A September 16 summit hosted by the National Center to Reframe Aging — the leader of the movement to transform how we think and talk about aging — brought together thought leaders, federal representatives, and professionals across multiple sectors who are reshaping the narrative around aging to improve health and well-being across the lifespan.
Nearly 1,000 in-person and virtual attendees convened at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, for Summit 2026: The Movement to Reframe Aging .
Several panels shared the successful outcomes from partnerships across the aging services network and state multisector plans on aging, while presenters also identified a roadmap for reaching new sectors. These include health care, where communication shapes how people understand aging, health, capacity, and care, and can influence decisions and outcomes; technology and agetech, where the people designing products and services make choices about who they are for and what they communicate about people at different ages; and financial services, which can help people plan for opportunity, work, contribution, and well-being across longer lives.
National Center Executive Director Patricia M. "Trish" D'Antonio, BSPharm, MS, MBA, BCGP, said that people are finding better ways to communicate, organizations are using reframing as a strategy, and a more complete story of aging is becoming part of the institutions that shape our lives.
"What we are doing is working. Reframing aging is a communication strategy that organizations in many sectors can apply to improve understanding and advance better outcomes for all of us as we age. And when one sector uses that strategy well, it creates examples, language, and momentum that another sector can adopt," D'Antonio said. "They may come with a communication challenge: reaching a broader audience, improving a service, explaining an initiative, or showing the value of a program or product. That is our opportunity."
Rani Snyder, MPA, the president of The John A. Hartford Foundation, delivered the summit's keynote and announced two new awards. Presented by the National Center to Reframe Aging and sponsored by The John A. Hartford Foundation, the Reframing Aging Journalism and Culture Impact Awards will recognize excellence in reporting and storytelling that shape how aging is understood. The awards honor journalists, editors, storytellers, and organizations advancing accurate, productive narratives that counter stereotypes and reflect meaningful lives as we age.
"These awards will showcase journalism and organizational initiatives that demonstrate the power of accurate, productive communication about aging," said Rani E. Snyder, president of The John A. Hartford Foundation. "Elevating successful approaches inspires others to adopt reframing aging principles and contribute to stronger policies, programs and communities for all of us as we age."
Nominations for the awards will open in mid-2027.
