Age-Friendly Maple Grove launches Community Survey
July 26, 2022 - AF MG launched its community survey today to learn what is important to residents as they think about growing older in Maple Grove. The survey is a big piece of AF MG's community needs assessment, which it is conducting this year to help inform creation of its next action plan.
The City of Maple Grove is a member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. This program's framework lays out a five-year process of continuous improvement organized into three major steps - planning, implementation, and evaluation. AF MG is beginning its second round of that cycle, and a community needs assessment is the first major activity.
The survey is for Maple Grove residents, is anonymous and confidential, and will be open through September. To take the survey, click here to find it online, pick up a paper copy at the Community Center, or call 763-494-6514 to have a survey mailed to you.
Hennepin County Commissioner & Age-Friendly Hennepin County visit Maple Grove
June 8, 2022 - Hennepin County Commissioner Kevin Anderson visited Maple Grove today to talk to residents and was joined by county staff to share information about long-term services and supports available through the county to help older residents age in the community. Age-Friendly Hennepin County also were on hand to talk about that initiative. The was held at the Maple Grove Community Center and was open to all residents. Click here to view a recording of the event.
State of MN joins the AARP age-friendly network
January 24, 2022 - The State of Minnesota this month became the tenth state in the U.S. to join the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. The City of Maple Grove joined the network in 2016, and there now are 14 member cities and counties--including Hennepin County--in the state. Minnesota's enrollment is an exciting step for the state, which has been ramping up its age-friendly work in recent years. Governor Tim Walz issued an executive order in December 2019 establishing the Governor's Council on an Age-Friendly Minnesota, and the first ever age-friendly legislation passed in June 2021--extending the Council for two more years, and providing funding for a new age-friendly communities grants program and the hiring of an age-friendly executive director.
Click here to learn more about what it means for Minnesota to join the network >>
AF MG presents housing recommendations to City Council
October 20, 2021 - The Age-Friendly Maple Grove housing team presented a set of recommendations to City Council on October 18. The recommendations were drawn from the Age-Friendly Maple Grove Housing Brief developed by the housing team earlier this year. The brief lays out recommendations in four categories: affordability; home design and accessibility; zoning and land use; and alternative models. A video recording of the meeting can be viewed here. (The AF MG presentation is at the beginning of the meeting.)
Age-Friendly Maple Grove releases findings from dementia grant
October 6, 2021 - AF MG has released findings from work it completed with support from a dementia grant from Trellis (formerly Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging). The project focused on the current role of faith communities in supporting people with dementia and their care partners. A community member survey was conducted in late spring, and over the summer, the grant team interviewed local churches and faith communities about what they observe and what supports they provide related to their members' experiences with dementia.
AF MG hopes to do more work related to supporting people with dementia and hopes to build off this project to help identify opportunities to do so. (Visit AF MG's Health and Wellness resource page for a helpful list of dementia and caregiving resources.)
New Age-Friendly MN video highlights need for new perspective
August 9, 2021 - Positively Aging is a new video that helps debunk myths about aging and highlights the important role of age-friendly communities. The seven-minute video was developed by the Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging and the Minnesota Board on Aging as part of Age-Friendly Minnesota.