Mapping a better future for Minnesota’s older adults

The Center for Aging Science and Care Innovation (CASCI) serves as a hub for 36 School of Nursing faculty and students dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of older adults. As a founding member of the National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence, the center offers expertise across diverse settings, including Minnesota communities. Here are two ways the center is currently making an impact.

Minnesota Bike and Go!

Professor Donna Bliss, PhD, RN, FGSA, WOCNF, FAAN, is leading an interdisciplinary team to remove one of the most common barriers to outdoor activity: the challenge of finding a restroom. Bliss and the team have created an interactive map that doesn’t just show locations, it crowdsources vital details for riders, such as:
• Cleanliness and open hours.
• Amenities such as handwashing and flushing toilets.
• Supplies like toilet paper availability.

The Multisector Blueprint for Aging

Minnesota’s Multisector Blueprint for Aging is a new initiative of the Minnesota Department of Human Services to ensure all older adults in Minnesota are included, valued and have equitable opportunities to thrive. Developed through collaboration with thousands of Minnesotans, including several CASCI members, the Blueprint guides efforts to make communities more age-inclusive across health, housing, transportation, social connection and financial security.

The current phase of the Blueprint involves developing implementation plans through Action Teams made up of individuals from across the state. Associate Professor Siobhan McMahon, PhD, MPH, GNP-BC, leads one of the teams of 40 multidisciplinary partners, including CASCI members Associate Professor Rozina Bhimani, PhD, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE, CRRN, FARN, and Postdoctoral Scholar Rebecca Watry, PhD, RN, PHN, to advance equitable opportunities in physical health, mental health and wellbeing. All are welcome to review the Blueprint and participate in any of the nine ongoing Action Teams.

Get involved

• Contribute data: Add a restroom to the Bike and Go! Map z.umn.edu/mnbikeandgo
• Join an Action Team and help implement the Minnesota Multisector Blueprint for Aging: mn.gov/dhs/age-friendly-mn/action-teams/