The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Charlie Baker visited the AgeLab at MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics on Wednesday, April 12, where he signed an Executive Order establishing the state’s first Governor’s Council to Address Aging in Massachusetts.
The Council will develop a plan to improve public and private efforts to support healthy aging in Massachusetts, to achieve the goal of making the Commonwealth the most age-friendly state for people of all ages. Older adults are the largest and fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population and they will make up 23% of the Commonwealth’s population by 2035.
“The notion that people are fully retired at the age of 65 is inconsistent with what I see around Massachusetts every day,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Many of our older adults still have ample time, energy and talent available to start a second or third career, volunteer in their community, become a mentor or pursue an unfulfilled passion. I look forward to the council’s work considering ways for the state to improve public and private means for supporting and engaging with older adults.”
“Increased longevity is among humankind's greatest achievements,” said Joseph F. Coughlin, Director of the MIT AgeLab. “The challenge we now face is to live not just longer, but also better. Innovations being developed here at MIT and throughout the Commonwealth promise to improve life for older adults and their families. Moreover, these new technologies, services, and related businesses are fast positioning Massachusetts as the global leader in the fast-growing longevity economy.”
The Council will be supported by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, and is expected to deliver a preliminary report to the Governor by the end of 2017.
In this photo: Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Karyn Polito; Director of MIT AgeLab, Joe Coughlin; Director of the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics, Yossi Sheffi; and Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Charlie Baker pose for a group shot.