|
News and Press
Releases
Current News
Press Releases
Current News
07.09.10
Senator Franken's Staff To Meet With Seniors
Across Minnesota
The Older Americans Act is set to be reauthorized
in 2011. Because Senator Franken serves on the
Senate’s Special Committee on Aging as well as the
Subcommittee on Retirement and Aging of the Senate
Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
(HELP), he will be actively involved in the
reauthorization.
Beginning July 12, Senator Franken’s staff will be
meeting with seniors across Minnesota to seek
input for the upcoming debate on the Older
Americans Act. His staff will hold meetings in 17
cities across Minnesota between July 12 and July
23. The locations and dates are listed below for
people who might be interested in attending.
Moorhead Meeting
10:00 a.m. CST, Monday, July 12
Eventide Senior Living Communities
1405 7th St. S, Moorhead
East Grand
Forks Meeting
1:30 p.m. CST, Monday, July 12
Good Samaritan Heritage Grove
2122 River Rd. NW, East Grand Forks
Roseau Meeting
10:30 a.m. CST, Tuesday, July 13
Four Seasons Senior Center
114 West Center St., Roseau
Warroad
Meeting
1:30 p.m. CST, Tuesday, July 13
Warroad Senior Living Center
1401 Lake St. NW, Warroad
Bemidji Meeting
10:00 a.m. CST, Wednesday, July 14
Bemidji Public Library
509 America Ave. Bemidji
St. Cloud
Meeting
10:00 a.m. CST, Thursday, July 15
Whitney Senior Center, Olson Room
1527 Northway Dr., St. Cloud
Willmar Meeting
2:00 p.m. CST, Thursday, July 15
Willmar Community Center, Sunshine Room
624 Hwy. 71 NE, Willmar
Alexandria Meeting
10:00 a.m. CST, Friday, July 16
Nelson Gables, Governor's Room
1220 Nokomis St., Alexandria
Brainerd Meeting
2:00 p.m. CST, Friday, July 16
Lakes Area Senior Center
803 Kingwood St., Brainerd
Winona Meeting
10:00 a.m. CST, Monday, July 19
Winona City Hall
207 Lafayette St., Winona
Austin Meeting
2:30 p.m. CST, Monday, July 19
Mower County Senior Center
403 3rd Ave. NE, Austin
Worthington Meeting
10:00 a.m. CST, Tuesday, July 20
Nobles County Government Center
315 10th St., Worthington
Marshall
Meeting
2:00 p.m. CST, Tuesday, July 20
Marshall City Hall
344 West Main St., Marshall
Duluth Meeting
10:00 a.m. CST, Thursday, July 22
St. Ann's Senior Living
300 East Third St., Duluth
Grand Rapids
Meeting
1:30 p.m. CST, Thursday, July 22
Bruce Bauer Senior Center
400 River Rd., Grand Rapids
Two Harbors
Meeting
9:30 a.m. CST, Friday, July 23
Two Harbors City Hall, Meeting Room
522 1st Ave., Two Harbors
North Branch
Meeting
1:00 p.m. CST, Friday, July 23
Chisago County Senior Center
38790 6th Ave., North Branch
06.08.10
Governor Appoints New MBA Board Members
Governor Pawlenty appointed Leonard Axelrod,
Norby Blake, Sylvia C. Garcia, Larry K. Houk, and
Jeanne Lukas to the board of the Minnesota Board
on Aging. The governor also announced the
reappointment of Susan E. Humphers-Ginther, Ph.D.,
Michael R. Klatt, and Mary Jane Thompson.
Read the governor's press release
05.21.10
May is Older Americans Month
For 47 years, our nation has set aside the
month of May to honor older Americans and
acknowledge their continued contributions to our
nation. The theme for this year is "Age Strong!
Live Long!" which recognizes the diversity and
vitality of today's older Americans and highlights
the importance of staying healthy throughout our
lives. They have lived through wars
and hard times, as well as periods of
unprecedented prosperity. They pioneered new
technologies in medicine, communications, and
industry while spearheading a cultural revolution
that won equal rights for minorities, women, and
disabled Americans.
These remarkable achievements
demonstrate the strength and character of older
Americans, and underscore the debt of gratitude we
owe to the generations that have given our society
so much. But the contributions of older Americans
are not only in the past.
Older Americans are
living longer and are more active than ever
before. And with the aging of the baby boomer
generation—the largest in our nation’s
history—America’s senior population is expected to
number 71.5 million by 2030.
While keeping the growing population of older
Americans healthy and active will increase the
demand for senior services, what is remarkable is
the extent to which older Americans themselves are
supporting each other. As the new generations of
seniors become better educated and more
financially secure than their predecessors, they
are spending more time making significant
contributions in their communities through civic
and volunteer opportunities.
