As the aging population in the U.S. rapidly grows and becomes more diverse, state planning should apply best practices to be responsive to the evolving needs of older adults — this includes ensuring that planning efforts complement and build on each other.

Many states are already planning for their older adult population through state plan amendments (SPAs), as required by the federal Older Americans Act, and are using their SPAs as a springboard to develop voluntary, state-led multisector plans for aging (MPAs). The alignment of these plans through shared goals, stakeholder engagement, data, and staff coordination has proven beneficial in several states, demonstrating that collaboration between SPAs and MPAs can lead to more effective and age-inclusive strategies. This brief outlines the differences between MPAs and SPAs and explores how states are taking action to align these efforts.