2019 Annual Report: Aging Mastery Program Helps Older Adults Thrive

/in , , /by

In 2019, MNRAAA successfully introduced the Aging Mastery Program®, an evidence-based program designed to inform, encourage, and support older adults as they take steps to improve their lives and engage with their communities. With the support of three communities in our planning and service area, the Aging Mastery Program was facilitated in Gibbon, Graceville and Worthington.

Class sessions included lectures provided by individuals with expertise on each topic as well as videos, group discussion and development of action steps unique to each participant.

The goal of the 10 core classes is to provide participants with an overview of the challenges encountered while navigating life as we age and offer support to master new skills.

The ten topics are:

  • Navigating Longer Lives: The Basics of Aging Mastery
  • Exercise and You
  • Sleep
  • Healthy Eating and Hydration
  • Financial Fitness
  • Advance Planning
  • Healthy Relationships
  • Medication Management
  • Community Engagement
  • Falls Prevention

For more information regarding the ten topics, visit the National Council on Aging website at ncoa.org/healthy-aging/aging-mastery-program.

Participants chose to engage in this program with the outcome being empowerment to improve their well-being and increase their quality of life as they age, in a self-directed and purposeful manner. This was an experience that participants, facilitators and speakers collectively identified as engaging, fun and educational.

Participant satisfaction survey results identified improved health as a positive outcome, and there was a consensus that they would recommend the Aging Mastery Program to others.

We are grateful to have received grant funding to help with the expense of this program and look forward to continuing collaboration with community partners to offer this program. Future programs have been scheduled to occur in Le Sueur, Madelia and Ortonville and additional program sites are in the process of being scheduled.

Those who are interested in participating in the program can find more information on the Aging Mastery Program on the MNRAAA website, including specific dates, times and locations of scheduled programs.

If you are interested in partnering with MNRAAA to bring the Aging Mastery Program to your community, please call 507-387-1256 for additional information.

Share on:

2019 Annual Report: Executive Director’s Report

/in , /by

Greetings and Salutations from all of us here at the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging, Inc. (MNRAAA), and welcome to our 2019 Annual Report. I want to take some time to review some highlights of our activities from 2019.

If you follow us on social media (Facebook and Twitter) or through our newsletter, you know that I started with MNRAAA in March 2019 following Linda Giersdorf’s retirement in 2018. The first goal I had was to get to know the staff, providers and volunteers through the twenty-seven-county area which we work. During my travels, meetings and appointments, I was tremendously delighted with the warm wishes and the positive feelings between the organizations. Meeting new people, discussing new ideas, reviewing opportunities from the past and looking towards the future really energized me within the first couple of months. I want to share with you some of those ideas we have been working on, but first, let’s take a quick look back to 2019.

In Saint Peter, the East African Meal Program began in the Fall of 2019. MNRAAA welcomed nine new staff to our organization and three new Board Members. We had a retirement from our longtime employee and dear friend, Elaine Spain and two departures from the Board, Mary Perry and Rose Schlieman. MNRAAA hosted three roadshows throughout the area and began posting videos onto our Facebook page. MNRAAA expanded our outreach program to allow us to cover more of our area. You may have seen us at a health fair, county fair, Farm Fest or at Bandwagon. We look forward to continuing those outreach events and look to include more with employers in 2020.

Many people asked me what my vision is at MNRAAA. Simple, collaboration. We face an unprecedented opportunity, and we are living longer and healthier lives (which is a good thing!). However, our workforce demographics are shrinking at an alarming rate. We need new solutions to these new opportunities and not one agency can work on this; however, working together, we can accomplish a lot. Together we can find innovative, technology-driven solutions. I end with a proverb; many hands make light work.

Share on:

2017 MNRAAA Annual Report – Board Chair’s and Executive Director Letter

/in , , , , , , , /by
Dear Readers:
Welcome to the 2017 Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging® Annual Report. Bob and I hope you will enjoy reading a few of MNRAAA’s highlights from last year.
Beginning in May, board members and staff participated in strategic planning, facilitated by Aurora Consulting. During the planning process, we revised our mission statement, developed a vision
statement and determined our strategic directions for the next three years (read more about Strategic Planning here).
Due to the expansion of the Return to Community initiative, we hired several additional staff and outgrew our space in the Mankato office. Fortunately, we could move our conference room to a space across from our office and use the vacated space for staff.
We said good-bye to three of our board members: Amy Wilde, Jane Baldwin and Dr. Tim Bachenberg. Their insight and dedication to improving the lives of older adults and caregivers will
be missed.
Even though we know we’ll encounter challenges during 2018, we look forward to continuing our efforts to provide advocacy, information, resources, and assistance so that older adults can maintain the lifestyle of their choice.
Keep reading if you’d like to learn about additional 2017 highlights. And, if you haven’t joined us on social media or signed up to receive our newsletter, we invite you to go to page three for our contact information.
Sincerely,
Linda Giersdorf, Executive Director
Robert Roesler, Board Chair
Share on:

MNRAAA Participates in Dementia Friends

/in , , /by

Minnesota has a new tag line. As of the end of 2017, Minnesota is now the Land of 10,225 Dementia Friends. MNRAAA is proud to be a part of this accomplishment by recording a total of 1,291 Dementia Friends, 944 of which were trained in 2017.

Dementia Friends is a global movement that is changing the way people think, act, and talk about dementia. By helping everyone in a community understand what dementia is and how it affects people, each of us can make a difference for people touched by dementia.

To become a Dementia Friend, you participate in a one-hour information session presented by a Dementia Friends Champion. You will learn five key messages about dementia and a bit about what it’s like to live with dementia. As a Dementia Friend, you turn your new understanding of dementia into a practical action that can help people living in your community. Your action can be big or small – because every action counts!
To find a Dementia Friends Information Session in your community visit http://actonalz.org/dementia-friends-information-sessions.

MNRAAA, the Land of 1,291 Dementia Friends! How high can we go in 2018?

Read a PDF of 2017 MNRAAA Annual Report.

Share on: