Through its Age-Friendly Public Health Systems (AFPHS) initiative, Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) prioritizes the public health roles in healthy aging and encourages all state and local public health departments to make healthy aging a core function. TFAH also recognizes “champions” that work to understand the initiative through a series of trainings. Recently, the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative (MHAC) has been recognized as an Age-Friendly Public Health Systems Champion for completing these trainings.

TFAH developed an AFPHS Recognition Program based on the 6Cs Framework for Creating Age-Friendly Public Health Systems and corresponding actions that, if achieved, will reflect a health department’s commitment to healthy aging.

In addition to attending the necessary six trainings, MHAC also led one focused on “technology as a social determinant of health.”

Promoting the role of public health in supporting older adults is another way age- and dementia friendly communities can strengthen their work, bring in collaborators and improve health and wellness. The designation on a local and regional level is also another way to formally recognize age- and dementia friendly efforts.