People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) may have an increased risk of developing dementia and often develop it at an earlier age. As longevity has increased in this population, so have incidences of dementia. Resources and supports for individuals with IDD and dementia have not kept up. Armed with these facts, Maren Levad, Dementia […]
News & Ideas
Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund Offers Hope for Recovery
The 2025 Minnesota Legislature passed, and the governor signed, legislation to create a Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund. The fund will make it easier for Minnesotans who have been victims of scams or fraud to recover their losses. Under the law, up to $5 million will be available each year to compensate fraud victims. The fund […]
WRAPS Resources Meets Critical Needs of Vulnerable Adults
What happens if vulnerable adults have access to services addressing urgent needs that impact their health and safety? Four Minnesota area agencies on aging and counties across Minnesota created the WRAPS Resources program to find out. Area agencies on aging partnered with county Adult Protective Services (APS) and the Minnesota Department of Human Services Adult […]
Medicare Open Enrollment Starts October 15
Medicare Open Enrollment is October 15 – December 7 every year. This is the time when people on Medicare can review their current Medicare health plan or Part D plan and compare it with other plans that are available. Any changes you make at this time will take effect on January 1, 2026. It is […]
How did older adults fare in the 2025 Minnesota Legislative Session?
The Minnesota Association of Area Agencies on Aging (m4a) and our coalition members were active at the Capitol this legislative session, advocating for the health and well-being of older adults. It was a challenging session, with both the House and Senate almost equally divided between the political parties and large deficits looming on the horizon. […]
New Report Reveals How Older Adults Experience Homelessness
Every three years, Wilder Research conducts a one-day statewide study to better understand homelessness in Minnesota. Wilder has released a series of issue briefs that explore aspects of the data collected. Their most recent brief, “Homelessness Among Adults Age 55+ in Minnesota” highlights a concerning increase in homelessness in older adults and what that means […]