Slayton Office Update – April 2021

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As we continue to navigate the waters of the COVID-19 Pandemic, MNRAAA, like so many other organizations, continues to operate in a virtual setting.
Last March, we temporarily closed our offices in Mankato and Slayton, pivoting all staff to working from home. MNRAAA continues to provide services for older adults and caregivers during the pandemic.

While all staff continue to work from home, MNRAAA has made the decision to permanently close our Slayton office location. The Mankato office will remain temporarily closed until further notice. With the Slayton office closed, MNRAAA is able to maintain all staff. Staff that worked in the Slayton office will continue to work remotely.

MNRAAA and the Senior LinkAge Line will continue to offer classes and presentations virtually in our twenty-seven counties. Although the MNRAAA sign on the building has been taken down from the Slayton office, it does not mean that our presence is gone. Just the opposite, MNRAAA is working hard to ensure that we represent and assist all of the communities in our service area.

Our staff, volunteers, board members, and community partners want to be available to you.

You can continue to reach MNRAAA online at MNRAAA.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/MNRAAA.

Thank you all for your continued support of our organization.

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Minnesotans are Missing Out On Thousands of Dollars

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Programs are available to help pay the costs of people’s Medicare premiums and prescription drug copays. Unfortunately, many people do not think they are eligible, so they do not apply and miss out on thousands of dollars in savings.

Medicare Savings Programs help pay people’s Medicare Part B premium. Some people can also get help paying their Medicare deductibles and coinsurance. People can apply by contacting the county human service office where they live, or they can download and complete the Application for Certain Populations.

The Extra Help Program lowers the cost of prescription drugs and can save people up to $5,000/ year. People on the Extra Help Program also have additional Medicare enrollment periods, which allows them to change plans at different times throughout the year. People can apply for the program by calling Social Security or applying online at www.ssa.gov.

To learn if you are eligible or to get help with an application, call the Senior LinkAge Line at 800-333-2433.

The Senior LinkAge Line is a free, statewide service of the Minnesota Board on Aging and Minnesota’s Area Agencies on Aging. The Senior LinkAge Line helps older Minnesotans and caregivers find answers and connect to the services and support they need.

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Volunteer Drivers Provide the Gift of Transportation

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The majority of our service area is rural, which means transportation to essential services such as grocery stores and medical appointments is vital for older adults. Several transportation providers offer transportation options in southwestern Minnesota, and an essential element that they rely on is volunteer drivers.

Transportation provided by volunteer drivers is “the lowest cost transportation option available for many people,” according to the United Community Action Partnership website. “In 2018, volunteer drivers in Minnesota provided more than 168,000 rides for older adults and other non-drivers, giving them access to healthcare and other essential community services and products. Organizations with volunteer driver programs served 77,474+ people in 2018 and drivers covered more than 9.5 million miles” (volunteerdrivermn.org/about). Given the distance from Iowa to Canada is approximately 435 miles, that means our volunteer drivers drove the length of Minnesota 21,839 times in 2018!

Every time a volunteer offers their time as a volunteer driver, it means one of our fellow residents is receiving the ride they need to access an essential service. Volunteer drivers have very flexible schedules and drive where they choose, all while providing the gift of transportation to those who need a simple ride.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer driver or know of someone who might be, please contact the Program Developer serving your county to receive information on volunteer driver programs in your area. MNRAAA.org/program-development/

  • Betty Christensen ([email protected]): Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Swift, and Yellow Medicine counties
  • Kelly McDonough ([email protected]): Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Le Sueur, Martin, Nicollet, Sibley, Waseca, and Watonwan counties
  • Molly Peterson ([email protected]): Cottonwood, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, and Rock counties
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National Volunteer Week was April 18-24

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Across the United States and Washington D.C., Minnesota ranks second for volunteerism, according to an AmeriCorps survey. This data puts the phrase “Minnesota nice” into perspective. It is gratifying and humbling to know that so many Minnesotans have the empathy and passion to offer a helping hand.

As a volunteer coordinator, it is an honor to help serve people living in Southwest Minnesota and to support volunteers in achieving their missions. “Witnessing volunteer acts of kindness resonates as an affirmation of our ability to be selfless and contribute to the greater good”, states Brittany Johnson, Volunteer Coordinator for Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging. Volunteers often underestimate the power of their touch, a smile, offering a listening ear and other small acts of kindness. In other words, volunteers have the potential to turn a life around by donating their most valuable asset, time.

The Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging wants to thank the dedicated volunteers that make an impactful difference within their communities by sharing their wealth of knowledge and compassion. This week, we honor our volunteers and express our gratitude for their commitment to making older adults that live in southwest Minnesota thrive.

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