In 1964, the National Association of State Units on Aging (NASUA) was established as a non-profit organization to represent the interests of state units on aging. Its mission was to promote the development of comprehensive, coordinated, and cost-effective systems of home and community-based services that help older adults maintain their health and independence.

In 2010, the membership overwhelmingly voted to change the name of the association to the National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) in recognition of the populations that aging agencies were increasingly serving both older adults and individuals with disabilities.  At the same time, we offered our services for the state staff who administer the home and community-based waiver for these populations.  

The name was changed again in 2019 to ADvancing States to better reflect the goals of the association—to ADvance programs, policies, and services for individuals who are aging, who have a disability and their caregivers so that they can live independently in their homes and communities for as long as they choose.