Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging (doing business as “Trellis”) was established in 1973 as a program of the Metropolitan Council to respond to the federal Older Americans Act passed in 1965. The purpose was to provide community social services for older persons, specifically to address the nutrition and social needs of older adults. Trellis became an independent nonprofit in 1994.
Trellis is designated the Area Agency on Aging for the seven-county Twin Cities area by the Minnesota Board on Aging. In that role, Trellis provides Senior LinkAge Line® services in the metro area. The Board on Aging developed the Senior LinkAge Line in 1994 to provide older adults and caregivers with better access to resources and services. In 2000, the federal National Family Caregiver Support Program made it possible for Trellis to expand support for caregivers, adding services such as support groups, respite care and family consultations.
Throughout our history, Trellis has fostered systems change, providing leadership for the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging and projects such as Early Dementia ID and Supporting Seniors Across Systems. During the second decade of the 2000s, we have worked to build inclusive networks and connections to support an integrated approach to aging. This focus can be seen in ACT on Alzheimer’s®, Juniper® and the Volunteer Drivers Coalition among other initiatives.
MAAA has grown in size from a handful of employees in its early years to 101 full-time employees at the end of 2020 and additional seasonal staff who provide support for Medicare Open Enrollment.