|
Growing in diversity –
Programs meet needs of state’s minority
elders
Older Minnesotans who are from communities of
color or diversity are still a pretty thin slice of the state’s population
pie. While minority groups represented 8.8 percent of the state’s population
in 1999, according to the Minnesota Demographic Center, the numbers for older
adults were significantly lower. Minorities accounted for 3.6 percent of the
65-69 age group and just under 2 percent of the 80-plus age group.
There are programs designed to meet the unique
needs of Minnesota’s diverse elders. Here are some quick snapshots of
different groups working to meet the needs of culturally diverse older
Minnesotans:
African-Americans:
Volunteers of America (VOA)/Senior Resources,
based in Minneapolis, has for the past 10 or 12 years offered special programs
to meet the needs of older African-Americans. The efforts are funded through a
special access grant from the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging (MAAA), which
has a focus on helping people who are not being served through traditional
social service programs.
VOA offers advocacy, resource information,
socialization opportunities and transportation to clients. "Basically, we
help troubleshoot for them on whatever their needs are," says Iva Hawkins,
an outreach worker in the program.
Along with that, it has also partnered with
other groups to meet the needs of its clients, like with the YWCA in setting up
health programs for older African- American women that include water aerobics,
wellness luncheons and arthritis education.
More information about the programs is
available by calling 612-331-4063.
Asian-Americans:
A number of groups and agencies provide
services to older adults in the Asian-American community. Among them is Wingspan
Life Resources, which received a 2002 Age Odyssey Award from the MBA and the
Minnesota Department of Human Services Aging Initiative for "its
development of an outstanding adult day program serving Hmong elders in St.
Paul."
The program is a collaboration of many
organizations including the Minnesota Department of Health, East Metro SAIL, the
Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging and the Ramsey Action Program. They worked
together to help negotiate the many systems needed to open the doors.
The elders came, slowly at first since this
center is the first of its kind in Minnesota and they were not sure it would
help them. Elders shared their experiences of feeling alone and isolated at
home, some saying they wanted to end their lives. Once at Tsev Laus Kaj Siab,
the elders developed a sense of community, well-being, as well as improved
health and an ability to understand their complex medical needs.
In receiving the award, Pat Moore, executive
director, told the hundreds of Age Odyssey conference attendees that from its
inception, the plan was always to have a day service where Hmong elders would be
empowered to decide their own program and that’s what has made Tsev Laus Kaj
Siab a success. For more information contact Nancy Schafer, Wingspan Life
Resources program director at 612-824-3036 or Chad Her, Tsev Laus Kaj Siab site
director at 651-488-2768.
In addition, other groups serve the needs of
Asian-American older adults. They include:
• United Cambodian Association of Minnesota,
529 Jackson St., St. Paul, MN 55101; 651-222-3299.
• Vietnamese Social Services of Minnesota,
1159 University Ave., Suite 1, St. Paul, MN 55104; 651-644-1317.
• The Institute for Education and Advocacy
Elders Connection (Hmong), 1730 Clifton Place, Minneapolis, MN 55403;
612-377-4472.
• Korean Service Center, 620 Cedar Ave. S.,
Suite 1, Minneapolis, MN 55454; 612-342-1344.
Hispanic elders:
CLUES – Chicanos Latinos Unidos en Servicos,
Inc. has been working with Hispanic older adults from its east-metro base in St.
Paul. Its programs for elders include transportation to appointments, grocery
shopping assistance and social/recreation opportunities.
"All of our programs are offered in
Spanish," said Shahla Grabow, CLUES program director.
Through a special access grant from the MAAA,
CLUES also offers advocacy programs to help elders get connected with needed
services such as Social Security, Medical Assistance, clinic referrals and other
matters.
"We do a lot of work with medical care,
finance and housing," says Grabow. CLUES is in the process of starting an
adult day service. While much of its focus has been in the east-metro area, it
has worked with clients in the west- metro area. Also, CLUES has an office in
Mankato, but it does not offer senior-specific programs.
Native Americans:
A vast network of services is available across
the state to Native American elders. One such program is Indian Family Services
(IFS) Inc. in Minneapolis. It provides clients with advocacy services in the
court system, transportation to special events, arts and crafts programs,
monthly transportation for shopping and exercise at the YMCA. It can be reached
at 612-348-5788.
"There are similar programs available on
the reservations at White Earth, Mille Lacs and Cass Lake," says Lillian
Stand, a senior aide at IFS.
In addition, the MBA has set up an Indian
Elders Desk, which is a phone resource center that people can call to learn
about services. It can be reached at 1-800-882-6262. For the past three years,
the state has also offered Wisdom Steps, a Native American elder wellness
program that encourages exercise, good nutrition and healthy living.
|
