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State aging office adopts new name: Executive Office of Aging and Independence (AGE)
Summary
The Executive Office of Elder Affairs has been renamed the Executive Office of Aging and Independence (AGE); officials said the change followed multi‑year focus groups and is intended to reduce confusion and emphasize support for independence as people age.
State aging officials told the Commission on LGBTQ Aging that the Executive Office of Elder Affairs has changed its public name to the Executive Office of Aging and Independence and will use the acronym AGE.
Lynn Bittler, assistant secretary at the Executive Office of Aging and Independence, said the agency pursued community focus groups and outreach beginning in 2022 to test how the public understands the office’s purpose and eligibility rules. Officials found that the prior name, officials said, did not clearly convey services or eligibility, and they opted for a name and tagline intended to emphasize partnership and support for people as they age. “Our new tagline is ‘your partners in aging,’” Bittler said.
Officials noted that legal and regulatory changes to fully update the agency name in regulations and formal references will take longer, but they have launched mass.gov updates and guidance for partners about how to reference the office in communications.
Why it matters: The name change is designed to reduce public confusion about services and eligibility and to broaden the office’s public framing around independence and age‑friendly work. Officials said they will continue existing programs and health‑equity work while implementing the new branding.
Next steps: The office will continue outreach to partners and expects that some formal regulatory updates will take time to complete.
