HEALTHY AGING
Nourishing body, mind, and spirit for a healthy aging journey.
ECONOMIC SECURITY
Stable income, housing, and healthcare are essential for older adults to thrive.
EDUCATION
Investing in Professional Development for a thriving aging network
MEMBER SERVICES
Joining MCOA opens a door to a vibrant network of aging professionals.
LIHEAP/Fuel Assistance Update from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities
The following update was provided by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and is shared here with their permission: As you may...
Leveraging Local Cultural Council Grants
Many MA artists, performers, and other cultural program-creators routinely partner with senior centers to apply for Local Cultural Council grants....
Advocating for Caregivers
Staff members at Councils on Aging know that caregivers are often spouses, and they know that caregivers shoulder a massive responsibility that can lead to negative health impacts and financial strain. If you’ve witnessed caregiver challenges, your testimony can make a difference.
Cooling Centers at Senior Centers
Many Senior Centers and other public buildings in Massachusetts are designated Cooling Centers. The Mass.gov website has a page devoted to the creation and implementation of Cooling Centers, which offers many good ideas. These ideas seem obvious when encountered in a list of best practices, but it’s easy to overlook some of the simple but important touches like signage with hours and the posting of rules of use for visitors. This is a great opportunity to think about whether or not your current signage indicating where restrooms are (among other things) is effective for people living with dementia.
MassHealth, Personal Data, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
MassHealth has been made aware of a report that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials will be given access to the personal data of the nation’s 79 million Medicaid enrollees, including home addresses and ethnicities.
Older Adult Bridge Subsidy Campaign
Many of you know all too well how the housing crisis is affecting vulnerable, low-income older adults in your communities. Homelessness among older...
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.
Latest News
June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month
Every June the Alzheimer’s Association provides new opportunities to learn about habits that enhance brain health.
It’s Never Too Late to Start Building Strength!
As we age, gradual muscle loss, known as sarcopenia, becomes one of the most important health challenges facing older adults. Starting as early as our 40s and accelerating after age 60, muscle mass and strength naturally decline. The result? Reduced mobility,...



