The National Center to Reframe Aging — the leading organization for proven communication strategies and tools to effectively frame aging issues — is partnering with the Maryland Department of Aging in development of its multisector plan on aging, the Longevity Ready Maryland Initiative.

The National Center will be a strategic partner providing guidance in Maryland’s statewide campaign to advance an equitable and complete story about aging and promote proven communication strategies to frame aging issues. Key leaders and staff of the Maryland Department of Aging will participate in educational opportunities and receive resources to consistently apply evidence-based strategies from the National Center.

“We commend Maryland for embarking on this work,” said Patricia D’Antonio, BSPharm, MS, MBA, BCGP, executive director of the National Center and the vice president for policy and professional affairs at the Gerontological Society of America. “Multisector plans for aging set the stage for how community members engage with essential services. Including reframed messaging in the Longevity Ready Maryland Initiative is a leap forward in ensuring we model the most effective way to discuss the policies and programs we need as we age.”

D’Antonio added that with this new partnership, the Maryland Department of Aging is setting an example for the rest of the nation of what we can all do to change the way society talks about aging to create age-inclusive communities.

“The attitudes that contribute to age bias are often rooted in falsehoods and have a significant negative impact on society,” said Maryland Department of Aging Secretary Carmel Roques. “Through this partnership, we look forward to advancing a more productive narrative about aging and the advantages of longer life spans, ultimately leading to the development of policies and programs that benefit all of us, young and old.”