| Promote understanding of the variety of backgrounds and experiences in aging populations and how these affect older adults’ preferences and needs to age well in our communities | - Encourage regional bodies and municipalities to create processes to provide ongoing input about self-identified needs and views of older adults into local policy and planning
- Increase the use of older adult data and toolkits to start or accelerate age- and dementia-friendly work (such as the Age- and Dementia-Friendly Integration Toolkit, AARP “Roadmap to Livability” Workbooks and the Healthy Aging Data Report
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| Collaborate across sectors and with potential new partners to create programs and services for a range of communities | - Develop an array of programs, services, and opportunities that support a range of needs (e.g., racial, ethnic, languages spoken, veterans, new immigrants, LGBTQIA+, people with mobility impairment, hearing impairment, visual impairment, etc.)
- Improve cross-sector and inter-departmental collaborations to develop age-friendly programs, services, and environments that are culturally and physically welcoming of all older adults
- Develop and enhance welcoming spaces for culture sharing (e.g., food, photos, music, experiences, language, etc.) that create opportunities for social connection
- Invest in age- and dementia-friendly community-led strategies that address health inequities
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| Expand opportunities for older adults and people with cognitive impairment to work and volunteer in communities to combat stigma around aging as well as Alzheimer’s and dementia | - Partner with Chambers of Commerce and other business groups to connect employers to information and resources that support caregivers, brain health, and healthy aging.
- Expand opportunities for people with cognitive impairment to volunteer in communities to combat stigma around Alzheimer’s and dementia
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| Continue to encourage the development of age-friendly community programming and support across the Commonwealth particularly in rural, environmental justice, historically marginalized, and traditionally underrepresented communities | - Increase funding for community programs that offer financial literacy, job training, and legal aid, and other age-friendly initiatives
- As the front door to aging services at the community level, ensure that COAs are receiving adequate local and state funding to keep in step with the increasing population of older adults and to support and sustain the vital programs, services, and resources
- Increase participation in age- and dementia-friendly initiatives in rural, environmental justice, historically marginalized, and traditionally underrepresented communities
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| Support intergenerational initiatives that help reduce ageism and address social isolation and loneliness for both older and younger people | - Convene a multigenerational summit on ageism to explore opportunities to create intergenerational activity and mutual support among students, caregivers, and older adults that produces a white paper with guidance on how to combat ageism across generations
- Promote programs and services (e.g., legal, financial, support groups) that support grandparents raising grandchildren
- Identify best practices and scale intergenerational programs and educational curriculum that enable younger people to reimagine what it means to grow older or to be living with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other disabilities
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| Continuously co-develop, co-create, and engage with older adults and caregivers throughout the Commonwealth to effectively meet their needs | - Increase availability of family caregiver support, with a focus on dementia care, to enhance the capacity of families and communities to care for older adults
- Connect paid and family caregivers with resources that acknowledge the range of family experiences and include multiple generations and families of choice
- Partner with employers to strengthen businesses’ support of family caregivers in the workplace
- Collaborate with state Executive Offices working on the whole-of-government approach to caregiving to ensure affordable, high-quality senior caregiving in Massachusetts
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