Grants help elders stay in their homes

Over $9.5 million in new state grants will help aging Minnesotans stay in their homes longer through services such as caregiver support, housekeeping, retrofitting to prevent falls and other assistance.

Research shows that people are happier and have better health outcomes when they can live in their homes longer, rather than moving into institutionalized care such as nursing homes.

Projects funded in the Minnesota Department of Human Services include Volunteer Services of Carlton County with $192,000. The grant will help rebuild programs closed during the Covid-19 pandemic. Funds will go toward restoring assisted transportation, DayBreak group respite, caregiver counseling and education, chore services, and health and wellness programs back to their pre-pandemic status.

Age Well Arrowhead in Duluth received $160,000 to address disparities in access to home- and community -based services by expanding access to rural locations and closing service gaps. Services include homemaker, in-home respite care and transportation.