History OF MAOA

Then ...

Founded by Frank J. Manning and a small group of retired men and women in 1969, MAOA has always been the conscience for the promotion of social and economic security for Massachusetts’ elders.  An early Fanueil Hall rally drew more than 1000 elders to fight for reduced MBTA fares for senior citizens. MAOA’s mass meeting at Suffolk Downs in 1971 brought together over 14,000 seniors from all across the Commonwealth to tell Massachusetts of their concerns.  Senator Ted Kennedy and Governor Frank Sargent were at Suffolk Downs, and they heard the voices of older Americans that day. Massachusetts’ Senior Power movement was born.

Since that time, MAOA has collaborated with many community agencies to win major victories for the state’s seniors and their families. The Executive Office of Elder Affairs was established as the first cabinet level senior agency in the nation. Mandatory retirement at age 65 was abolished. Annual fights have been waged to expand funding for home care, nutrition, and fuel assistance.  MAOA has fought for property tax abatement laws for elders and to abolish balanced medical billing.  MAOA played a major role in the establishment of the University of MA at Boston, Gerontology Program. Most recently, Part D of the Medicare  Plan has had a major impact on seniors and MAOA has worked to insure that no senior had to go without their prescription drug the first few months of implementation.

Now ...

Today, MAOA leads the fight against the dual stigma of being old and mentally ill. The fights to preserve Medicare and Social Security, to ensure access to community-based long term care and to obtain mental health care for elders suffering from depression and other brain disorders are high on MAOA’s agenda.  Continuing its long tradition of providing educational opportunities, MAOA organizes regular conferences on important issues throughout the state; sponsors a SeniorNet computer training program and collaborates with Councils on Aging to hold training sessions for senior advocates.

MAOA continues its collaborative, educational and coalition-building efforts on a statewide basis, reaching thousands of the 360,000 seniors throughout the Commonwealth.  MAOA works closely with the Boston Partnership for Older Adults (BPOA), the Mature Workers Coalition, SAGE-Boston Collaborative, the Senior Housing Coalition, the Senior Pharmacy Coalition, Action for Boston Community Development, Mass Home Care and MA Councils on Aging and Senior Center Directors (MCOA) to accomplish our educational and advocacy goals.

MAOA’s Executive Director, Ann L. Hartstein and Mental Health Program Director, Chet Jakubiak oversee staff and volunteers.  Volunteers assist in all aspects of the organization.  MAOA advocates for the needs of low-income & minority seniors in its programs and its coalition work.

MAOA’s highly regarded newspaper, The Older American is in its 29^th year of publication.