October 2020 MNRAAA news is Available

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MNRAAA news  Volume XI – Issue III

Read the MNRAAA news in it’s entirety…(Read the PDF)

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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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MNRAAA Signs AARP Employer Pledge Recognizing the Value of Experienced Workers

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Recommits to Hiring Across an Age Diverse Workforce

The Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging (MNRAAA) signed AARP’s employer pledge recognizing the value of experienced workers and recommitting to hiring across an age-diverse workforce. The AARP Employer Pledge Program encompasses a nationwide group of employers who know that the multigenerational workforce yields a strong pipeline of talent, protects business continuity and taps into new resources to address labor shortages.

Given employers’ need for talent, it makes great business sense to hire experienced workers, as demonstrated by AARP research.

MNRAAA Executive Direction Jason W. Swanson said, “Having a multigenerational workforce adds significant value to what we do and can give us an edge over competitors. Different work and life experiences from employees help make us a better, stronger organization.”

AARP Vice President for Financial Resilience Susan Weinstock said, “We’re thrilled that MNRAAA has signed AARP’s employer pledge. We know that employees and employers succeed when they remain committed in words and in action to hiring and maintaining an age-diverse workforce.”

AARP’s employer pledge reads, “We believe in equal opportunity for all workers, regardless of age, and that 50+ workers should have a level playing field in their ability to compete for and obtain jobs. Recognizing the value of experienced workers, we pledge to recruit across diverse age groups and to consider all applicants on an equal basis as we hire for positions within our organization.”

AARP’s Job Board and other employer resources connect 50+ job seekers with employers like MNRAAA and hundreds of other employers who recognize the value of experience.

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