The Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging, including the Minnesota Senior Federation, reached common ground on addressing the major issue of home and community-based services for the aging population at its first annual Aging Policy Exchange. More than 300 leaders and staff from 13 participating members of the Council packed the International Institute in St. Paul to highlight the broader issues affecting senior care in Minnesota.

Conference moderator, former U.S. Rep Tim Penny, summarized the content: "There are some areas of broad agreement - need to better integrate health care, prepare for the boomers and find ways to support caregivers." Specifically conference speakers stressed the need for a tax credit for caregivers, a consistent method of care coordination, and the need for a concrete plan that takes each level of the aging process into account.

For its part, the Minnesota Senior Federation was credited with co-founding the Council in 2003 under the leadership of Peter Wyckoff. "The Federation has been a leader in care-giving issues since its inception," remarked Wyckoff. "I look forward to the first edition of the Federation Care Givers Guide in 2007."

Thirteen leading nonprofit organizations that help older adults live independently at home formed the Council. The Council is an informal collaborative and governs itself through an initial organizing structure. Current members are: Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, DARTS, Elderberry Institute/Living at Home Block Nurse Programs, ElderCare Rights Alliance, Hospice Minnesota, Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota, Metropolitan Senior Federation, Minnesota Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Minnesota Health and Housing Alliance, Minnesota Home Care Association, Minnesota Senior Federation, Senior Community Services and Volunteers of America of Minnesota. For more information, visit www.mnlcoa.org/index.html.