The Center has participated in several national and regional grant initiatives since its inception. In 2001 we began creating a team model to support older adults and family caregivers through participation in the National Family Caregiver Support Project (US Administration on Aging). Evaluator Dr. Les Grant (U of MN) found statistically significant positive effects on: 1) objective burden, 2) subjective stress burden, and 3) positive effects of caregiving.
In 2005, the Center launched a CSSD “Partners in Care” project (State of Minnesota) that was comprised of a collaborative of 10 organizations coordinating efforts to support community-dwelling older persons. One hundred sixty-eight individuals enrolled in the program. As part of this work, we created, refined, and field-tested the Senior Self-Assessment© instrument and began development of the Internet-based resource tool. An independent evaluator conducted interviews with a subset of older participants. Consumers reported increased knowledge and use of services and higher condition awareness and prevention activities. Evaluation showed evidence of reduction in falls and improvement in knowledge of community services. Results from organizational interviews pointed to enhanced organizational capability and improved communication, as well as new coordination efforts between organizations.
In 2009 we tested a new application of the “Partners in Care” approach by connecting the model to a primary care clinic. Thirty-four geriatric patients enrolled and received our community “walking with” support. In addition these older adults participated in one of two evidence-based healthy aging and self-care management courses (“Chronic Disease Self-Management” course or “Matter of Balance” course).