful first year of the Massachusetts Community Living Initiative, a coordinated effort to help older adults and people with disabilities live independently with dignity, agency, and the support they need in their communities. During an event at the State House, administration leaders, advocates, and legislators marked the milestone and released the Initiative's first annual report, highlighting significant progress made during its inaugural year. The Community Living Initiative brings together agencies across the Administration to expand access to home and community-based services, strengthen coordination across state government, and help more individuals transition from nursing facilities to homes and other community settings. 

"Every person deserves the opportunity to live with dignity, independence and agency in the community they call home,” said Governor Maura Healey. “That's exactly what the Community Living Initiative is about. By working across state government and alongside advocates, providers and families, we're helping more older adults and people with disabilities access the support they need to live where they want to live. We're proud of the progress we've made in just one year, and we're committed to building on it." 

"The Community Living Initiative is proof that when we bring agencies together around a shared mission, we can deliver real results for people,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Over the past year, we've strengthened partnerships across state government and with advocates, providers and community organizations to expand opportunities for people with disabilities and older adults to live independently. This report is an important milestone, but it's also a roadmap for the work ahead." 

“Today we celebrate hundreds of individuals transitioning out of nursing facilities into their homes or community settings, providing them with more independence and support in an affordable and accessible way,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Kiame Mahaniah, MD, MBA. “This has taken an enormous effort across state government, and I appreciate the dedication and collaboration between agencies, legislators and the advocate community for improving lives of so many residents.”   

“All people of all abilities want to live in healthy, supportive places where their autonomy, personhood, and connections to loved ones are respected and encouraged," said Senator Robyn Kennedy (D-Worcester), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities. "The Community Living Initiative and this report are important steps in helping more people with all abilities have the kinds of access to community and other opportunities that they deserve. I look forward to future collaboration with my colleagues in the Legislature, our partners in the Administration, and our advocacy community."

“Ensuring all individuals with disabilities have dignified and rich lives is extremely important and this report helps take further steps to ensure that,” said Representative Jay Livingstone (D-Boston), House Chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities. “People with disabilities should have ample opportunity to live within their own communities and I look forward to working with the executive office on pursuing this goal further."

“CPR's 50-year mission of reforming segregated service systems and bringing people with disabilities home to their families and communities is exemplified by the Marster's Settlement Agreement and the Commonwealth's Community Living Initiative.” said Kathy Walker, senior attorney with the Center for Public Representation. “Today, with collaborative work from Mass Senior Action, stakeholders, advocates, and the Commonwealth, Marster's class members are learning about community alternatives, leaving nursing facilities, and returning home with the services and supports they need. We thank Massachusetts for its steadfast commitment to informed choice and community living and look forward to what we can continue to accomplish together and in partnership with the disability community.” 

The first Community Living Initiative Annual Report highlights the progress made during the Initiative's first year, including: 

• Expanded cross-agency efforts to ensure individuals living in nursing facilities understand their rights and available community-based options. 
• Significant progress toward the Administration's goal of helping at least 2,400 people with disabilities transition from nursing facilities to community settings over the next eight years. 
• Personal stories from individuals who have successfully transitioned from nursing facilities into homes and community-based settings with the support they need to thrive. 

The Community Living Initiative reflects the Healey-Driscoll Administration's commitment to expanding access to affordable, person-centered care while ensuring older adults and people with disabilities have the opportunity to live safely, independently and with dignity in the communities they call home.

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