Trellis

Helping people optimize well-being as they age.

Photo of five people standing together.

older woman in a crowd, listening intently.

Area Agency on Aging

Trellis is the designated area agency on aging for the Twin Cities metro area. This is a role authorized in the federal Older Americans Act and assigned by the Minnesota Board on Aging. In that role we:

  • Ensure that services and policies are tailored to local community needs and aspirations
  • Award federal Older Americans Act funding to organizations that provide home and community-based services to older adults and caregivers
  • Provide direct services to older adults and caregivers as part of the statewide Minnesota Aging Pathways

Older Americans Act funding

Trellis awards and manages Older Americans Act funding to support older adults in living healthy and connected lives. The funding provides services such as home-delivered and congregate-dining meals, caregiver support and respite care services, assisted transportation, health promotion, and chore and homemaker services.

Older Americans Act funding

Information and assistance

Trellis provides Minnesota Aging Pathways services in the Twin Cities metro area, in partnership with the Minnesota Board on Aging. Each year we have 100,000+ points of contact with older adults and caregivers — providing information and resources on Medicare, housing, transportation, financial services and other community supports.

Minnesota Aging Pathways
connection to resources

  • Explaining Medicare in easy-to-understand terms
  • Presenting unbiased information about Medicare plan options that best fit their needs
  • Assisting in finding resources to address a wide range of issues
  • Providing resources for caregivers
  • Helping explore housing options
  • Providing resources for financial and legal assistance

Community
outreach

Minnesota Aging Pathways outreach specialists and volunteers deliver education and presentations to community members in partnership with community organizations, employers and others throughout the seven-county metropolitan area. Volunteers contributed 3,634 hours in 2022, providing Medicare counseling on the phone and at in-person sites and doing community presentations.

Resource coordination

Minnesota Aging Pathways specialists help people dealing with complex health situations go home after a stay in a nursing facility or hospital—or to remain in their homes even when facing difficulties. Community living specialists meet in person or on the phone with older adults and caregivers. For those who qualify, specialists help:

  • Find services and resources to support living at home
  • Develop a person-centered plan
Make a referral

Preadmission screening

Anyone entering a Medicaid-certified nursing facility in Minnesota must receive a preadmission screening, according to state and federal laws. Minnesota Aging Pathways staff review screenings to ensure that nursing facility placement is appropriate. They refer individuals who may benefit from additional supports to county offices. Preadmission screening specialists also provide phone-based follow up to support independence in community settings.

Minnesota Aging and Disability Resources

Minnesota Aging and Disability Resources is the backbone of data for Minnesota Aging Pathways and Disability Hub. Minnesota Aging and Disability Resources lists social services from across the state of Minnesota and is a go-to resource for professionals and the general public. Trellis’ Data Management Team curates and manages the data for this Minnesota Board of Aging service.

Trellis is funded in part by the Minnesota Board on Aging under the Older Americans Act.