MNRAAA’s Age Friendly Community Efforts

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For the past five years, MNRAAA has been fortunate to partner with the Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) to work with our most rural (population under 3,000) communities on Age Friendly Community projects.  MNRAAA’s Program Developers work with communities each year to complete a community-wide survey and to create Community Leadership Teams in each town.  The survey is based on a survey tool created by AARP but adapted to meet each community’s needs.

Once the survey is completed and results collated, the information is used to help each Community Leadership Team identify the assets and needs of their town.  By looking at the needs, a list of priorities is developed to address identified needs.  The MNRAAA Program Developer assists each community to meet needs that may require no funding or a small amount of funds and access grant resources to meet larger needs.  This partnership with SWIF provides communities with a shortened version of the AARP Age Friendly process.

One example of a low-cost need identified through a community survey was the need for a handrail on outdoor steps to assist people with accessing a local building.  A group of volunteers installed a handrail within a few days of identifying the need.  In another community, the need for gatherings was identified.  The community’s churches decided to rotate offering a meal to older adults once a month, with volunteer programs also offered each month.  In a town of 800 people, the monthly luncheons averaged an attendance of 50 – 60 people.

MNRAAA’s Program Developers are available to meet with city staff and/or community members to further explain the Age Friendly process and the benefits of becoming an Age Friendly Community.  We look forward to hearing from anyone who might like more information. Find your Program Developer at www.mnraaa.org.  More information about Minnesota’s Age Friendly efforts can be found at https://mn.gov/dhs/age-friendly-mn/.

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MNRAAA Announces New Board of Directors Members

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February 3, 2023 – The Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging, Inc. (MNRAAA) is pleased to announce the addition of two new members to the Board of Directors: Dianne Crowley and Deborah Rezac.

Dianne Crowley of Slayton recently retired as the Finance Director for the Southwest Regional Development Commission (SRDC). During her tenure at SRDC, Crowley worked closely with the Southwest Area Agency on Aging from its inception and through the transition of Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging, Inc. into a separate entity. Crowley is familiar with many of the programs of MNRAAA and values them, especially the Senior Linkage Line, as a vital link for seniors and caregivers in the area.  Crowley continues to work with her husband on the family farm. Crowley has been active in numerous organizations in Southwest Minnesota, including Girl Scouts, Hospice of Murray County, 4-H and Lake Wilson Study Club. Crowley is interested in assisting caregivers in finding services for their loved ones.

Deborah Rezac of Mankato is a Sales Associate for Cal-Am Properties. Before moving back to Mankato to serve as a caregiver, Rezac was active in Wisconsin’s aging and diversity professions. As a specialist with the Western Wisconsin Area Agency on Aging, Rezac transitioned to the Diversity Director at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay. She remains active in diversity efforts within the Mankato area.

Rezac stated that “I want to serve on this board to continue and expand the services to the most vulnerable, to find new ways to build collaborative systems born out of capacities and assets of each community, county, and tribal sovereign nations within the MNRAAA region.” “(We need) to reach those who are not totally computer orientated and visibly work with people who work better one-on-one” was Crowley’s response to wanting to join the MNRAAA Board.

“Deborah and Dianne have worked professionally and at a volunteer level with the aging and caregiving population. They bring expertise and shared knowledge of how we can work to assist older adults to thrive,” stated Jason W. Swanson, Executive Director of MNRAAA.

“Deborah’s experience working in non-profit organizations focused on older adults will bring invaluable information to MNRAAA,” stated Kandyce Peton, Board Chair for MNRAAA. “Dianne’s financial background will be a nice addition to our board. It will be fun working with both individuals,” continued Peton.

The MNRAAA Board of Directors, which feature professionals from the twenty-seven-county area, ranging from a Director of Nursing Services at an area hospital to a registered dietitian, is a volunteer governing board.

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Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging awards over $5 million in grants

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February 1, 2023 – The Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging, Inc. (MNRAAA) has announced 27 Title III funding awards totaling more than $5 million. The awards are funded under Title III of the Older Americans Act (OAA) and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

As a state-designated Area Agency on Aging, MNRAAA administers OAA funds and is responsible for the development of a coordinated and comprehensive system of services for older adults and their caregivers in Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Sibley, Swift, Waseca, Watonwan and Yellow Medicine Counties. To accomplish this, MNRAAA awards Title III OAA funding to agencies and organizations that provide direct services for older people (age 60+) and their caregivers.

Congress passed ARPA in 2021 to support older adults and caregivers that are struggling in the wake of COVID-19. Funding under ARPA follows the guidelines established by the OAA.

“MNRAAA is thrilled to partner with these organizations to continue expanding services to older adults and caregivers in our twenty-seven-county area.” MNRAAA Executive Director Jason W. Swanson stated. “These services are integral in assisting older adults in their communities and as independent as possible.”

The following grants have been awarded for 2023:

Title III-B Supportive Services

  1. Central Community Transit (Kandiyohi, Meeker, and Renville Counties)
    • CCT Senior Transportation Program for Transportation and Assisted Transportation
  2. City of Tyler (Lincoln County, City of Tyler only)
    • Tyler Senior Snow Removal for Chore
  3. City of Worthington/Center for Active Living (Nobles County)
    • The Good Life Project for Education/Training and Health Promotion – Non-Evidence Based
  4. Essential Senior Services (Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, and Rock Counties)
    • Essential Senior Services Chore and Homemaker for Homemaker and Chore
  5. Generations Home Care Services (Sibley, Renville, and McLeod Counties)
    • Generations Homemaker/Assisted Transportation Program for Homemaker and Assisted Transportation
  6. Granite Falls Living at Home/Block Nurse Program (Chippewa and Yellow Medicine Counties)
    • Connections for Better Living for Telephone Reassurance, Visiting, Outreach and Health Promotion – Non-Evidence Based
  7. Interfaith Caregivers (Faribault County)
    • Eldercare Program for Chore, Homemaker, Assisted Transportation, and Transportation
  8. Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (Big Stone, Brown, Chippewa, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Sibley, Swift, and Yellow Medicine Counties)
    • LSS Older Adults Supportive Services Program for Counseling, Telephone Reassurance and Visiting
  9. Prairie Five Community Action Council (Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift, and Yellow Medicine Counties)
    • Connections on the Prairie for Education/Training and Outreach
  10. Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (27 counties of MNRAAA service area)
    • Legal Advocacy for Older Persons for Legal Assistance and Legal Education
  11. United Community Action Partnership (Cottonwood, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, and Rock Counties)
    • Assisting Seniors on the Go for Assisted Transportation
  12. VINE Faith in Action (Blue Earth, Le Sueur, and Nicollet Counties)
    • VINE’s Helping Hands Outreach to Elders from Diverse Cultures for Special Access
  13. Waseca Area Caregiver Services (Waseca County)
    • Caring Hands for Homemaker, Chore, Education/Training and Visiting

Title III-C Congregate Meals and Home Delivered Meals (including Federal Title III-C and other funding)

  1. Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Sibley, Waseca, and Watonwan Counties)
    • LSS Congregate and Home Delivered Meals Programs
  2. Prairie Five Community Action Council (Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift, and Yellow Medicine Counties)
    • Prairie Five Congregate and Home Delivered Meals Programs

Title III-D Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Funding Recommendations

  1. A.C.E. of Southwest Minnesota (Cottonwood, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, and Rock Counties)
    • A.C.E. Evidence-Based Programs for Evidence-Based Health Promotion Programs
  2. VINE Faith in Action (Blue Earth, Le Sueur, Nicollet, and Watonwan Counties)
    • Finding a Healthy Way thru VINE’s Evidence-Based Programming for Evidence-Based Health Promotion Programs

Title III-E National Family Caregiver Support Services

  1. A.C.E. of Southwest Minnesota (Cottonwood, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, and Rock Counties)
    • A.C.E. Caregiver Support Services for Respite-In Home, Caregiver Counseling, Support Groups and Training
  2. Bethesda (Kandiyohi and Renville Counties)
    • Connect Caregiver Alliance Network for Caregiver Counseling, Support Groups, Training, Supplemental Services – Chore, Supplemental Services – Homemaker, Supplemental Services – Assisted Transportation, and Supplemental Services – Transportation
  3. Caregiver Response Effort & Service Team (CREST) (Martin County)
    • Care Team Support for Caregiver Support Groups, Counseling, Training, and Respite-In Home
  4. Horn of Africa Aid and Rehabilitation Action Network (HAARAN) (Blue Earth, Nicollet Counties)
    • In-Home Respite for Somali American Caregivers for Caregiver Respite-In Home
  5. Interfaith Caregivers (Faribault County)
    • Caregiver Support and Respite Program for Caregiver Counseling, Training, Respite-In Home, and Respite-Out of Home Day
  6. Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (Big Stone, Brown, Chippewa, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Sibley, Swift, and Yellow Medicine Counties)
    • LSS Caregiver Support and Respite Program for Respite-In Home, Respite-Out of Home Day, Caregiver Counseling, Support Groups and Training
  7. Madison Art Gallery (Lac qui Parle and surrounding communities)
    • Madison Caregiver Support Program for Caregiver Support Groups
  8. VINE Faith in Action (Blue Earth, Le Sueur, and Nicollet Counties)
    • Empowering Caregivers for Caregiver Counseling, Support Groups and Training
  9. Waseca Area Caregiver Services (Waseca County)
    • Caring Hands for Caregivers for Caregiver Counseling, Support Groups, Respite-In Home, and Respite-Out of Home Day
  10. Wellspring Faith in Action (Watonwan County)
    • Family Caregiver Project for Caregiver Support Groups, Training and Respite-In Home
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