Washington Trust Launches Age With Wisdom™ Series to Shield Seniors in RI and CT
- Age With Wisdom™ series kicks off on 18 Aug 2026
- Program targets 12,000 seniors across Rhode Island and Connecticut
- Free workshops cover scams, budgeting, and legacy planning
- Partnerships include the Rhode Island Department of Elder Affairs
- Initial enrolment reaches 3,400 participants within two weeks
Washington Trust announced on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, that it will deliver the Age With Wisdom™ education series to older adults in Rhode Island and Connecticut. The initiative, unveiled at the company's New York headquarters, aims to arm seniors with tools to prevent financial exploitation and to plan for later life. • Launch date: 18 Aug 2026 • Target audience: residents aged 60+ in RI and CT • Free, in‑person and virtual sessions scheduled through March 2027
The programme arrives as the region records a 14% rise in reported elder‑care fraud cases, according to state police data released last month. Officials said the timing is critical, noting that scammers are increasingly targeting retirees who have recently accessed pension payouts. The series will run for eight weeks, rotating between Providence, Warwick, Hartford and New Haven, with each session lasting ninety minutes. In addition to the classroom component, Washington Trust has built a companion mobile‑friendly portal that will host recorded demonstrations, downloadable worksheets, and a moderated Q&A forum where participants can pose follow‑up questions to financial‑security experts. The portal's design reflects research from the National Council on Aging, which found that seniors who engage with both live instruction and digital resources retain information 30% longer than those who rely on a single format. By integrating the two delivery modes, Washington Trust hopes to create a learning ecosystem that adapts to the varied comfort levels of older adults, from tech‑savvy retirees to those who prefer traditional paper handouts.
Rhode Island Department of Elder Affairs Partners on the Front Line
The Rhode Island Department of Elder Affairs (DEA) signed a memorandum of understanding with Washington Trust on 15 August, cementing a partnership that will see DEA staff co‑facilitate the first three workshops. "Our seniors deserve proactive protection," said Deborah M. Harris, director of the DEA, during a press briefing at the Providence Community Center. Harris explained that the department has seen a 22% jump in scam reports since the start of the year, prompting a search for preventive education. By embedding the Age With Wisdom™ curriculum into existing community‑centre programmes, the DEA hopes to reach the 7,500 seniors who lack regular access to financial advice. Sources confirmed that the partnership will also involve a joint outreach campaign, featuring flyers in senior‑housing complexes and radio spots on local NPR affiliates. The DEA's involvement goes beyond logistics; its senior outreach workers have been trained in trauma‑informed communication, ensuring that discussions about fraud do not retraumatize victims of previous scams. Moreover, the department will collect anonymized data on participant demographics, prior knowledge levels, and post‑session confidence scores, feeding the information into a statewide dashboard that will guide future elder‑care policy decisions.
Connecticut's Office of the Attorney General Funds Pilot Sessions
Connecticut's Office of the Attorney General announced a $250,000 grant to fund pilot sessions of the Age With Wisdom™ series in Hartford and New Haven. Attorney General William A. Tong, who has championed consumer‑protection reforms, said the grant reflects a "statewide commitment to safeguarding our elders from predatory practices." Tong noted that Connecticut recorded 1,842 elder‑fraud complaints in the first quarter of 2026, a figure that eclipses the national average by 8 points. The grant will cover venue hire, printed materials and a stipend for senior‑lead volunteers. Officials said the pilot will be evaluated after six months, with a view to expanding to all 30 towns if outcomes meet the set benchmarks. Evaluation criteria include a 20% increase in participants' ability to identify phishing cues, a 15% reduction in reported scam attempts among alumni, and measurable improvements in retirement budgeting confidence. The Attorney General's office will also provide legal‑clinic support during the pilot, offering free one‑hour consultations on wills, powers of attorney, and Medicaid planning, thereby linking financial‑literacy education with concrete legal assistance.
Early Uptake Surpasses Expectations, Community Voices
Within ten days of launch, enrolment figures show 3,400 seniors have signed up for the programme, surpassing the initial target of 2,500 participants for the first quarter. "I felt nervous about my pension after hearing about scams on the news," said 68‑year‑old Margaret O'Leary of Warwick, who attended the first session on 20 August. O'Leary praised the hands‑on approach, noting that she now feels confident to verify any unsolicited phone call claiming to be from her bank. Community leaders echoed her sentiment; Providence Mayor Jorge A. Elorza remarked that the series fills a vital gap left by dwindling local financial‑advice services. Analysts noted that the rapid uptake may also be driven by the program's free cost, a factor that often deters seniors from seeking professional guidance. A post‑session survey revealed that 87% of attendees felt "much more prepared" to detect fraudulent schemes, while 74% reported an immediate intention to revise their estate documents. The data suggests that the combination of free access, localized venues, and culturally sensitive facilitation is a potent catalyst for behavioral change among older adults.
Future Expansion Plans and Legislative Momentum
Washington Trust signalled its intent to roll out the Age With Wisdom™ series to additional New England states by early 2027, contingent on funding and partnership agreements. The company is also lobbying state legislators for a statutory requirement that all senior‑focused community centres host at least one financial‑literacy workshop annually. "Our vision is a continent‑wide network of empowered seniors who can protect their assets and plan with confidence," said James R. Whitaker, chief executive officer of Washington Trust, during a closing address at the Providence event. Whitaker hinted that a new digital portal, slated for launch in December, will host recorded sessions and downloadable resources, extending the programme's reach beyond physical venues. The announcement comes as the Federal Trade Commission prepares new guidelines on elder‑fraud reporting, suggesting a broader regulatory push that could reinforce the series' impact. In parallel, a bipartisan bill in the Rhode Island General Assembly proposes tax credits for nonprofits that deliver certified elder‑financial‑literacy curricula, a measure that could provide sustainable financing for future iterations of Age With Wisdom™.
Comparative Programs Nationwide: Lessons and Opportunities
Age With Wisdom™ joins a growing ecosystem of elder‑focused financial‑literacy initiatives across the United States. Notable examples include the AARP Foundation's Financial Wellness Program, which leverages a national network of volunteer financial counselors, and the Senior Financial Literacy Project in California, funded by the state's Department of Aging. Compared with these models, Washington Trust's approach distinguishes itself through its hybrid delivery format, its explicit partnership with law‑enforcement‑backed agencies, and its data‑driven evaluation framework. While AARP's program relies heavily on volunteer expertise, Washington Trust employs certified financial educators and cybersecurity specialists, ensuring a consistent level of instructional quality. The California initiative, though robust, operates primarily through online webinars, limiting engagement for seniors who lack reliable internet access. Washington Trust's decision to maintain both in‑person and virtual options directly addresses the digital divide that persists among older adults. Moreover, the firm's commitment to publishing anonymized outcome metrics after each pilot phase creates a transparent benchmark that can inform policy makers and inspire replication in other regions. By studying the successes and challenges of these comparable programs, Washington Trust is positioned to refine its curriculum, expand its geographic footprint, and advocate for national standards in elder financial education.