Ideas at work

Find initiatives and collaborations working on aging issues and learn about effective strategies for action.

INITIATIVES AND COLLABORATIONS

AARP Blue Zones Vitality Project
Sponsored by United Health Foundation, this project is tracking health and longevity in Albert Lea, Minnesota, where a whole town is discovering simple practices that can result in longer, better, and happier lives. These are the practices that have increased longevity in the places around the world called Blue Zones.

Aging Services of Minnesota
Minnesota's largest association of aging services organizations. Nationally recognized for expertise in aging services issues related to long term care, senior housing and supportive services.

Carver County Senior Service
Services may include nurse visits, homemaking, home delivered meals, respite care, adult day programs, home health aides and much more

Communities For A Lifetime
Transform 2010 is a project to prepare Minnesota for the coming age wave of baby boomers. It is a partnership between the Department of Human Services and the Minnesota Board on Aging, the Department of Health and other state agencies.

Dakota County
Living Longer and Stronger in Dakota County is an initiative to create a network of accessible communities that provide opportunities for older adults to maintain active and vital lifestyles.

DARTS
Dial-a-ride service for Dakota County residents; door-through-door rides for older adults and adults with disabilities using professional, courteous, and trained drivers in specially equipped vehicles within the Dakota County service area.

Department of Human Services Continuing Care Intiatives
The DHS’ Continuing Care Administration is currently implementing a number of legislatively-mandated initiatives that will impact services and programs for older adults.

Ecumen
An innovative leader of senior housing and services whose mission is to create home for older adults wherever they choose to live.

Imagine Bloomington 2025 Strategic Initiatives
Includes an affordable housing strategy for older adults with a wider range of choices.

Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging Senior LinkAge Line
Provides information on services available for seniors and their caregivers. The following links provide information on different topics.

Mill City Commons
A nonprofit organization created to help Riverfront residents "age in place."

Vital Aging Network
Helps older adults be self-sufficient, live fulfilling and meaningful lives, and contribute to vital communities.

Wilder Foundation successful aging programs
Home Health and Supportive Services provide health monitoring, medication assistance, rehabilitation and other health care and supportive services that help Saint Paul’s older adults remain at home and as independent as possible.

Research-based strategies

Listed below are proven, effective strategies linked to reports that provide data and information about how the strategies were implemented.

