As people age, they often need assistance with health care decisions. Historically, family members have provided such assistance. It is not always clear who can and will be available to assist those aging alone or to serve as their health decision agents if they cannot speak for themselves. Without a plan or a supportive infrastructure, “solos” are at risk for lack of care, sub-optimal care, or care that goes against their wishes.

The Citizens League has recognized health care decision making by and for solos as an important public policy issue and a timely subject for study. To that end, in the fall of 2016, the Citizen League formed a partnership with the Minnesota Elder Justice Center to work on this issue. With financial support from a Bush Foundation Community Innovations grant, these Partners convened a 14-member, multi-disciplinary Task Force. They challenged the Task Force to discover, analyze, and make recommendations directed at the following overarching goal:

Stimulate the development of a supportive infrastructure to help solo adults, particularly older solo adults, successfully navigate health-related events and, therefore, be less likely to become vulnerable adults—with its accompanying loss of self-determination for the individual and high costs to society.

For purposes of this project, Task Force members employed the following working definition of solos: “Individuals who, by choice or circumstance, function without the support system traditionally provided by family.”

Over twelve-months, the group studied existing laws, policies, and practices. They also engaged in detailed discussions with individuals from legal, medical, social work, business, and volunteer sectors. In addition, Task Force members gathered information directly from solos through a series of personal interviews and two focus groups of solos from diverse communities.

In February 2019, the task force released it’s final report:

Any questions and feedback? Email [email protected] to learn more.

This project is made possible by the generous support from The Bush Foundation.

Meeting Materials & Minutes