Senior-Serving Organizations Will Select and Test Rural Care Innovations in New Community Cohort
Applications open through Jan. 9 for AscendRural Senior Care Community Cohort
STAPLES, MINN, December 10, 2025 – AscendRural announces the launch of the AscendRural Senior Care Community Cohort, a new innovation program for senior care entities in central Minnesota and other rural communities across the country. Community collaborators will forge connections with other cohort members, build capacity to test new solutions, and receive support in implementing and tracking those solutions.
Cohort members will also have a chance to test new technology solutions in an upcoming pilot, serving as a guiding voice to shape the solutions for the rural-specific senior care challenges they face. The pilot will have three main areas of focus:
Care systems and workforce capacity
Social connection and engagement
Daily living, safety, and aging at home
“Innovation can transform lives for the better, and AscendRural is making sure those benefits extend to the 46 million Americans who live in rural areas — and are often excluded from pilot opportunities,” said Melissa Kjolsing, Managing Director of AscendRural. “Nearly 20 percent of rural residents are over age 65, and compared to seniors in urban areas, they experience higher rates of chronic illness, disability, isolation, and premature mortality. With this community cohort, our rural senior care providers will get a rare chance to apply rural-focused innovations to these challenges.”
The AscendRural Senior Care Community Cohort is seeking rural organizations in its central Minnesota service area, as well as nationally, who work in senior care to apply. Cohort members will receive:
A pathway to participate in real, funded pilots with vetted technologies
A meaningful voice in shaping the direction of national technology sourcing
Early ownership and influence over the solutions brought to their region and organization
Tools, templates, and frameworks designed specifically for innovation in rural contexts
A peer network of organizations facing similar challenges and opportunities
Actionable insights that can be applied immediately in their own programs and services
Senior care organizations are encouraged to apply for the cohort now through January 9, 2026. Final cohort selections will be announced January 21, 2026. Cohort members will also be able to attend the AscendRural 2026 Summit in late March in Minneapolis, where they will meet and learn about potential tech partners and pilot solutions for senior care.
To learn more or apply to the AscendRural Senior Care Innovation Accelerator program, please visit https://www.ascendrural.org/senior-care. For inquiries regarding the application process, please contact melissa.kjolsing@sourcewell-mn.gov.
About AscendRural
AscendRural is a technology-driven innovation hub dedicated to boosting well-being in rural America. Initiated by Sourcewell, it embodies their commitment to helping communities thrive. We bring together local leaders and the innovation community to fund and facilitate technology pilots in rural communities. Our goal is to address accessibility, availability, and affordability issues while accounting for what makes rural communities unique. For more, visit www.ascendrural.org.