Attention to nutrition and diet (2)
- New vision of aging: Helping older adults make healthier choices
  Center for the Advancement of Health, March 2006, 49 pp.
  Provides a review of why prevention is important for older adults, interventions that work, and recommendations for federal action. Key topics include self-management, physical activity, falls prevention, and dietary habits.
- Elderly nutrition: Special issue of the Family Economics and Nutrition Review
  Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, January 2003, 15 pp.
  This special journal issue includes results of two nutrition progams for older adults: "The influence of the Healthy Eating for Life Program on eating behaviors of nonmetropolitan congregate meal participants" (p. 15) and "A statewide educational intervention to improve older Americans' nutrition and physical activity" (p. 47).
Caregiver training and support (1)
- Dementia caregiver intervention research: In search of clinical significance
  The Gerontological Society of America, October 2002, 13 pp.
  Reviews dementia caregiving interventions and their outcomes.
Civic and social engagement (2)
- The health benefits of volunteering: A review of recent research
  Corporation for National & Community Service, April 2007, 20 pp.
  Studies showing that volunteering leads to improved physical and mental health.
- Keeping Baby Boomers volunteering: A research brief on volunteer retention and turnover
  Corporation for National & Community Service, March 2007, 24 pp.
  Uses data on Baby Boomer volunteer habits to come up with recommendations on how nonprofits can better retain older adults as volunteers.
Education in chronic disease self-management (6)
- Healthy Ideas: Replication report
  Care for Elders, August 2007, 30 pp.
  An evidence-based program designed to detect depression and reduce the severity of depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults.
- Harvest Health: Replication report
  National Council on Aging, May 2007, 28 pp.
  Program for people with chronic conditions that empowers them to assume an active role in their own healthcare, enhance their daily functioning, and improve their quality of life. This is an adaptation of the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program for the African-American community.
- Healthy Changes replication report
  Elders in Action, April 2007, 27 pp.
  An educational and support program designed to assist older adults in the day-to-day self-management of diabetes.
- Partners on the PATH: Replication report
  Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan, December 2006, 31 pp.
  Program that helps older adults with chronic conditions gain more control of their health and increase their confidence in dealing with the challenges of living with a chronic disease.
- New vision of aging: Helping older adults make healthier choices
  Center for the Advancement of Health, March 2006, 49 pp.
  Provides a review of why prevention is important for older adults, interventions that work, and recommendations for federal action. Key topics include self-management, physical activity, falls prevention, and dietary habits.
- Chronic Disease Self-Managment Program
  Stanford School of Medicine, January 1996, 3 pp.
  Evidence-based program used in community settings to give people the skills to coordinate all the things needed to manage their health, as well as to help them keep active in their lives.
Education in falls prevention (2)
- A Matter of Balance: Replication report
  Partnership for Healthy Aging, December 2006, 28 pp.
  The Matter of Balance program is designed to reduce an older adult's fear of falling while increasing activity levels among community-dwelling older adults.
- New vision of aging: Helping older adults make healthier choices
  Center for the Advancement of Health, March 2006, 49 pp.
  Provides a review of why prevention is important for older adults, interventions that work, and recommendations for federal action. Key topics include self-management, physical activity, falls prevention, and dietary habits.
Independent living (1)
- Livable communities: An Evaluation guide
  AARP, January 2005, 162 pp.
  Guide to help community members assess the capacity of their community to meet the needs of older adults. Provides guidance on conducting a community survey to measure community livability, includes innovative ideas and success stories from communities throughout the U.S., and suggests additional resources. Topics include transportation, safety, housing, health services, and more.
Medication management (1)
- Medication Management Improvement System: Replication report
  Partners in Care Foundation, July 2007, 34 pp.
  A collaborative approach to indentifying, assessing, and resolving medication problems in community-dwelling older adults.
Regular physical activity (7)
- Active Start: Replication report
  Los Angeles City Department of Aging, The OASIS Institute, February 2009, 38 pp.
  Evidence-based program that addresses the barriers sedentary individuals face when they initiate regular physical activity.
- Evaluation of the AARP Red Hat Society Step and Stride with Ruby: A year-long walking program
  AARP, July 2008, 91 pp.
  Evaluation of a year-long walking program that supports the notion that a program with intact social groups can increase the likelihood of individuals remaining in an exercise program over an extended period of time.
- Healthy moves: Replication report
  Partners in Care Foundation, September 2007, 26 pp.
  Exercise program to encourage frail, low-income, and diverse older adults to adopt a more active lifestyle.
- Enhance Fitness: Replication report
  Senior Services, University of Washington Health Promotion Research Center, December 2006, 22 pp.
  A multi-component group exercise program designed for community-based organizations and intended to promote physical activity among older adults.
- Activity Centers for Seniors: Replication report
  Neighborhood Centers Inc., December 2006, 21 pp.
  Physical activity program for participants at a senior center.
- Living longer: Exercise
  AARP, September 2006, 4 pp.
  Reviews evidence showing the importance of regular exercise.
- New vision of aging: Helping older adults make healthier choices
  Center for the Advancement of Health, March 2006, 49 pp.
  Provides a review of why prevention is important for older adults, interventions that work, and recommendations for federal action. Key topics include self-management, physical activity, falls prevention, and dietary habits.

great ideas

Meals on Wheels is successfully serving our aging population.

Twin Cities region:

This one-minute video shows how Meals on Wheels is expanding their capacity to meet the growing needs of the Twin Cities's region.

Outstate:

Photo by Jennifer Vogel Minnesota Public Radio NewsQ.org

Todd County in central Minnesota finds Meals on Wheels is saving the county thousands of dollars each year.

Ground Level, a Minnesota Public Radio project, reports on how this rural and economically stressed community is prepared to handle the aging boom, and also explores the local economy, immigration and more.

todd county >

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Do you work on aging issues? Send us a link to a short (3-minute or less) video demonstrating how your organization is helping to meet the needs of our growing population.

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