Governor Renames Elder Affairs to 'Aging & Independence'
BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey signed legislation to rename the Executive Office of Elder Affairs to the Executive Office of Aging & Independence to better represent and reflect the values of older adults in Massachusetts.
Renaming the agency reduces negative images around aging, normalizes aging as a natural process, and recognizes that older adults value independence and self-determination, while emphasizing that the Healey-Driscoll Administration is here to support residents as they age.
"Our population of adults aged 60+ continues to grow, and it is essential that we evolve to meet the changing needs of this group," said Governor Maura Healey. "We want residents to feel reflected in our agencies and to know where to turn when they need support. I'm grateful to the Legislature for advancing this bill, and I look forward to seeing the work that our incredible team at the Executive Office of Aging & Independence will do for the people of Massachusetts."
Governor Healey proposed the name change in May. The new name was selected following significant research that included focus groups, surveys, and conversations with older adults, caregivers, service providers, and advocacy organizations. This research revealed that aging adults do not connect with the term "elder" and often associate the term with someone who is at the end of their life. Instead, residents prefer neutral terms such as "aging" and "older people."
In addition, the name change legislation replaces outdated language across state statutes, such as "elder," "elderly person(s)," and "handicapped" with "older adult(s)" and "adult with a disability."
