National Elder Economic Security Initiative
The Elder Economic Security Standard developed in Massachusetts also underpins the work of the Elder Economic Security Initiative (EESI) at Wider Opportunities for Women. The Gerontology Institute is EESI's national research partner to develop and field test the Elder Economic Security Standard. With the support of the Retirement Research Foundation, Wider Opportunities for Women has launched the Elder Economic Security Initiative, a new national effort that seeks to build economic security for elders through a multi-pronged approach that includes organizing, advocacy and research. The EESI is an initiative to enable policy makers, aging advocates and others develop policies and programs to help seniors age with dignity while promoting their economic security.
The Gerontology Institute also thanks the members of EESI National Advisory Board for their review and guidance on the Elder Standard prototype. The Elder Standard is being piloted first in the Boston Area, next statewide in Massachusetts, and it will then be field tested in a handful of states that have been selected to participate in the first phase of EESI, to pave the way for broad dissemination and use. Through EESI, the Elder Economic Security Initiative will be in place in a critical mass of states, and the Standard will be calculated for each state and the District of Columbia. Our objective is that it becomes a powerful, versatile tool for calibrating and portraying the costs of living for elders in communities across the United States.
For information on the Elder Economic Security Initiative from WOW, visit: WOW's National Programs Page