Americans are living longer than ever, and Maryland is betting that government alone can’t prepare for that reality. By 2030, roughly 26% of Maryland residents are projected to be age 60 or older, up from about 23% in 2020, prompting state leaders to rethink everything from housing to transportation and workforce policy.
In response, the state enacted the Longevity Ready Maryland Act, making Maryland the first state to permanently embed a “longevity” strategy into law while also creating an Aging Resilience Fund that can accept private philanthropic donations to support aging-related initiatives. Rather than viewing aging solely as a healthcare issue, lawmakers are treating longer lifespans as an economic, housing, transportation, workforce, and public policy challenge. Here’s why Maryland’s approach is attracting national attention and what it could mean for older adults.
