An initiative launched this year aims to shift the narrative about how we talk about aging and address misconceptions people may have about older people. Called “Reframe Aging Minnesota,” the campaign seeks to educate people throughout Minnesota through a series of online webinars and other outreach efforts.

The initiative is a partnership between the National Center to Reframe Aging — the leading organization for proven communication strategies and tools to effectively frame aging issues — the University of Minnesota School of Public Health Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation (CHAI), and the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging.

Too often, the way people think and talk about aging remains stuck in outdated narratives and ageist messages that effectively keep obsolete policies, practices, and programs in place. A key goal of the statewide campaign is to counter ageism and change the way community leaders talk about aging. As part of the initiative, community leaders and changemakers throughout Minnesota will gain access to educational opportunities and resources to learn how to apply the principles to reframe aging.

“Through this collaboration we are reframing what it means to live and age well in our state so that all Minnesotans have the right to be full participants in all spheres of life,” said Rajean Moone, associate director of policy at SPH’s Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation. “Each Minnesotan can contribute to this initiative by participating in workshops, using the tools and resources from the National Center, and making individual changes in the way we talk about our own aging and older Minnesotans.”

The National Center to Reframe Aging is part of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), the nation’s oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to research, education, and practice in the field of aging. Several SPH faculty have affiliations with GSA, including Distinguished McKnight University Professor and Robert L. Kane Endowed Chair in Long-Term Care and Aging Joe Gaugler, who serves as the editor of GSA’s premier publication, and Professor Tetyana Shippee, who serves on GSA’s board of directors.

“We applaud these leaders for taking the initiative to pave the way for generational change in Minnesota. Our team is looking forward to supporting them on this statewide transformation,” said Patricia D’Antonio, executive director of the National Center to Reframe Aging and the vice president for policy and professional affairs at GSA. “They are paving the way for the state to change attitudes towards aging, value contributions of all older people in society, and increase support for policies and programs that support all of us as we age.”

To learn more about upcoming webinars and read other materials related to the Reframe Aging Minnesota work, visit www.mnlcoa.org/reframeaging.