Falls Prevention Month

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We have rearranged our priorities this year to accommodate the recent events throughout the world.  Meetings are being held virtually, schools are using a distant learning platform, and many are holding off visiting people.  One thing we do not want to change, or overlook are things that we can control, like falls.

Did you know that many falls can be prevented?  Falls are not a natural part of the aging process and steps can and should be taken to prevent falls.  Examples of ways to do this successfully include taking classes, such as Matter of Balance (MOB), Tai Ji Quan or Stepping On to name a few programs.  These evidenced based classes promote preventing falls through low impact exercises and improving balance.  Classes are offered throughout the state and can be found by contacting your local Area Agency on Aging or speaking with your medical providers.

Another form of preventing falls is to review what you have in your homes.  Reduce clutter; papers on the floor, rugs, pet accessories or other items that can be moved to allow a clear and even walking surface.  Placing furniture strategically throughout your home to use as a balance tool is not a safe way to ambulate.  If you find yourself doing this, you may need to talk to a physical therapist about balance and safe alternative for ambulation.  There are many ways to check your risk of falling.  One way is to visit the National Council on Aging website (www.ncoa.org) where you can take an assessment of your risk of falls.  This is a free service and I encourage you, if you are concerned about falling to take this assessment and discuss it with your medical providers.

Remember, one out of every four individuals over the age of 65 experience falls.  Falls can lead to serious injury; hospital stays and sometimes can be fatal.  Falls can be prevented, be proactive and take the initiative to be safe.

 

Jason W. Swanson, HSE
Executive Director

MNRAAA

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Find the Good

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Australian Wildfires.
Royalty leaving United Kingdom.
Impeachment.
COVID-19 Pandemic.
Civil Unrest.

All of which have taken place in the first half of 2020.

When you turn on the news, check your social media feed or talk to a friend, one can easily be taken on a roller coaster ride of negative information. Thus far, the abridged version of current events has not left us with a feel-good attitude.

One thing I always try to do is find that silver lining, find the good in things. But I’m not going to lie, this has not been easy in 2020. Nonetheless, it’s something I strive to do daily, and I encourage you to do as well. Find the good in the day, the week or the month.

I’d like to share a couple of positive things that I’ve noticed during these times; I’ve spent more time in the garden, which sits along a major highway, so friends and neighbors like to come by and chat. And if you know me, I do enjoy a good conversation. This opportunity would have been missed and I would not have had the opportunity to speak with many of them. I’ve played new board games with my family, something that may not have happened in a “normal” year.

Sure, I would love to go back to the way things were pre-Murder Hornets and other weird anomalies that have taken place this year, but we do not have the luxury of time travel, so we make do and make the best of the situation. We are all missing some aspects of life, missing out on celebrations and vacations. If you dig deep and look, remember the positives that you have going on right now. Find the good!

Jason W. Swanson

Executive Director

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MNRAAA to Hold a Public Hearing/Meeting on July 15, 2020

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The Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging (MNRAAA) will host a public hearing/meeting to gather public input on its Area Plan for 2021. This is a planning document, pursuant to the Older Americans Act, that identifies priority needs, goals, objectives and activities.  MNRAAA will be developing and implementing programs for individuals age 60 years and older and their caregivers in the Southwest region of Minnesota. This public hearing/meeting is an opportunity for the community to provide input for the plan.

Public Hearing Topic: Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging is proposing to use $143,245 Title III-B direct service funds to pay for the Program Development and Coordination Activities during 2021 as a cost of Area Plan administration.

Each of the goals included below are developed by the Minnesota Board on Aging (MBA).

Goal 1:  Leverage the experience, expertise and energy of older Minnesotans
Goal 2:  Equip older Minnesotans with the tools to take charge of their health and make informed decisions about services when they need them
Goal 3:  Support families and friends in their caregiving roles
Goal 4:  Support aging in community with access to a range of services and housing options

Written Comments: The public is invited to make comment in written form and/or by attending the virtual public hearing/meeting:

Wednesday July 15, 2020 at 9:00 AM

Written comments are encouraged and will be accepted until Monday, July 13, 2020.  Please send written comments via email to jswanson@mnraaa.org.

If you are interested in attending, contact eschott@mnraaa.org by 4:00 PM on Monday, July 13, 2020 and log in information will be provided to you.

 

Jason W. Swanson
Executive Director

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Visiting Those in Nursing Homes During COVID-19

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As a child, I was fortunate enough to grow up with great-grandparents within my hometown. This allowed me to get to know them and stirred my mind into the fascinating world of genealogy. Getting to know them meant visiting, and many of those visits were in nursing home facilities. I found that visiting was a wonderful way to learn from people, to be able to interact and to see family and friends.

With the recent pandemic, nursing homes have restricted visiting rights except for compassionate visiting, which is the ability to visit a family member who is on hospice care. As time passes, we see more and more restlessness due to not being able to visit our friends, families and neighbors. While it may be difficult for us to try to visit them, it is even more difficult for the resident in the facility.

We don’t know how long the pandemic will last, how long the nursing home visiting restrictions will be in place and what it is going to look like when we can visit again. So, what can we do in the meantime? Many facilities are looking at technology to establish virtual visiting, visit via windows and other innovative ways.

Tips for those visiting their loved ones at nursing homes:

  • Contact the facility and see what their guidelines are;
  • Ask your loved one what they prefer (phone, virtual, other); and,
  • Respect the privacy of other residents when visiting.

Finally, we ask that you respect the facility’s policies surrounding visits; these restrictions are in place to protect our loved ones. Talk with staff to work through any questions you may have and make sure to give them a thank you; these times are affecting them as well.

Jason W. Swanson, HSE
Executive Director
MNRAAA

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