Farewell, Executive Office of Elder Affairs. Hello, Executive Office of Aging & Independence. Last month, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed legislation that approved a name change for this state agency. The new name embraces a communication style that connotes more positive feelings about aging.
“The name change is a signal of the investment that the state has made in terms of eroding ageism, specifically in the way that we communicate about aging,” says Caitlin Coyle, Ph.D., the director of the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging, part of the Gerontology Institute at UMass Boston. “That is a huge and very public-facing action that signals that change is happening.”
Coyle served as a consultant to the state in this effort, as part of her work with the Age-Friendly Massachusetts state designation committee. She says that it’s important that agencies use words that are inclusive and respectful. This isn’t just a matter of terminology: Many people don’t identify with the word “elder,” for example, which may affect who feels served by this office. The new name welcomes more people to be aware of the office’s services and to access what they need.
Such name changes are part of a broader effort to change how people talk about—and feel about—aging.
“The state recognizes the importance of people not just identifying with the aging process, but also embracing it and feeling empowered by it, and the experiences that it comes with,” Coyle says. “The name change will be really powerful.”
Creating an age-friendly state may begin with changes in names, but it comes to fruition through changes in practice. Closely following Healey’s announcement of the name change, her office unveiled a 2026 fiscal year budget that will build upon this work. Healey proposed a new program to support aging adults in Massachusetts. The state will fund $1 million in grants to organizations that promote age-friendly practices through efforts that include housing, transportation, civic life, and public spaces.
“With 20% of our state’s population over 60, we want to encourage and accelerate this work,” Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll said at the budget press conference. “Many of our aging neighbors want to grow old in a way that enables them to thrive and explore their curiosities, and they need the help and support to do that. That’s what these resources are about, and this funding will help lead the way.”
Coyle says that Massachusetts has already become a leader in age-friendly programs. She cites the Age Strong Commission in Boston as one especially strong example. Age Strong, formerly Boston’s Commission on Elderly Affairs, provides resources, education, and events to make the city more age-inclusive. The public awareness campaign that promoted the program’s launch in 2019 was, to Coyle, a great example of the power of words. The commission asked residents to tell stories about how they embody the concept of Aging Strong, through such things as activism, trendsetting, and exercise.
“It was awesome,” Coyle says. “It really came together so that it was not just a name change, but that people understood where the change was coming from and how they could relate to it.”
The efforts underscore the importance of words to agencies and to the people we serve. It signals respect and inclusion, and that broader changes are coming as well.
“There is a recognition that we need to change the way we think and talk about aging,” Coyle says. “To have a state agency that put the effort in to do that is meaningful.”
February 19, 2025 at 6:11 pm
Every time I hear the word “Elder”, I feel respected. With the use of the word comes the truth of experience, knowledge, wisdom and many other positive attributes. I never hear the word “elder” used negatively.
Kudos to the young people who deserve some credit for thinking about terminology as it applies to my age group. However, this switch in terminology to an Executive Office of Aging & Independence is just “cute” or an easy way for government officials to “put a feather” and avoid working on the real problems of aging here in Massachusetts.
For example , in my town, we are 30% over 60 yoa but we have NO voice. The EOEA is a joke and the councils on aging and senior centers are not speaking up with us. We are struggling to AGE IN PLACE. Our properties were just re evaluated and for my small condo, the taxes have gone up over $2,000 per year as of 2025. This was done with no impact analysis of housing costs increases on older people here. Owners, Renters or Houseless.
Homelessness among elders in increasing greatly. Car insurance companies have unbridled control on inflation in Massachusetts. Food costs are uncontrolled. CEO’s are allowed to make unfounded claims for the rationales on pricing. Elders are discriminated out of the job market. Comcast is digging into our pockets deeper and deeper with no utility controls from the state. People living in nursing homes are the last to be protected , if at all, by city, town and state governments.
No, the state needs to stop the hi-jinks and theatrics of PC political rhetoric and do something truly progessive and woke when it comes to my “30 PERCENT” of ageds, elders, over 60ers.
It doesn’t matter the term but it matters that the government understand the effects and take meaningful action in policies impacting this age group.
Elder in Western Massachusetts