In fact, older Americans are a
core component of service delivery to
seniors—embodying and modeling the drive to
Age Strong! Live
Long! They volunteer at
group meal sites and deliver food to homebound
seniors; they act as escorts and provide
transportation for older adults who cannot drive;
they help seniors with home repair, shopping and
errands; and they provide vital counseling,
information and referral services. Their energy
and commitment reminds all Americans—not just
senior citizens and their caregivers—to do their
part to enhance the quality of life for older
generations.
The annual commemoration of Older Americans
Month is our opportunity to recognize the
contributions of older citizens and join them in
providing services and support that empower the
elderly. Americans of all ages and backgrounds can
volunteer with programs that improve health
literacy, increase access to quality health
services, offer food and nutrition services,
provide financial and housing counseling, sponsor
social activities and community engagement, and
more. Contact the Senior LinkAge Line®,
1-800-333-2433, to find out what you can do to
strengthen services for older Americans, this
month and all year round.
Read Governor Pawlenty's proclamation (pdf)
Read President Obama's proclamation
05.19.10
Senior LinkAge Line® Volunteer Larry Rivers
Receives National Honor
Larry Rivers of Apple Valley may be retired, but
he still keeps a daily calendar.
He
golfs, plays tennis, enjoys the grandkids and
travels with his wife. He's president of his
condominium association. He works with people who
want to start up their own small businesses. One
of his most rewarding experiences has been helping
Minnesota senior citizens unravel the complexities
of the Medicare drug program.
"I
like to solve people's problems," Rivers said. "I
can help them by building a little strategy."
Rivers, 67, was honored in Washington, D.C., on
May 7 for his volunteer work through the Senior
LinkAge Line®. Rivers is among 26 people older
than 50 who received MetLife Foundation Older
Volunteers Enrich America awards.
When Rivers retired in 2004, he knew he wanted to
give back and help others. In 2005, he read about
a volunteer opening with the Senior LinkAge Line®
at the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging in
Minnesota. The Senior LinkAge Line® is the
federally designated State Health Insurance
Assistance Program (SHIP) and Senior Medicare
Patrol (SMP) for Minnesota. Volunteers trained by
the Senior LinkAge Line® provide objective,
comprehensive health insurance counseling
statewide. The posting for a "health insurance
counselor" in the Twin Cities area to provide SHIP
and SMP assistance, seemed a good match for
Rivers, who had worked in information technology
in the health care industry.
"It
all fit," Rivers said. "It was fortuitous."
Rivers applied for the position, was accepted and
received three days of training. He learned the
basics but knew the agency had other knowledgeable
staff — "real experts" — that could back him up.
Rivers began
working with clients at senior centers in
Burnsville, Prior Lake and Lakeville. He later
began training new volunteers and giving
presentations on Medicare. He also works with
low-income clients. In a typical month, Rivers
volunteers 15 to 20 hours with Senior LinkAge
Line®.
"I
enjoy it all," Rivers said. "When people come in,
they seem very confused and frustrated. I tell
them it's not tough, but they just have to get
down to the two or three choices that fit them."
Joy
Vliem, volunteer coordinator for the Metropolitan
Area Agency on Aging, said Rivers' warmth and
approachability helped him excel as a volunteer.
"He
comes across as without judgment," Vliem said.
"He's open and receptive. People feel very
comfortable working with him."
"Every client has a little different need with
Medicare," Rivers said.
When Rivers first retired, he figured he'd find
activities with two- to three-year time frames and
then move on to his next project. He said he
enjoys health care counseling so much that he's
stuck with it beyond his self-imposed deadline.
"If
you come up with a solution ... that's a good
feeling," he said. "Which lets me continue on."
The award winners in the eighth year of the
Metlife Foundation
Older Volunteers
Enrich America Award are recognized in
one of three categories:
-
Community Champion,
which honors those who use their time and talent
to make their community a better place to live;
-
Mentor, which
recognizes older volunteers who are devoted to
working with young people and their families;
and
-
Team Spirit, which
pays tribute to older volunteers who assist
older adults.
More on the award from n4a (National
Association of Area Agencies on Aging)
For more information about becoming a Senior
LinkAge Line® volunteer, call the Senior
LinkAge Line® at 1-800-333-2433. Volunteers are
needed in all 87 counties of Minnesota.
03.22.10
More Broadcasts of Love
of Car: Transportation As We Age
The tpt (Twin Cities Public Television)
production about the driving issue of older adults
and families. The documentary focuses on solutions
including:
How to determine if you are
a safe driver Strategies for driving
safer longer Finding and using alternate
transportation
Demonstrations of solutions,
expert interviews, and stories of urban and rural
seniors are included in the show.
