Minnesotans Get Help to Stay Well in Their Homes with Research-Based Online Classes

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COVID-19 has brought the world to a sudden halt. Stores are closed, events are cancelled, and everyone is staying home. Juniper has embraced the challenges and developed an innovative way to offer health courses while following #StayHomeMN and social distancing rules.

Over the past year, Juniper providers, in partnership with the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging, have led more than 500 wellness classes in communities across Minnesota. In March, all community-based Juniper courses were cancelled due to COVID-19. These courses, once in person, are now moving online to offer Juniper’s nationally recognized and locally delivered classes in the safety of people’s homes. “We are excited to partner with providers from our region like A.C.E. of Southwest Minnesota, River’s Edge Hospital, and VINE Faith in Action to offer these classes online so we can continue serving the people of southwest Minnesota and statewide.” Said program developer Krista Eichhorst. The live, online courses are facilitated by trained and certified leaders and limited in class size to ensure sharing and interaction.

Juniper courses offer high-quality content that helps older adults live life fully and independently. People can choose from classes that focus on building strength and balance, preventing falls, or managing conditions that get in the way of feeling their best. The classes are beneficial for people coping with high blood pressure, heart disease, COPD, arthritis, diabetes, or other health conditions.

Past participants report eating healthier, increasing physical activity, working better with their healthcare professionals, and feeling better. People don’t have to do it alone. While Juniper courses help people improve their health, they are also a way for participants to connect with and support others as a community.

“The exercises I learned in this program carry over and make me more mindful in my movements at home.” – Class Participant

“The most valuable part of the class was meeting other people with similar conditions and sharing our lives and working together.” – Class Participant

Live on easy-to-use and HIPAA-secure video conferencing, participants engage in real-time with course leaders and fellow participants. Juniper classes help people overcome the challenges of self-isolating and take charge of their health. It’s easy for people to sign up for an online course that best fits their desired outcome:

  • Step 1: Go to yourjuniper.org to see course offerings or call 855-215-2174 to speak with a Juniper specialist.
  • Step 2: Register for your desired course. Participants will receive an email with a link to join the class.

About Juniper

Juniper is a statewide network rooted in individual communities. Area Agencies on Aging-six regional and one tribal entity-act as hubs for community organizations, healthcare organizations and class leaders. The network offers evidence-based health promotion classes to improve health and wellness across Minnesota. Juniper is a program of Innovations of Aging, a nonprofit subsidiary of Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging. Learn more at yourjuniper.org.

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Helping Older Adults Master Aging in Madelia

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Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging in partnership with the Madelia Community Hospital Foundation, is pleased to announce that we are the first in the area to offer an innovative new ten-session health and wellness program to area community members 55 and over. The Aging Mastery Program® (AMP) was developed by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and has been successful at helping older adults build their own playbook for aging well.

This is a wonderful opportunity for older adults to participate in, and reap the benefits of, this cutting edge program. We are currently recruiting 20 adults, ages 55 + to participate in the ten-session educational program.

AMP is a fun, innovative, and person-centered education program that empowers participants to embrace their gift of longevity by spending more time each day doing things that are good for themselves and for others. The program encourages mastery—developing sustainable behaviors across many dimensions that lead to improved health, stronger economic security, enhanced well-being, and increased societal participation.

We will host an informational meeting on March 6th at 10:00 AM at the Madelia Branch Library.

Classes will be Fridays, March 13th through April 17th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Watonwan County Library – Madelia.

If you are interested in learning more about the program, call Kelly McDonough, Program Developer at (507) 387-1256. If this program piques your interest stop by or call to learn more!

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2019 Annual Report: Over 23,330 Older Adults and Caregivers Supported in 2019

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In 2019, MNRAAA supported over 23,330 older adults and caregivers. The numbers below represent older adults and caregivers in the Southwest Planning and Service Area. Consumers may be counted more than once if they participated in more than one service.

  • 13,059 consumers served via the Senior LinkAge Line®
  • 5,571 older adults received 215,144 congregate meals
  • 2,091 older adults received 174,391 home-delivered meals
  • 284 older adults received 1,377 hours of legal assistance
  • 64 caregivers received 2,187 hours of respite care
  • 317 caregivers participated in 3,926 sessions of caregiver support services
  • 1,491 older adults participated in evidence-based health promotion programs
  • 112 older adults received 1,724 hours of chore and homemaker services
  • 270 older adults received 7,319 one-way transportation & assisted transportation rides
  • 71 elders from diverse cultures received 3,988 hours of individual special access services
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2019 Annual Report: Aging Mastery Program Helps Older Adults Thrive

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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.

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