The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative is pleased to promote the following events from our Statewide Network of partners:
Dementia Friends Massachusetts Champion Training, Sept. 12 from 9:00 Am to 12:00 PM
Dementia Friends is a global public awareness program that helps everyone in a community learn about dementia, how it affects people, and the simple things that we can all do to make a difference.
Be a Dementia Friend and learn the 5 key messages about how dementia affects people by attending a free, 1-hour information session near you or virtually at www.dementiafriendsma.org/find-a-session
Become a Dementia Friends Champion and learn about how to lead an information session for your community at a free, 3-hour volunteer training. Champion trainings are in English and upon account approval, you will receive access to all of our adapted and translated materials in 9 languages. There is an option to attend only the first hour and 15 minutes for those who only want to become a Dementia Friend. Those who would like to become a Champion are required to attend the whole training.
The next Champion Training will be September 12, 9:00am – 12:00pm. Register at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/f0BpBAt0RFS47L0SP6asbA
Upon registration, you will receive an automated confirmation from Zoom containing your unique meeting link.
To learn more, visit www.dementiafriendsma.org or contact Beth Soltzberg with any questions at bsoltzberg@jfcsboston.org
- Massachusetts Good Neighbor Day of Action, Sept. 26th
The Massachusetts Coalition to End Loneliness and Build Community has announced that Massachusetts Good Neighbor Day of Action will take place from September 26 to 28, 2025. Building upon the success of 2024, this initiative aims to strengthen community bonds and combat social isolation across the Commonwealth.
As a member of the coalition, the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative encourages community partners engaged in age- and dementia friendly initiatives to take part. The coalition has created a Good Neighbor Day 2025 Toolkit that includes ideas, resources and promotional materials. Though it’s not required, those communities planning events are encouraged to “register” their activities here.
More information on the coalition is available on their website.
- MHAC Statewide Network Quarterly Meeting, Sept. 24th from 10:00-11:30 AM (virtual)
Join the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative for our next Statewide Network Meeting on September 24th from 10:00 – 11:30 am. Registration is available here.
These quarterly meetings provide a chance for any organization or community partner to connect around practices, policies, opportunities, and resources that support inclusive age- and dementia friendly efforts.
Our discussion on 9/24 will focus on impacts of federal actions on older adults reliant on SNAP and MassHealth as well as what communities can do to provide support. Presenters will include Pat Baker and Jeni Kaplan from Massachusetts Law Reform Institute who will present an overview of these policy impacts as well as opportunities for advocacy and action.
- 2025 National Summit to Increase Social Connections, Sept. 9 from 1:00-3:30 PM (virtual)
Join Commit to Connect for the 2025 National Summit to Increase Social Connections, a two-day virtual event focused on this year’s theme: “Scaling and Replicating Effective Social Connection Programs.”
The event will bring together local, state, and national leaders from across sectors to grow the social connections of older adults and people with disabilities. Participants will gain insights into innovative programs, promising practices, and resources that promote social connection, as well as strategies and mechanisms to grow, replicate, and scale social connection programs nationwide.
Registration is free but required. Visit the event page to view the full agenda. This event will include CART captioning and ASL interpretation. Contact info@committoconnect.org with any questions.