Sometimes a little practical assistance or support can make a world of difference in an older person's ability to maintain independence and enjoy life at home. Dedicated DARTS staff and volunteers can help with everything from household chores to care management advice to giving caregivers a needed break. When you're not sure what you need, we'll help you get started.

Service Coordination and Care Management

DARTS' service coordinators provide consultation and personalized service planning for older adults and their families and link you with DARTS programs and services. These professionals are also very knowledgeable about other community resources and can help you or your family connect with them.

Service coordinators can help you identify your strengths and challenges and find the best services for your situation. Think of the service coordinator as your personal advisor -- someone who will come to know you and then offer recommendations, service planning, and, if you wish, ongoing coordination and monitoring.

This type of assistance is often known as care management. Some people come to us for care management through Eldercare Partners. Eldercare Partners brings together the senior services expertise of four of the Twin Cities area's most respected nonprofit organizations, including DARTS, to offer comprehensive, personalized advice on senior options in the seven-county metro area.

Our sliding-scale fees vary according to the services provided, and are billed by DARTS on a monthly basis. For more information contact us at 651.455.1560 or send us an e-mail.

Information and Assistance

Do you have a question about aging or caregiving resources? Are you looking for help but not sure where to start? Would you like to know more about a DARTS service? Please call our Information and Assistance line at 651.455.1560. An information specialist is available to answer your questions Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and can arrange for a service coordinator to provide more in-depth or ongoing assistance if needed.

Homemaking

DARTS homemaking service will assist with many tasks, including:

• Laundry
• Dusting
• Vacuuming
• Light Meal Preparation
• Cleaning Closets

Do you or your loved one need help with other household tasks? Just tell us what you need!

Our trustworthy DARTS homemakers enjoy working with older adults. They are carefully screened, including background and reference checks, in the interview process. To best serve you, homemakers' schedules are flexible -- we can provide homemaking at your convenience for as little as one hour at a time.

The homemaking service is billed by DARTS on a semi-monthly basis and provided on a sliding-scale fee. For more information contact us at 651.455.1560 or send us an e-mail.

Visiting

For older adults who are lonely or isolated, DARTS volunteers offer companionship and support. The volunteer will visit your home and share in a hobby, play a game of cribbage, or just chat. Volunteer visitors work under the supervision of DARTS professional staff. There is a small annual administrative fee for the visiting service. For more information contact us at 651.455.1560 or send us an e-mail.

Shopping and Errands

Many older adults use the help of DARTS volunteers to shop for groceries and run general errands. A volunteer will take you to the store and assist you while shopping, or do the shopping for you and deliver the groceries to your home. Shopping volunteers work under the supervision of DARTS professional staff. Another handy option for shopping trips is to use the DARTS bus for door-through-door transportation.

The shopping service is provided on a sliding-scale fee. For more information contact us at 651.455.1560 or send us an e-mail.

Outdoor Chores and Handyperson Service

DARTS can perform seasonal outdoor chore services as well as some handyperson services around the house. These services are provided on a sliding-scale fee. For more information, contact us at 651.455.1560 or send us an e-mail.

Home Health Care

DARTS can help you find home health care and rehabilitative services in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. For more information, contact us at 651.455.1560 or send us an e-mail.