MNRAAA Executive Director Jason W. Swanson invited to the White House

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The Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging (MNRAAA) Executive Director Jason W. Swanson attended the Communities in Action: Building a Better Minnesota event at the White House on March 1.

The White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and the Office of Public Engagement hosted over 50 state and local elected officials and community leaders across Minnesota. Minnesota was the thirteenth state highlighted in a series of “Communities in Action” events that the White House is hosting with state, local and tribal leaders to demonstrate how the Biden-Harris Administration delivers results for the American people.

During the half-day forum, participants heard from Biden-Harris Administration officials – including Department of Veteran’s Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough, Chair of the Council on Economic Quality Brenda Mallory, White House Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu, White House American Rescue Plan Coordinator Gene Sperling, Senior Advisor and Director of Public Engagement Keisha Lance Bottoms, Director of the Domestic Policy Council Susan Rice, and Senior Advisor and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Julie Chavez Rodriguez – about the benefits and impact of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act for working families in Minnesota.

“It was a tremendous honor to attend this event. I was privileged to provide an update on our providers’ work during the pandemic and our continued work to expand our programs as we move away from the pandemic,” stated Swanson.

Swanson also addressed Secretary McDonough, a Minnesota native himself, about the forthcoming Veterans Directed Care program expansion. “MNRAAA has partnered with the Sioux Falls VA since 2008. We are happy to see potential expansion to other areas. It was nice to hear the Secretary’s comments on this important program.”

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz provided video remarks, and White House officials heard from participants on the positive impact of these legislative accomplishments. They also discussed how the Biden-Harris Administration would continue to work with states and local governments, labor leaders, businesses, nonprofits, education, and healthcare leaders to leverage these historic investments to create and expand opportunities for working families.

After the meeting, Swanson and fellow Area Agency on Aging Director, Dawn Simonson, met with staff from the Administration for Community Living (ACL). A discussion was had about continued partnerships and collaboration between the aging and disability divisions.

ACL was created around the fundamental principle that older adults and people of all ages with disabilities should be able to live where they choose, with the people they choose, and with the ability to participate fully in their communities.

“MNRAAA will continue to partner with ACL to assist older adults to thrive,” stated Swanson.

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Support Senior Nutrition Programs

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A recent study by Defeat Malnutrition found that one in two older adults (65+) are at risk for malnutrition. Cooking for oneself becomes difficult as we age. Going to the store to have fresh ingredients to prepare meals is no longer a priority. Payment for medications, utilities, and health-related bills takes precedence over groceries. Senior nutrition programs are cost-effective programs that help reduce malnutrition and social isolation. MNRAAA partners with Lutheran Social Services and Prairie Five to provide congregate dining and home-delivered meals to older adults and their caregivers in southwest Minnesota.

Congregate dining allows individuals to gather at a community site (usually a senior center or community center) to share in a meal. At these sites, numerous activities occur. Some senior centers are fortunate enough to have staff to schedule programs. Others have active members that host card games, have book clubs, and others make scrapbooks. The common thread they share is socialization. Studies have shown that socialization is key to maintaining health, especially for older adults.

The other senior nutrition program is home-delivered meals. Providers can meet individuals in their homes, including those who may be unable to leave their homes. Reasons can range from the inability to obtain transportation, a chronic illness, anxiety, fear of falling or an acute illness. The staff and volunteer drivers deliver meals and indirectly provide wellness checks. As relationships are developed, those delivering the meals can tell if a recipient is falling ill or has had recent health concerns. We regularly hear that a driver discovered a recipient had fallen, and the driver was able to call for assistance. If not for that driver, we tremble to think how long that individual may have laid before aid was rendered. Finally, the driver provides socialization with the recipient, which is important for healthy aging. Home-delivered meals are sometimes the only interaction older adults may experience that day or week.

MNRAAA is working to raise awareness around the Senior Nutrition Program, destigmatize the program, and work with our partners to innovate these important programs for older adults and their caregivers. Do not forget about older adults. People of all ages need adequate meals and healthy foods.

If you know someone who may benefit from these services, contact the Senior LinkAge Line at 800-333-2433. You can also find congregate dining locations or home-delivered meals programs online at https://mnhelp.info/.

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