Leadership in Action: Meet 2026 Director of the Year Michelle Kelleher
Lexington’s Senior Services Director demonstrates how collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to inclusion can strengthen an entire community.
Great leadership isn’t always measured by the number of programs offered or events organized. Sometimes, it’s measured by the relationships built, the barriers removed, and the opportunities created for others.
For Michelle Kelleher, Senior Services Director for the Town of Lexington, that philosophy is at the heart of everything she does.
The Massachusetts Councils on Aging (MCOA) is proud to recognize Michelle as its 2026 Director of the Year, honoring her exceptional leadership, vision, and dedication to improving the lives of older adults.
A Voice for Older Adults: Patricia Baker Honored with 2026 David P. Stevens Advocacy Award
Recognizing a lifetime of advocacy, collaboration, and commitment to ensuring older adults have access to the resources they need to thrive. Advocacy is about more than changing policies. It's about listening, building relationships,...
Connecting Massachusetts: MCOA’s New Statewide Senior Planet Initiative
A new statewide initiative will expand opportunities for older adults to build digital confidence, explore technology, and stay connected to the world around them. Technology touches nearly every part of daily life. From connecting with...
Focused on What Matters: Explore the Winning Photographs and Stories
Stories Through the Lens MCOA's First Annual Photo Contest 63 Entries. 125 Photographs. Countless Stories. Sometimes a photograph tells a story that numbers alone cannot. For our inaugural photo contest, Focused on What Matters:...
Innovation Has No Age Limit: Ashland’s Award-Winning Digital Literacy Lab
How one Council on Aging transformed an aging computer lab into a welcoming space for learning, confidence, and connection. Sometimes innovation doesn't mean building something new. It means looking at what already exists and imagining...
Leadership in Action: Meet 2026 Director of the Year Michelle Kelleher
Lexington's Senior Services Director demonstrates how collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to inclusion can strengthen an entire community. Great leadership isn't always measured by the number of programs offered or events...
For National Senior Center Month, an Irish “Men’s Shed” offers an idea worth bringing home.
Last year, while traveling in County Cork, Ireland, my husband and I visited a Men’s Shed in Allihies. We expected to see a workshop. What we found was something much bigger: a place where men could build things, contribute to their...
Innovation is Thriving at Massachusetts Councils on Aging! ✨
Every day, Councils on Aging across the Commonwealth are finding creative ways to engage older adults, strengthen communities, and redefine aging. Here are just a few recent highlights: 🏡 Dennis COA showcased the future of aging services...
MCOA Meets with National Council on Aging Leadership to Advance Healthy Aging
The Massachusetts Councils on Aging (MCOA) recently met with Ramsey Alwin, President and CEO of the National Council on Aging (NCOA), to strengthen collaboration and showcase the innovative work taking place in Councils on Aging and...
More Than a Newsletter: Creating Communications That Connect
For many Councils on Aging, the monthly newsletter remains one of the most important communication tools they produce. It keeps older adults informed about programs and services, shares important community resources, celebrates volunteers...
Building Skills. Strengthening Connections. Supporting Those Who Support Older Adults.
Every day, Council on Aging and Senior Center professionals step into conversations that require equal parts compassion, patience, and resilience. They help older adults navigate grief, isolation, mental health challenges, family...
MCOA Leads Dementia Friendly MA, Offering Resources and Grants
MCOA is the state lead for the Dementia Friendly Massachusetts (DFM) initiative, a community-based, grassroots movement to grow awareness, services, and infrastructure to support the lives of people living with dementia and their caregivers. Communities often choose to merge DFM goals with corresponding and overlapping goals for network membership in the Age-Friendly Massachusetts movement, which is steered by AARP-MA.
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Focused on What Matters: Explore the Winning Photographs and Stories
Stories Through the Lens MCOA's First Annual Photo Contest 63 Entries. 125 Photographs. Countless Stories. Sometimes a photograph tells a story that numbers alone cannot. For our inaugural photo contest, Focused on What Matters: Supporting Our Older Adults, Councils...
A Commitment to Excellence: Celebrating MCOA’s 2026 Professional Certifications
Recognizing the dedicated professionals who invest in their skills, strengthen local services, and help Massachusetts communities meet the evolving needs of older adults. Behind every successful Council on Aging is a team of dedicated professionals who bring...
MCOA Digital Equity & Senior Planet Readiness Survey
Building Digital Skills, Connections and Opportunities for Older Adults Across Massachusetts Estimated completion time: 15-20 minutes Introduction MCOA is exploring the opportunity to bring Senior Planet programming to more Councils on Aging and senior centers across...