The Minnesota Board on Aging and your community

In the years just ahead, many communities across the state will have higher proportions of older residents, and most seniors will want to remain in their homes and communities as they age. But to do so, their communities need to be Senior Friendly. This is more than just having services available, but it includes thinking about how both the needs of older residents are met, and how the resources contributed by older residents can be used to benefit the community.

The MBA promotes building community partnerships that provide information and access to services, affordable and efficient community services, and consumers choice in quality home and community-based options. The MBA is working with the Area Agencies on Aging, ElderCare Development Partnerships, and local communities to help communities take stock of their senior assets and to explore ways to increase volunteer-supported and other lower cost services. A set of tools for community resource development includes good examples of ways that communities can increase the "options" available to older persons and their families. Also included at the community resource development web site are funding opportunities through the Department of Human Services’ Community Service/Services Development Funds.

The MBA has worked closely with the Department of Human Services and the Legislature to prepare the state’s response to rebalancing long-term care services. In 2003 the MBA is committed to staying the course as reflected in the MBA Legislative Priorities 2003.

Information through Project 2030 laid the groundwork for identifying the impact of an aging population in communities and is useful as a resource of background information.