Living to 100: Making Maryland a ‘Blue Zone’
Maryland is not only preparing for the future but actively shaping it to ensure that the state’s infrastructure, services and communities are ready to support a population that lives longer, healthier lives.
In a bold stride toward redefining the approach to aging, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed an executive order in January aimed at expanding access to critical care and services for older Marylanders. The executive order, spearheaded by the Department of Aging, is not just a policy adjustment; it is an inspired shift toward creating a future where the state of Maryland could be recognized as a Blue Zone — an area of the world, like Okinawa, Japan, where people tend to live longer and healthier lives than average, consistently living to age 100.
At the heart of this initiative, dubbed Longevity Ready Maryland, is a comprehensive plan that transcends traditional state efforts focused solely on eldercare. Instead, it adopts a holistic, multisector approach that promises a transformative impact and enrichment in every dimension — health, financial security, social connectivity and purposeful living, irrespective of a Marylander’s socioeconomic status.
Governor Moore’s administration is setting an exemplary standard in how state governance can pivot toward a more inclusive, integrated model of caring that mirrors team-based care provided to people across the health care system. Just as those with diabetes get nutrition and exercise counseling along with medications, this plan will help state residents gain access to lifestyle measures vital for aging well in their homes. With over a third of the state’s population already over the age of 50 and projections indicating a demographic shift toward an older majority, the urgency for such a comprehensive plan cannot be overstated.
I am tasked with identifying evidence-based strategies proven to help Marylanders reach age 100 and to lead healthier lives as they age.
Maryland Secretary of Aging Carmel Roques has directed several groups overseeing this new initiative, including the University of Maryland School of Medicine, to look for programs that will enable aging to be seen not through the lens of decline but as a period of continued growth and contribution. By weaving the longevity lens into the fabric of every government department and agency, Maryland is not only preparing for the future but actively shaping it to ensure that the state’s infrastructure, services and communities are ready to support a population that lives longer, healthier lives. As the volunteer head of the Research Advisory Group for this new initiative, I am tasked with identifying evidence-based strategies proven to help Marylanders reach age 100 and to lead healthier lives as they age.
Collaborative efforts are already underway and involve various state agencies as well as private and philanthropic sectors, underscoring the commitment to a data-driven, coordinated approach to achieving the Longevity Ready Maryland goals. The strategy’s focus extends beyond the mere provision of health care to encompass employment opportunities for older adults, support for caregivers and the development of affordable housing options. Its comprehensive approach also emphasizes the importance of expanding the workforce in geriatric medicine intergenerational relationships and the integration of older populations into the social fabric of Maryland, recognizing their potential to contribute to the community’s vitality.
The University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Gerontology and Geriatrics programs, bolstered by federally funded assets such as the Baltimore Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (UM-OAIC), and the Center for Research on Aging, in conjunction with strong community partnerships, are poised to make significant contributions to Maryland’s longevity initiatives. Maryland is setting a precedent in creating a supportive infrastructure for its aging population.
As Maryland embarks on this ambitious journey, the implications for the rest of the country are significant. The success of the Longevity Ready Maryland plan could serve as a blueprint for other states to follow, potentially transforming the national dialogue on aging and health care. By positioning itself as a future Blue Zone state, Maryland is not just challenging existing paradigms, it is offering a hopeful vision of what is possible when a community comes together to reimagine the future of aging.
Dr. Raya Elfadel Kheirbek (rkheirbek@som.umaryland. edu) is a professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and services chief Geriatrics and Palliative Care at the University of Maryland Medical Center