Helping older Minnesotans maintain health, independence, and community involvement while living in their own homes and community is the focus of new state grants.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) will distribute almost $4 million in Live Well at Home grants this year. Funding will go to 42 organizations statewide.
“Our goal is to empower aging Minnesotans to stay in their homes longer,” said DHS Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “Being able to live well at home for as long as possible leads to better outcomes for both older Minnesotans and their communities.”
Frazee Neighbor to Neighbor will use $49,750 to provide services to Frazee, Vergas, and nearby townships for volunteer driver transportation, Meals on Wheels, senior socials, household, and handyperson services, and home modifications.
Northwoods Caregivers, Bemidji, will use $214,183 to expand home and community-based services and caregiver support for older adults and their families at Red Lake, White Earth, Leech Lake, and Bois Forte Reservations and elders in Lake of the Woods County.
Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota, Duluth, will use $96,203 to include attorneys on rural American Indian elders’ health care teams. The innovative medical-legal partnership brings expertise to address social factors affecting health and well-being.
White Earth Nation will use $349,939 to furnish and equip the reservation’s first housing development for American Indian elders experiencing homelessness, in three 12-unit village communities with supportive services.
CHUM, Duluth, will use $120,554 to provide homeless support services to residents of the St. Frances Apartments, for tenant deposit assistance, personal items, essential furniture, and household items.
Red Lake Reservation Housing Authority, Red Lake, will use $81,000 to provide assistance to American Indian elders who want to age in their own homes, helping 10 low to moderate-income homeowners make accessibility and health and safety-related modifications or home repairs.
Age Well Arrowhead, Duluth, will use $155,600 to expand access to volunteer-based transportation, care consultation, and other services for older adults living in underserved areas. Raising awareness of services is another goal.
Care Partners of Cook County, Grand Marais, will use $34,640 to provide care coordination and caregiver support for older adults and their caregivers, to keep older adults safely in their homes, reduce risk of health concerns, and improve transitions to more extensive services.
Lower Sioux Indian Community, Morton, will use $266,878 for Cansa’yapi Kan (Elders), a program that seeks to reinstate the Tribal role of elders as a strategy to transfer knowledge and promote healing and well-being. Expanded social, physical and intergenerational cultural strategies that lead to improved health, increased capacity to live at home and a strong age-friendly community will help community elders.
Wellspring Faith in Action, St. James, will use $45,000 to provide volunteer aid to Watonwan County elders, including in Butterfield, Madelia and St. James. Plans include adding bilingual outreach to the homemaker service to reach Latino community members.
Rice County Habitat for Humanity, Northfield, will use $50,000 for the Aging in Place program, including purchasing a van and tools to assist with home repair and safety improvement projects for Rice County elders.
Family Service Rochester will use $124,178 to extend Neighbors Helping Neighbors services to Rice County, to help raise awareness among BIPOC, rural, veteran and low-income older adults about services including homemaker, companion and respite, home modifications and repairs, and essential chore services.
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis will use$324,081 to help homeless, isolated, low-income older adults move into stable housing. Through intensive case management, the Homeless Elders Program offers access to supportive services and resources to enhance quality of life and preserve dignity and autonomy.
NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center, Minneapolis will use $222,457 to keep aging people healthy and functioning in their homes and communities. A team of community health workers, physicians and dietitians work with seniors, their families and caregivers to optimize health and support access to community services.
Korean Service Center, Minneapolis, will use $166,743 to help Korean older adults by providing transportation, bedside care, caregiver support services and translation assistance.
Senior Community Services, Minnetonka, will use $149,126 to provide essential community supports, including chore and homemaking services, to enable older adults to remain in their homes and connected to their communities within 30 of 45 cities in Hennepin County, including expansion into Champlin, Medicine Lake, Rockford and Rogers.
