August 2014
Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging E-News

Keeping you up to date on our work with you and the community
  
Partnerships & Initiatives

MAAA provides technical assistance to ACT on Alzheimer's communities  

   

Minnesota communities ACTing on Alzheimer's grew in July when 13 new communities received seed grants to advance their work toward becoming dementia friendly. There are now 32 communities statewide, including geographic-based, faith, and shared ethnic and cultural interests. All communities have technical assistance partners in their regional Area Agency on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association.

MAAA currently assists 10 Twin Cities area ACT on Alzheimer's communities with technical support that includes:

  • Agenda planning, meeting facilitation, and process development
  • Participation in a kick-off meeting or event
  • Support in analyzing survey data and prioritizing goals
  • Help in developing an action plan and selecting progress measures
  • Identify resources to support the action plan

As one community's action team noted, "MAAA's understanding of key players and stakeholders is so important as we work with all parts of our community." To learn more about technical assistance with ACT on Alzheimer's, contact Kate Houston, Leanna Smith, or Nan Just.

Program Development

Return to Community program focuses on person-centered independent living goals 

 

Taking a person-centered community support approach in meeting an older adult's independence goals is the foundation of the Return to Community (RTC) initiative, a state-funded program of the Senior LinkAge Line�.  RTC has two main goals:

  • Facilitate community transitions of private-pay residents who would not otherwise leave the nursing home; and
  • Help them remain in the community.

The program focuses on eligible residents early into their nursing home stay, defined by the State as beginning at 45 days. Known barriers to leaving a nursing home include a decline in health (36%), personal choice (28%), and family refusal (9%). Some of these barriers can be overcome through a face-to-face visit and assessment by a Community Living Specialist (social work and nursing professionals) and development of a community support plan that focuses on a resident's independent living goals.

 

Of the 1,159 residents returning home after discharge from Minnesota nursing homes between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2014, 78% received needed support services when assisted by a Community Living Specialist compared with 59% who left facilities without services. Because these older adults can continue to live in the community and avoid re-institutionalization, an added benefit is reduced health and long-term care costs.

 

The metro RTC team at MAAA expanded this spring and now includes six Community Living Specialists, an administrative support specialist, and a supervisor. To learn more about RTC, contact Diane Barr.

Aging Policies & Practices

Takeaways from 2014 legislative session   

 

The legislative session ended with some modest investments in services for older adults by way of rate and grant increases.

  • As of July 1, a 5% reimbursement rate increase was implemented for grant-funded home and community-based (HCBS) service providers of waiver and aging services for older adults and persons with disabilities
    • For waiver providers, 80% of the increase goes toward worker pay/benefits; 20% toward a quality improvement project
    • For providers funded through the aging grants program, requirements vary
  • Minnesota's fiscal year 2015 will include a one-time appropriation of $250,000 for congregate dining

Other 2014 legislative results, including provisions for family caregivers in the Women's Economic Security Act, can be found at http://www.mnwesa.org/the-legislation. Contact Bob Anderson for details on potential impact from the 2014 session and future considerations.

Knowledge & Resource Linkages

Outreach team grows...as does MAAA office space  

 

The Outreach staff team at MAAA fosters successful aging in communities by educating about services available to older adults and caregivers and doing presentations for providers and consumers on such topics as caregiving, community living support options, health care directives, and Medicare. Recently, Diane Barr, RN, BAN, joined MAAA as the Care Transitions & Outreach Supervisor. Two other new, yet familiar, faces to the Outreach team are Chee Moua and Emily Strand, MSW, LSW. Chee and Emily previously interned at MAAA.


The team is strategizing options for extending their reach, including:

  • Collaborating with local, neighborhood-based organizations and councils
  • Engaging low-income, diverse, and underserved populations
  • Strengthening connections with current partners

 

The Outreach team works closely with MAAA's volunteer coordinator and some 80 volunteers, assisting with Senior Surf Days and coordinating community outreach events. To learn more or schedule an educational presentation, contact  Emily Strand, Chee Moua, or Marilyn Theesfeld.

 

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In early June, MAAA opened a second office in Maplewood to house the agency's Data Management, Return to Community, and Outreach staff. Staff additions in the past year maxed out space options in the main office. Answers to some common questions follow.

 

How should I refer to the office locations?

MAAA's building on McKnight Road is called MAAA North St. Paul. The new Maplewood office (2966 White Bear Ave., Maplewood, MN 55109) is called MAAA Maplewood. 

Where do I send mail?

Send all mail to:

Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging

2365 N. McKnight Road

North St. Paul, MN 55109

Mail is routed internally between the two offices.

 

We attend meetings at MAAA. Where will they be held?

Meetings convened by MAAA that include community providers and partners will generally be held at the North St. Paul location.

 

Is adding a second office a permanent change?

There is a two-year lease on the MAAA Maplewood office.

Our Perspective on Changing Aging...

 

Recently, it's been my privilege to participate in energizing conversations about post-acute care on behalf of MAAA and other community-based organizations. The core opportunity present in these discussions is to propose a philosophy of care that bridges formal hospital and skilled nursing settings with an older adult's community home. My point of view is that post-acute care must be comprehensive and address the psycho-social community supports that aid recovery and help older adults and their family caregivers attain optimal quality of life at home.

 

One post-acute care forum is convened by Stratis Health and Aging Services of Minnesota and includes stakeholders representing long-term care, health care, health plans, Department of Human Services, and others. The emerging future this group envisions is based on developing a set of community standards that includes enhanced collaborative care planning and delivery, improved communication aimed at reducing patient burden, recognition and support of family caregivers, and conversations about end-of-life decisions.

 

In addition, I represented Minnesota's Area Agencies on Aging and local aging services organizations as a panelist for Minnesota Physician Publishing's Health Care Roundtable in April 2014. Other panelists represented HealthEast, Preferred One, Aging Services of Minnesota, Board on Aging, and Presbyterian Homes and Services.   Go to http://www.mppub.com/01Images/RT0414.pdf 

to read proceedings of the roundtable.  

 

 

I'd welcome your perspectives about post-acute care. E-mail me at [email protected].

 

Dawn Simonson's Signature

Dawn Simonson

Executive Director

 

  

Annual Community Meeting  

August 20, 2014
1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.   

Ramsey County Library
2180 North Hamline Avenue
Roseville, MN  55113

 

RSVPs appreciated 

by Friday, August 15 to 

[email protected] or 651-641-8612.

 

   

Link with MAAA

 

651.641.8612

  


 

Mission


Assist individuals to age successfully and develop the capacity of communities to care for an aging population.

 


 

Vision

 

Individuals age with dignity in their communities where they are valued and engaged.

 

 

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