Special Projects
In addition to planning, development and coordination,
grants management, and information and assistance MAAA works with
community partners on initiatives related to special topics.
Learn about past
special projects.
Currently MAAA participates in the following special
projects:
Aging & Disability Resource Center
Jane Cunningham, Project Manager
Minnesotans face complicated decisions when seeking community based services that enhance personal choice and independence. The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) project, funded by the Minnesota Department of Human Services, is part of a statewide initiative to improve access by consumers, caregivers, and providers to needed information, options, and resources. MAAA is developing a network of Aging and Disability Resource Centers within trusted community organizations including senior centers, libraries, health clinics, faith communities, and community agencies, in which consumers and caregivers can access information about public and private community services in person, on the phone, or via www.MinnesotaHelp.Info – a comprehensive database combining service information and online, interactive consumer decision tools.
Initial project partners include Hennepin County, Carver County, Metropolitan Center for Independent Living, East Metro SAIL ElderCare Development Partnership, and the Elderberry Institute.
Alzheimer's Disease Demonstration Project
Leanna Smith, Contract/Grants Manager
Through a grant to the Payne Phalen Living At Home/Block Nurse
Program the metro Alzheimer’s demo project facilitates the adaptation of
the Chronic Care Networks for Alzheimer’s Disease (CNN-AD) tools and
referral processes in order to provide culturally acceptable support
services to Hmong and Latino elder with dementia and their families.
Communities for a Lifetime
Dawn Simonson,
Executive Director
MAAA is currently undergoing several initiatives to increase the
capacity of MAAA to assist municipalities in planning for the
demographic trends. Over the next several months MAAA will be learning
more about planning at the local level within the context of shifting
demographics. MAAA will synthesize information obtained into a report
and will make it available to municipalities. This synthesis will
outline current planning initiatives at the local level including
examples of planning that incorporated a livable community for all ages
component.
Dementia Identification Project
Judy Cline, Project Manager
The detection, diagnosis, and treatment of dementia has tremendous
potential to help persons with dementia and their families use
community-based support services to improve quality of life and sustain
their life-style choices. The Dementia Identification Project funded by
the Minnesota Department of Human Services teaches health-care
professionals how to screen for early signs and symptoms of dementia
when completing health care assessments;
Instructs health-care professionals to refer persons and their family
members to their primary care physician for further testing for a
possible dementia or health issue that may appear to be a dementia and
for follow-up treatment; Provides information and referral resources for
persons with dementia and their family members to learn how to access
education and support services to address health, legal, financial,
social and care management topics; and
Supports the coordination of dementia care services
among providers, evaluates project effectiveness and disseminates best
practices to health care providers, county and aging network staff.
Download
an article on caregiving and Alzheimer's Disease.
Living the Questions...As Minnesota Ages
Dawn Simonson,
Executive Director
Communities, individuals and organizations are asking for ways to act
smart and strategically regarding the aging of the baby boom generation
and its impact on communities. They recognize the need for community
planning, to find doable strategies that meet the demands to be placed
on the services sector and new ways to anticipate and address the
financial implications for individuals.
Making The Link
Leanna Smith, Contract/Grants Manager
Emily Farah-Miller,
Project Consultant
In the Metro
area, Making The Link, a nationally campaign developed sponsored by the
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging is designed to increase
the number of caregivers referred by healthcare professionals (clinics)
to the Senior LinkAge LineŽ, resulting in increased referrals to
caregiver service providers. Metro area caregiver providers work with
health care providers to inform professionals about caregiver services
and the benefit of intervention. Minnesota Falls
Prevention Initiative
Emily Farah-Miller,
Project Consultant
The Minnesota Falls Prevention Initiative, led by the MN Board on Aging
in partnership with the MN Department of Human Services, MN Department
of Health and numerous public and private organizations seeks to
increase awareness of the prevalence and risk factors for falls;
increase the availability and access of evidenced-based falls prevention
interventions statewide; and enhance quality assurance efforts related
to falls prevention. MAAA is assisting in the identification and
distribution of consumer and professional education materials related to
falls prevention. Partners in Care
Pam
Zimmerman, Project Manager
The Partners in Care Project is a partnership of neighborhood and
faith-based organizations as well as health and service providers. These
local organizations are working together to demonstrate how faith-based
and community organizations can join with seniors and families to meet
common goals and to improve knowledge about health and healthy living
styles, manage chronic disease and illness, and learn about community
resources. The Normandale Center for Healing and Wholeness is the
project lead, and MAAA is a project partner. Sustaining Minority Elders in Their Communities
Karla Melvin,
Project Manager
The Sustaining Minority Elders in Their Communities
project is helping four organizations from ethnic communities undergo a
business planning process to develop new, sustainable eldercare services
through technical assistance, training and coaching. An additional 3-5
organizations will participate in training and receive technical
assistance to increase management capacity to develop new services for
their communities in the future.
The project is supported by the Bush, Saint Paul, Mardag
and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota foundations, and Older Americans Act program development and coordination funds.
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