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.
Practical Philosophy for COAs: New Resources to Support Older Adults, Caregivers & Staff
At the Massachusetts Councils on Aging, we are always looking for creative, meaningful ways to support older adults, caregivers, and the professionals who serve them every day. That’s why we are excited to introduce a new collaboration...
A Different Kind of New Year Intention, Questions.
As another year begins, many of us felt the familiar pull to make resolutions, to do more, be better, fix what feels broken. But for those of us working with older adults, families, and communities through increasingly complex and...
Cultivating Connection: How Orleans Council on Aging Built a Welcoming Space for LGBTQ+ Older Adults
Cape Cod, especially the Lower Cape region, is home to a significant population of older adults, with nearly 60% of Orleans residents over the age of 60. Within this demographic lies a vibrant, yet sometimes isolated, LGBTQ+ community....
Bridging Divides: How OutstandingLife is Cultivating Connection and Combating Isolation for LGBTQ+ Older Adults
In Massachusetts, a significant grassroots effort is underway to combat loneliness and isolation among LGBTQ+ older adults. OutstandingLife, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit, has emerged as a vital online community, creating connections and...
Building Bridges and Fostering Belonging: Bourne Council on Aging’s Commitment to Inclusivity
The Bourne Council on Aging (COA), led by Director Debora Oliviere, serves residents aged 60 and above, a threshold tied to critical grant funding that supports many of their vital programs. Since assuming the director role in 2020, just...
More Than Just Programs: How Arlington’s Council on Aging Cultivates Deep Community Connection and LGBTQ+ Inclusion
Arlington, Massachusetts, stands out as a community deeply committed to supporting its older residents, with nearly 30% of its population over age 60. At the heart of this commitment is the Arlington Council on Aging (COA), led by...
Building Welcoming Hubs: Councils on Aging Embrace LGBTQ+ Inclusion
Lisa Krinsky, Director of the LGBTQIA+ Aging Project at Fenway Health, has dedicated 21 years to fostering inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ older adults in Massachusetts. Her journey began in the ASAP network where she quickly identified...
Beyond the Surface: How MCOA Trainings Empower COA Staff to Connect and Care
At our local Councils on Aging (COAs) and Senior Centers, you'll find dedicated individuals who are often the first point of contact for older adults navigating life's complexities. These compassionate professionals are more than just...
More Than Just a Job: How Behavioral Health Training Transforms COA Services
For Emily Kuhl, a seasoned case manager at The Newton Cooper Center (Newton Older Adult Services), the recent “Behavioral Health Training” series offered by McLean Hospital and the Massachusetts Councils on Aging (MCOA) wasn't just...
Bridging the Gap: McLean Hospital and MCOA Partner for Essential Behavioral Health Training
The growing need for robust behavioral health support among older adults is undeniable. The Massachusetts Councils on Aging (MCOA) has stepped up to meet this critical demand, forging a powerful partnership with McLean Hospital to deliver...
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
Appealing Medicare Advantage Plan Denials: Worth the Effort!
Alice Bers, Elder Law Attorney with the Center for Medicare Advocacy and Community Legal Aid in Western MA, wrote a guest column for the Greenfield Recorder (July 21, 2026), encouraging enrollees of Medicare Advantage Plans and their advocates to appeal denials. Odds...
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 and participants, and tells...
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 conflict, difficult life transitions,...