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National Center to Reframe Aging Partners with the National Rural Health Association to Enhance Age-Friendly Care in Rural Communities

The National Center to Reframe Aging — which provides expertise in effective communication strategies surrounding aging issues — has established a new strategic partnership with the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) through the National Rural Age-Friendly Initiative, a program focused on transforming age-friendly care in rural communities.

This collaboration comes following a three-year, $1.8 million grant awarded to NRHA from The John A. Hartford Foundation. The grant will enable the expansion of the National Rural Age-Friendly Initiative, equipping NRHA’s tens of thousands of members with resources, best practices, and technical support to ensure older adults in rural areas receive age-inclusive care.

“We are thrilled about this new partnership with NRHA,” said Patricia D’Antonio, BSPharm, MS, MBA, BCGP, executive director of the National Center to Reframe Aging and the vice president for policy and professional affairs at the Gerontological Society of America. “Messaging plays a crucial role in improving rural care by challenging outdated perceptions and addressing the unique needs as Americans age in rural communities. We are grateful for visionary funders like The John A. Hartford Foundation, committed to empowering our communities by promoting age-friendly communications.”

As a key partner, the National Center to Reframe Aging will bring its expertise in evidence-based communication strategies to support NRHA in building and amplifying awareness of this initiative. This collaboration will focus on applying strategic messaging across outreach materials and communications shared at the state, regional, and federal levels. By working together, the National Center aims to enhance age-inclusive care and raise awareness of the unique needs of the one in five older adults living in rural areas.

“NRHA is excited to work with the National Center to Reframe Aging to continue to bring resources and training to our members and partners,” said Amy Elizondo, chief strategy officer of the NRHA. “These partnerships are essential to helping older adults in rural communities access age-friendly care.”

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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.

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