National Center to Reframe Aging Earns ADvancing States’ Arthur Flemming Award
The National Center to Reframe Aging — which provides expertise in effective communication strategies surrounding aging issues — has been honored with the Arthur Flemming Award from ADvancing States. This distinction recognizes individuals or organizations for outstanding contributions in advancing public policy in aging.
Patricia M. D’Antonio, BSPharm, MS, MBA, BCGP, executive director of the National Center to Reframe Aging and vice president for policy and professional affairs at the Gerontological Society of America, accepted the award at ADvancing States’ annual Home and Community-Based Services Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, on August 21.
“This recognition highlights the critical role the National Center to Reframe Aging plays in changing attitudes towards aging through research-based communication strategies,” D’Antonio told a crowd of 1,500 in her acceptance speech. “We have dedicated ourselves to being instrumental in raising awareness about ageism and promoting a more accurate and productive understanding of aging.”
The award has been given since 1978, and is named in honor of Flemming, the first U.S. commissioner on aging, who dedicated many years to public service — advocating for the dignity and rights of older adults and justice for all people. The National Center to Reframe Aging is aligned with this important legacy to influence programs and policies to support us all as we age. Robert Butler, MD, FGSA, who coined the term “ageism,” is also a past recipient of the award.
“We are grateful for this acknowledgement of the National Center’s impact since being established as the central hub for the movement to reframe aging,” D’Antonio said. “Likewise, we are gratified by the engagement of the many individuals and organizations we have been privileged to work with, and for the support of the forward-thinking philanthropic organizations, The John A. Hartford Foundation, RRF Foundation for Aging, Archstone Foundation, and The SCAN Foundation, who believe in our vision.”
ADvancing States’ announcement of the award stated, “The Board of Directors recognizes the critical role that the National Center to Reframe Aging is playing to change the narrative and public perception of aging through research-based communication strategies. The center has been successful at helping combat ageism and promoting a more accurate and positive understanding of aging.”
ADvancing States represents the nation’s 56 state and territorial agencies on aging and disabilities and long-term services and supports directors. It supports visionary leadership, the advancement of systems innovation, and the articulation of national policies that support long-term services and supports for older adults and people with disabilities.
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The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) is the nation's oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to research, education, and practice in the field of aging. The principal mission of the Society — and its 5,500+ members — is to advance the study of aging and disseminate information among scientists, decision makers, and the general public. GSA’s structure includes a nonpartisan public policy institute, the National Academy on an Aging Society, and GSA is also home to the National Center to Reframe Aging and the National Coordinating Center for the Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research.
The National Center to Reframe Aging is dedicated to ending ageism by advancing an equitable and complete story about aging in America. The center is the trusted source for proven communication strategies and tools to effectively frame aging issues. It is the nation’s leading organization cultivating an active community of individuals and organizations to spread awareness of implicit bias toward older people and influence policies and programs that benefit us all as we age. Led by the Gerontological Society of America, the National Center acts on behalf of and amplifies efforts of the ten Leaders of Aging Organizations. Support for the National Center comes from Archstone Foundation, The John A. Hartford Foundation, RRF Foundation for Aging, and The SCAN Foundation.