The Eldercare Development Partnership (EDP) program was adopted by Minnesota in 1990 to prepare the state’s long term care system to help manage the needs of a growing older population.
The SEMAAA EDP team provides technical assistance to agencies and community partners who are seeking funding to support services for older adults and caregivers, including funding opportunities from Minnesota Department of Human Services and Minnesota Board on Aging.
SEMAAA’s EDP staff work directly with community members and service providers to connect identified needs with appropriate resources, partnerships, and funding opportunities. Our goal is to help communities develop practical and sustainable services that allow older adults and caregivers to access the support they need to remain connected to their communities. These efforts can help prevent or delay the need for costly institutional placements to an assisted living or skilled nursing facility.
SEMAAA’s EDP team provides technical assistance to organizations and communities
serving older adults and their caregivers.
This includes:
- Identify funding sources such as the MBA Dementia & Live Well at Home Grant.
- Share networking opportunities to connect providers, organizations, and community partners.
- Explore collaborations that strengthen local resources and services.
- Develop innovative solutions to address service gaps and emerging needs.
- Support Age Friendly and Dementia Friendly initiatives that promote inclusive and supportive communities.
- Create and expand fall prevention initiatives that help older adults maintain safety, independence, and quality of life.
- Strengthen service coordination to improve connections among older adults, caregivers, providers, and community resources.
We actively collaborate with local community members, Older American Act Title III Grantees, and Live Well at Home Grantees across our eleven-county service area to address existing gaps and support regional development.
SEMAAA’s EDP team is currently focusing on the following initiatives:
Fall Prevention
SEMAAA EDP staff support community fall-prevention coalitions and lift-assist programs that help reduce fall risks and connect older adults with timely resources after a fall. In Olmsted County, this work brings together the fire department, county public health and social services, health care providers, and aging service organizations to identify local needs and develop coordinated strategies.
- Building on the Olmsted County model, we worked with two additional fire departments to replicate the approach in partnership with their local county and MN Aging Pathways.
- EDP staff are currently working with four more departments interested in creating similar systems in their communities.
Transportation
EDP staff work with agencies and community partners to reduce transportation barriers and improve mobility, independence, and community access for older adults.
- Community coordination: Increase awareness of available transportation options and strengthen connections among agencies, providers, and local partners.
- Access strategies: Recruit and support volunteers, plan rider education, and explore technology-based options such as Lyft in Northfield.
Homemaker and Chore Services
SEMAAA’s EDP team supports the development and expansion of services that help older adults manage household tasks and remain safe, supported, and independent at home.
- Service development: Work with local partners to identify needs, build capacity, and expand practical in-home supports.
- Local focus: Support efforts in Freeborn County, where homemaker and chore services were previously unavailable.
Home Safety, Modification, and Handyman Services
EDP staff work with area Habitat for Humanity organizations, and other community partners to explore home modifications and handyman services that address safety concerns, reduce fall risks, and help older adults remain safely in their homes.
- Safety improvements: Projects may include grab bars, handrails, improved lighting, accessibility modifications, and other changes that support independence at home.
- Program development: Goodhue County Habitat for Humanity received a Live Well at Home grant to begin developing a Housing Plus model.
Dementia and Brain Health Education
SEMAAA EDP staff partner with the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center to expand access to dementia awareness, brain health education, risk-reduction information, and support resources.
- Education focus: Share practical information that helps communities understand dementia, brain health, prevention and risk reduction, and available support resources.
- Community reach: Strengthen education and resource connections in rural communities across the region.
Age-Friendly and Dementia-Friendly Communities
The EDP staff support communities in developing inclusive environments, services, and resources that respond to the needs of older adults and caregivers.
- Community planning: Help local leaders identify priorities, strengthen services, and create more accessible, responsive community systems.
- Current communities: Fillmore County, Olmsted County, Freeborn County, Pine Island, Oronoco Area, Houston County, Wabasha/Kellogg, and Northfield.
The SEMAAA EDP team is available to provide information and technical assistance, and support as communities explore opportunities to strengthen services for older adults and caregivers.
For more information, please contact:
Dan Conway at dan@semaaa.org or Chris Johnson at chrisj@semaaa.org.
