MyChesCo reports that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through a partnership between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Administration for Community Living (ACL), will allocate nearly $100 million to boost COVID-19 vaccinations among older adults and people with disabilities. ACL will release roughly $93 million in grants to the aging and disability networks in each state and territory, to help provide critical services to surmount barriers preventing millions of the most vulnerable Americans from receiving vaccines. An additional $5 million will fund national hotlines to assist older adults and people with disabilities in registering for vaccinations, and to connect them with local disability and aging agencies that can provide services and accessibility supports.

Data from the National Poll on Healthy Aging suggests the pandemic has motivated many older adults to discuss and document their care wishes, reports News-Medical . Generally, 59 percent of the 50- to 80-year-olds surveyed said they had talked with loved ones about their preferences in case they became severely ill, compared to 70 percent among those over 65. Only 7 percent said COVID-19 had prompted such conversations. In terms of documenting their preferences in a legally binding way that can guide families and care teams, 46 percent of respondents said they had completed at least one of two legal documents that could help their loved ones make decisions for them if they are unable to do it for themselves. One-third of the 7 percent of older adults who had completed medical durable powers of attorney and/or living wills said the pandemic had motivated them to do so. Yet this group comprised just 1 percent of the entire poll sample.

A study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association revealed 13 previously unknown rare variants of genes connected to Alzheimer's disease, reports The Hill . The team sequenced the genomes of 2,247 people in a genome-wide association study (GWAS), and the previously undiscovered variants are associated with synapse function, neural development, and neuroplasticity. "With this study, we believe we have created a new template for going beyond standard GWAS and association of disease with common genome variants, in which you miss much of the genetic landscape of the disease," said Massachusetts General Hospital's Rudolph Tanzi. Although there is no one specific gene underpinning Alzheimer's disease, the new study brings scientists closer to reaching a fuller understanding of what genomic variations and combinations may elevate risk.

AARP reports that as access to COVID-19 vaccinations increases, and many businesses slowly return to pre-pandemic operations, job opportunities for older adults who want to work could grow. A report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for March cites industries that are showing signs of expansion, including school-related jobs. BLS said last month locally funded schools hired 76,000 people, state-funded educational institutions like colleges hired 50,000, and private schools hired 64,000. The National Center for Education Statistics said about 29 percent of teachers are 50 or older, while other education-related fields, like school bus drivers, are popular part-time jobs for senior workers. Restaurant work and bartending also appear to be making a comeback, in addition to work at cinemas and sports arenas. Such jobs are popular among older workers because they offer flexible hours and social interaction. Also showing growth in March were jobs in construction, administrative and support services, and management and technical consulting services.

AZFamily reports that Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey late last week ended three executive orders he issued at the start of the pandemic that restricted visitors at long-term care communities and elective surgeries at hospitals. "With nearly three and a half million vaccine doses administered across Arizona, we're on track to fighting off the pandemic and returning to normal," he announced. "At the beginning of the pandemic, we took necessary measures to protect vulnerable populations and all Arizonans. Now the vaccine is out far and wide, and we have much better knowledge of the virus than we did before." Officials said the removal of the order for long-term care communities means visitations as well as off-site visits for long-term care residents are now permitted without the need to quarantine after.

The United States has vaccinated 75 percent of senior Americans (about 41 million) as of this past weekend, with several states having immunized more than 80 percent, reports Forbes . Vermont is the top state, getting at least one shot to 88.9 percent of its seniors, partly because it made them eligible for the vaccine before virtually every other high-risk group. Connecticut, South Dakota, Maine, and Rhode Island have vaccinated more than 84 percent of their senior populations. The states of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kansas, Delaware, and Iowa have achieved above average rates, inoculating 80 percent of their seniors. In last place is Hawaii, having administered doses to just 63.7 percent of its seniors, even though its overall vaccination rate is slightly ahead of the national average. Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi have also immunized fewer than two-thirds of their senior residents. All states will ditch their eligibility rules by the start of May, making vaccines available for every adult who wants one.

Seehafer News reports that the Sheboygan Senior Community is one of 32 organizations in Wisconsin that will be allocated part of a $7 million Public Service Commission Wisconsin Energy Innovation Grant. The assisted living community will be apportioned $242,581 in grant money. The participating organizations will use the latest grant to boost the utilization of renewable energy and transportation technologies, fortify preparedness and resiliency in the energy system, and take steps to establish comprehensive energy plans.

According to an article in JAMA , U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisers who opposed the approval of Biogen's Alzheimer's disease drug aducanumab have restated their case before a June decision on whether to approve the medication, reports FierceBiotech . The advisers contend that post hoc analyses of the aducanumab clinical trials risk "inadvertently selecting data precisely because those data were consistent with the outcomes that were hoped for." They elaborate that the analyses do not explain why the trials had differing results, with one discontinued for futility, while the other trial's data said discontinuation was premature. Biogen claims the divergent results reflect the number of people who received the high dose and the division of patients whose condition declined rapidly. The FDA experts counter that the long history of failures of amyloid clinical trials means the difference between the aducanumab studies is "consistent" with a false positive finding. They also highlight the medication's risks based on the rate of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) in patients. Most ARIA cases were asymptomatic, and supporters claim the risk can be mitigated with imaging and dosing management. But the FDA advisers express doubts about "how consistently and comprehensively" mitigation could be conducted in clinical practice.

CBS 8 reports that COVID-19 has nearly vanished from California nursing communities after claiming the lives of more than 9,000 residents and staffers. The California Department of Public Health estimates that fewer than 15 new cases were reported each day in March, and deaths plunged to between one and six people daily. That is compared to the winter surge's peak, when more than 80 residents died every day from the virus. Health experts attribute the decline to a vast nationwide campaign to inoculate older and frail residents and caregivers. Roughly 87 percent of the 85,000 residents in California's skilled nursing communities have been fully vaccinated. Deaths and infections also have fallen in the state's 7,400-plus assisted living and other long-term care communities. About 3,700 residents and staff in those communities have died from COVID-19, while 233 active cases have been recorded in the past week. California nursing communities are carefully reopening, with some allowing fully vaccinated residents to dine together in small groups, receive visitors, and gather for group activities.

The percentage of Oregonians over 65 who have received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine — two thirds — lags far behind the 80 percent that Oregon Health Authority (OHA) officials expected to be inoculated by March 31, reports the Willamette Week . That rate also falls below the national average of 73 percent for a single dose. County numbers also show wide variance: 80 percent of seniors in Multnomah County have received at least a first shot, compared to only 55 percent of seniors in Clackamas County. "We have seen a slowing of vaccinations for seniors in some counties as more populations become eligible for the vaccine," said OHA spokesman Tim Heider. "Obviously, we like to see 100 percent of our seniors to be vaccinated, and we have enough doses to accomplish that. Seniors can access vaccine through the existing sources." OHA now says it expects nearly three in four older Oregonians to have at least one dose by early April.