Trellis (formerly Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging) was established in 1973 as a program of the Metropolitan Council to offer services authorized by the federal Older Americans Act passed in 1965. The goal was to provide community-based social services for older adults to address their nutrition and social needs. 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. 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 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.
Trellis has grown in size from a handful of employees in its early years to 107 full-time employees at the end of 2021 with seven additional seasonal staff who provide support during Medicare Open Enrollment.
