MMA webinar discusses councils on aging

On Sept. 25, the MMA hosted a webinar with the Massachusetts Councils on Aging, a nonprofit membership association for the 350 councils on aging in Massachusetts.

MCOA Executive Director Betsy Connell opened with context for why the work of these councils is critical right now.

“One in five residents will be over the age of 65 by 2030,” she said. “And every municipality will feel that impact.”

For more than 50 years, councils on aging have been essential community lifelines, she said. The growing population of older adults is causing an unprecedented demand for their services, including outreach, meals, transportation, caregiver support, and social connections.

Connell said the MCOA has three key pillars of impact: Advocate, Educate, and Collaborate.

On the first pillar, she said the MCOA serves as the collective voice for the statewide councils on aging network during the state budget deliberations and any other legislative matter affecting older adults.

Andrea Cordis, training and education manager at MCOA, discussed the opportunities available to council on aging staff for continuing education and professional development, including the MCOA’s annual fall conference, workshops in partnership with local hospitals, and a professional certification program.

MCOA Assistant Director Madeline Noonan shared examples of collaboration between local councils on aging and municipalities. These include Barnstable’s annual Community Safety Day event for older adults and Swampscott High School’s intergenerational art projects.

Michelle Bratti, Plymouth’s commissioner of health and human services, moderated 20 minutes of questions and answers, addressing inquiries about age- and dementia-friendly initiatives, training available to council on aging boards, and tips for rebranding councils.

• From Resources to Relationships: Why Councils on Aging and Senior Centers Matter (21M PDF)