Initial show times:
Friday, March 26, 8:00pm,
tpt-MN Friday, April 2, 8:00pm,
tpt-MN Friday, April 9, 8:00pm,
tpt-MN Friday, April 16, 8:00pm,
tpt-MN
Search tpt for
more dates/times
03.11.10
Respite Care Summit is March 12
A Minnesota Lifespan
Respite Care Summit will be held on Friday, March
12, 2010, at the Wilder Center, 451 Lexington
Parkway North, St. Paul. The day-long workshop
will be held to explore possibilities for
enhancing respite care services in Minnesota,
learn about the Federal Lifespan Respite Care Act
and develop a plan to prepare Minnesota to apply
for federal funding.
Workshop participants will include
home and community-based service providers, those
who are caregivers and those who provide respite
to caregivers. Special guest at the workshop will
be Jill Kagan, chair, ARCH National Respite
Network and Resources Center, Washington, D.C.
The workshop
is cosponsored by the Minnesota Board on Aging,
the Minnesota Department of Human Services –
Transform 2010, National Multiple Sclerosis
Society - Minnesota Chapter, and AARP. For more
information, contact Diane Mangan at 651-431-2590
or
diane.mangan@state.mn.us.
02.03.10
Minnesota Board on Aging Releasing Its First
Annual Health Care Choices for Minnesota
The Minnesota Board on Aging is releasing its
first annual Health Care Choices for Minnesota.
The Board stepped forward to continue publishing
this guide, which was initiated by the Minnesota
Senior Federation. The Federation ended its
operations last summer and approached the Board to
continue its publishing.
In its effort, the Board has significantly
expanded the information and is now including
quick tips and suggestions for readers on various
options that will allow people to remain
independent and in their homes by aging well and
living well in the
community. Questions and comments
about the publication should be forwarded to the
Senior LinkAge Line® by calling 1-800-333-2433.
2010
Health Care Choices (39mb) (pdf)
2010 Health Care Choices
by section
11.13.09
President Obama & Assistant Secretary for Aging
celebrate National Family Caregivers Month
The true strength of the American family finds its
roots in an unwavering commitment to care for one
another. In difficult times, Americans come
together to ensure our loved ones are comfortable
and safe. Whether caring for a parent, relative,
or child, our Nation's caregivers selflessly
devote their time and energy to the well-being of
those they look after. During National Family
Caregivers Month, we honor the individuals
providing essential services to family members who
could not otherwise look after themselves.
View President Obama's Proclamation for National
Family Caregivers Month
Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee:
Every day, in every state and community caregivers
assist friends, relatives, and loved ones with
daily tasks, including personal care and
homemaking as well as more complex health-related
interventions like medication administration and
wound care. These selfless, dedicated individuals
are the backbone of America’s long term care
system.
Read Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy
Greenlee's statement
11.05.09
Minnesota Board on Aging Partners to Present Love
of Car: Transportation As We Age
The tpt (Twin Cities Public Television)
production about the driving issue of older adults
and families. The documentary focuses on solutions
including:
How to determine if you are
a safe driver Strategies for driving
safer longer Finding and using alternate
transportation
Demonstrations of solutions,
expert interviews, and stories of urban and rural
seniors are included in the show.
Initial show times (see
www.tpt.org for
more times):
November 8, 8:00pm,
tpt-MN November 15, 12:00pm,
tpt-LIFE
08.24.09
Alzheimer's Disease Working Group to Meet
The
Minnesota Board on Aging will convene the first
meeting of the Alzheimer's Disease Working Group
(established by M.S. 2009, Chapter 159, Section
110) on August 27, 2009 at 2:30 p.m. at the
Department of Human Services Building at 444
Lafayette Road North, St. Paul, MN, 55155, in room
L3148. (Visitor
Parking Locations.) Questions about the
working group can be directed to John Selstad at
(651) 431-2558 or
john.selstad@state.mn.us.
07.17.09
Getting There
Getting There looks at issues,
opportunities and community resources for vital
living. Getting There is aimed at those 50
plus. The series is running on Sundays on tpt's
LIFE channel and statewide on the Minnesota
Channel.
The program is hosted by Jan Smaby and is a
partnership with the Minnesota Board on Aging and
AARP Minnesota. Watch one of these
online videos:
|
Relevance |
Independence |
|
Fitness & Nutrition |
Medicare |
|
Finances |
Civic Engagement |
|
Housing |
Technology |
07.08.09
Legislative Update Meetings Scheduled Across the
State in July
Human services
consumers, providers and program administrators
are invited to attend legislative update meetings
across the state in July. Ten face-to-face forums
and two videoconferences are being held to address
changes in home and community-based services
following the 2009 Minnesota Legislative session.
Schedule and location information contained in the
links below.
Press Releases Back to
Top |
