Resource Center

People with communication disabilities often find it hard to get the information and communication supports they need to fully access health services and programs. This can lead to less-than-ideal outcomes for everyone involved. As a health professional, learn how you can support effective communication access to promote equitable care and better health. ACCESS is a framework of six core principles to help lessen communication barriers. Always check your patient's communication needs before starting care using the ACCESS tool.

Starting in 2023, the Age-Friendly Minnesota Council asked the MN Leadership Council on Aging to create and maintain this website to promote events, resources, news and stories from Age-Friendly Minnesota technical assistance providers and community grantees.

Source: MN Leadership Council on Aging,2023.
https://www.agefriendlymn.org/

Use these ACT on Alzheimer's® provider practice tools and resources to support patients and clients who have memory concerns and their care partners. These best practice tools incorporate the expertise of clinical and community-based service providers.

Source: ACT on Alzheimer's.
https://actonalz.org/

The Public Health Center of Excellence on Dementia Caregiving (PHCOE-DC) is a collaboration between the CDC and the University of Minnesota to support state, tribal and local public health agencies nationwide in implementing actions that protect the wellbeing and meet the needs of family members, friends, partners, and other unpaid caregivers of people with dementia, in line with CDC’s Healthy Brain Initiative State and Local Public Health Partnership to Address Dementia: The 2018-2023 Road Map.

The resources provided on this website can e used to strengthen and spread awareness of Alzheimer's disease and dementia in your community. Each resource is practical and useful alone or combined with others, depending on the needs of various community members. Content was adapted from the community guide developed by Rochester ACT on Alzheimer's.

Every sector in a community plays a role in making it dementia friendly. ACT on Alzheimer's provides guides that help make it easy to know how to fulfill your role. Guide topics include: Businesses; Dental Care; Faith Communities; Health Care; Legal and Financial Planning; Libraries; Local Engagement and Services; Residential Settings; and Driving and Transportation.

Source: ACT on Alzheimer's.
https://actonalz.org/

This training is available by request and provides a free 60 or 90 minute educational session for staff working in health and dental care settings. The training is conducted by volunteers who are trained by ACT on Alzheimer's to lead the sessions. The training helps healthcare workers understand dementia and learn how to create an environment that is safe, respectful and welcoming for people living with dementia. A more in-depth, 6 hour training is also available for clinical staff.

This webpage provides Minnesota Resources available for: African Americans; Hispanic/Latinos; Asian/Hmongs; Asian/Vietnamese & Chinese; and Somalis. Additional Resources are also available for individuals and families regarding dementia and caregiving in different languages.

Source: ACT on Alzheimer's.
https://actonalz.org/

Communities around Minnesota have used the Dementia Friendly Communities Toolkit and other ACT on Alzheimer's tools to create a supportive environment for people living with Alzheimer's and their families.

The communities noted on the map and named on this website currently have or have in the past, had dementia friendly initiatives. The map of the state is available for download.

Source: ACT on Alzheimer's.
https://actonalz.org/

This website provides information on the Alzheimer's Association's work to address Alzheimer's as a public health crisis includes guidance and tools for public health departments, the Public Health Center of Excellence in Dementia Risk Reduction, tools and resources for health systems, and the Interdisciplinary Summer Research Institute for researchers. Also included is information on the Healthy Brain Initiative, the Dementia Risk Reduction Summit, health systems change, and early warning signs.