In an interview with the Boston Globe, Kuster, 68, said she hopes she inspires some of her elderly lawmaker colleagues on both sides of the aisle to retire — a final parting shot as news of Rep. Kay Granger’s (R-TX) prolonged absence from House votes due to health problems capped off a year of concerns over Washington leaders’ age and mental acuity.

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“I’m trying to set a better example,” Kuster said. “I think there are colleagues — and some of whom are still very successful and very productive — but others who just stay forever.”

Kuster, the powerhouse leader of the New Democrat Coalition, announced in March she would not seek another term to represent New Hampshire’s 2nd District, a seat she has held since 2013.

Many aging lawmakers, such as former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), 84, and those with existing medical conditions or diagnoses, such as Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), 74, decided to seek another term. Others, such as Granger, 81, and Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA), 88, decided this term in Congress would be their last.

However, Granger made headlines after news broke that she was living in a memory care facility and not performing her duties as a congresswoman, much to the surprise of both her Republican colleagues and her constituents. The news set off criticism from both sides of the aisle, resurging calls for term limits or cognitive tests for lawmakers.

President Joe Biden sat at the top of the list for age concerns this year. Kuster said in her interview that while the 82-year-old president was coherent and that she is confident he can carry out his term, he spoke “very softly” and that his aging was apparent.

“It was hard for me at that time, like, what can one person do?” Kuster said. “You know, I did talk with people about [it] and talked with the campaign. It’s just hard to know looking back on it.”

It was increasingly difficult for Kuster after Biden’s lackluster debate against President-elect Donald Trump, which served as one of the many nails in the coffin of his reelection campaign. Biden joined a Zoom call hosted by Kuster and New Dems that was tense as members challenged him on his capabilities.

“It was painful,” Kuster said, recollecting how she prepared her remarks for that call. “I haven’t had these kind of conversations since I talked to my own parents about, you know, their aging and their limitations.”

Kuster didn’t speak to complaints that Democrats helped conceal Biden’s declining mental faculties, though she said his “team may have.”

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After six terms in office, Kuster said she could leave Capitol Hill feeling like she accomplished most of what she set out to do.

“Twelve years is a good amount of time to put your shoulder to the wheel and try to make a difference on these issues,” Kuster said. “I can’t say we solved them, but I think we made a difference, not just in changing policy, changing funding, but changing attitudes.”