Who We Are
Massachusetts Councils on Aging (MCOA) is a nonprofit, membership association of the 350 municipal councils on aging and senior centers. COAs are the first stop on the continuum of care. We support the 1.7 million older adults, 60 and over in Massachusetts, lead healthy, purposeful lives.
Recent News
SIG Grantee Learning Collaborative Video
On July 20th EOEA conducted a forum to showcase six projects funded by the Service Incentive Grant Program (SIG). Each randomly selected project reported on their scope during COVID, with the hope that COAs could learn from their efforts and replicate their success...
See Reverend Walker’s Inspirational Keynote from the MCOA Annual Meeting
https://youtu.be/7pO09iag4AU
MCOA Reflection on the FY22 Senate Ways and Means Budget proposal
MCOA Membership: The FY22 Senate Ways and Means Budget proposal was released yesterday and: SWM did not include the additional $200,000 request for Elder Behavioral Health Line Item #9110-1640 that was added in the House; but SWM did concur with the Governor and the...
Scams Webinar
The Treasurer’s Office of Economic Empowerment (OEE), the Massachusetts Councils on Aging (MCOA), and the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR) partner to host a virtual consumer workshop to talk about available protections from their respective...
Data Summary Report of EMHOTs; For the 7/1/20 – 12/31/20 Reporting Period
Data Summary Report of EMHOTs; For the 7/1/20 – 12/31/20 Reporting Period See the report here
Featured Events
Leadership Boost: Motivation and Positive Management
10:00 am / 11:30 amHealing the Hurts
9:00 am / 3:00 pmUnconscious Bias Training
10:00 am / 11:30 amLeadership Boost: Change Management
10:00 am / 11:30 am2022 Dementia Friendly Monthly Meetings
1:00 pm / 2:30 pmOutreach Meeting
11:00 am / 12:00 pmUnconscious Bias Training
10:00 am / 11:30 amMCOA Board Meeting
1:00 pm / 3:00 pmUnconscious Bias Training
10:00 am / 11:30 amWellness Meeting
10:00 am / 11:00 amWhat is a COA Today?
COAs serve as a conduits for accessing a range of municipal services that may seem out-of-reach to older residents. They are the focal point where older adults and their families can access the local and state network of elder services, while providing an integrated array of social, health, recreational and education programs for older men and women. COAs offer programs, services and activities that benefit more than 540,000 older people, and their families and caregivers annually.
COAs conduct more than 100 programs from information and referral to benefits, outreach, transportation, and meals and other food programs to health screenings, health insurance information benefits counseling, fitness, recreation, computer access, education and life-long learning, among others. In most communities, the COA serves as the only public social service agency and assists all town residents with access to public benefits.
Each COA determines its own priorities based on unique local circumstances, resources and interests. Regardless of design, a local senior center is often a home away from home for socializing, learning, wellness, “giving back,” or just a reason to get out of the house. For the rapidly growing older population, COAs and senior centers provide a safe place for Massachusetts older adults to remain independent productive and in the community for as long as possible.