Establishing the Governor's Council on an Age-Friendly Minnesota I, Tim Walz, Governor of the State of Minnesota, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and applicable statutes, issue the following Executive Order:

There are one million older adults in Minnesota and that figure is growing rapidly. In 2020, the number of older adults in Minnesota over age 65 will exceed the number of children under age 18. Older adults may face challenges related to financial security, housing, transportation, health care, employment, and social service needs. In addition, thousands of direct support workers and the estimated 650,000 family and friends who provide unpaid caregiving are struggling to meet the ever-increasing demand for care.

Older adults deserve to live in communities that are respectful, inclusive, and free of prejudice or discrimination based on a person's age, and to be celebrated for their accomplishments and contributions. The aging of our population impacts every community and culture, and people of all ages should feel confident that they and their families can live vibrant, purposeful lives as they grow old.

A statewide policy to promote healthy aging requires engaging with older adults as contributors to the social, economic, and civic fabric of our communities, encouraging physical and psychological health and well-being in older adults and their caregivers, and eliminating ageism. This work cannot be accomplished by any one state agency, but instead must be a collective effort that requires coordination, collaboration, innovation, and focus across state agencies.