Working collaboratively for greater impact
Minnesota’s Area Agencies on Aging are the on-the-ground connectors in their communities and across the state. Our members have extensive knowledge of aging and deeply grounded relationships with provider organizations, people in their communities and external organizations. AAAs are often convenors or key participants in multisector coalitions within their region and across the state.
The following are some of the collaborations in which m4a and our members take active roles.
Age-Friendly Minnesota
Age-Friendly Minnesota draws from the framework created by the World Health Organization and promoted by AARP
m4a members helping kick off Governor’s effort
Governor Tim Walz issued an Executive Order to form the Governor’s Council on an Age-Friendly Minnesota in late 2019. The Council has two overarching goals: reframing how we think about aging—as an unprecedented opportunity—and exploring barriers and incentives to establishing age-friendly communities across the state.
Senior LinkAge Line
Minnesota Area Agencies on Aging provide Senior LinkAge Line® services in partnership with the Minnesota Board on Aging. Each of the six agencies manages an information center. Well-trained Senior LinkAge Line specialists:
- Assist older adults in finding a wide range of resources
- Provide resources to support caregivers
- Present unbiased information about Medicare plan options that best fit an individual’s needs
- Help individuals understand housing options and find financial and legal assistance
Reach the Senior LinkAge Line at 800-333-2433 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m, or request support online at sllreferral.
Juniper
Juniper creates a culture of health and well-being in our communities
Through a network of community organizations and healthcare providers and in partnership with Minnesota’s AAAs, Juniper provides evidence-based health promotion classes across Minnesota. Classes help people take charge of their health and stay active and well.
ACT on Alzheimer’s
A statewide collaborative supporting locally based Action Communities
- Equipping communities to be “dementia capable” to support residents who are touched by Alzheimer’s disease.
- Sustaining caregivers by offering them information, resources and in-person support.
- Raising awareness and reducing stigma by engaging communities.
- Increasing detection of Alzheimer’s disease and improving ongoing care and support.
- Identifying and investing in promising approaches that reduce costs and improve care.
Dementia Friends Minnesota, an ACT on Alzheimer’s initiative, trains Dementia Champions to present one-hour information sessions in communities across Minnesota. The sessions help community members become dementia aware and build dementia-capable communities.
The Remember Project
Using theatre to spark more dementia-capable communities in partnership with Minnesota’s AAAs.
Minnesota Northstar GWEP
This University of Minnesota project is working to ensure age-friendly health care across Minnesota. The statewide project is partnering with m4a to reach all 87 counties and the Chippewa Tribe in Minnesota.
Minnesota Gerontological Society
Fostering an interdisciplinarian approach to aging
MGS bridges the work of academics, researchers, regulators and practitioners in the field of aging. m4a is an organization sponsor of MGS’s monthly webinars which provide timely and engaging discussions on key issues of aging.
Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging
Addressing systemic change
We are stronger together and Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging engages Minnesota’s leading organizations to create a new experience of aging in our state. Dawn Simonson, executive director, Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging, represents m4a on the council and currently serves as the group’s chair.