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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MNRAAA’s Age Friendly Community Efforts

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For the past five years, MNRAAA has been fortunate to partner with the Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) to work with our most rural (population under 3,000) communities on Age Friendly Community projects.  MNRAAA’s Program Developers work with communities each year to complete a community-wide survey and to create Community Leadership Teams in each town.  The survey is based on a survey tool created by AARP but adapted to meet each community’s needs.

Once the survey is completed and results collated, the information is used to help each Community Leadership Team identify the assets and needs of their town.  By looking at the needs, a list of priorities is developed to address identified needs.  The MNRAAA Program Developer assists each community to meet needs that may require no funding or a small amount of funds and access grant resources to meet larger needs.  This partnership with SWIF provides communities with a shortened version of the AARP Age Friendly process.

One example of a low-cost need identified through a community survey was the need for a handrail on outdoor steps to assist people with accessing a local building.  A group of volunteers installed a handrail within a few days of identifying the need.  In another community, the need for gatherings was identified.  The community’s churches decided to rotate offering a meal to older adults once a month, with volunteer programs also offered each month.  In a town of 800 people, the monthly luncheons averaged an attendance of 50 – 60 people.

MNRAAA’s Program Developers are available to meet with city staff and/or community members to further explain the Age Friendly process and the benefits of becoming an Age Friendly Community.  We look forward to hearing from anyone who might like more information. Find your Program Developer at www.mnraaa.org.  More information about Minnesota’s Age Friendly efforts can be found at https://mn.gov/dhs/age-friendly-mn/.

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MNRAAA Announces New Board of Directors Members

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February 3, 2023 – The Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging, Inc. (MNRAAA) is pleased to announce the addition of two new members to the Board of Directors: Dianne Crowley and Deborah Rezac.

Dianne Crowley of Slayton recently retired as the Finance Director for the Southwest Regional Development Commission (SRDC). During her tenure at SRDC, Crowley worked closely with the Southwest Area Agency on Aging from its inception and through the transition of Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging, Inc. into a separate entity. Crowley is familiar with many of the programs of MNRAAA and values them, especially the Senior Linkage Line, as a vital link for seniors and caregivers in the area.  Crowley continues to work with her husband on the family farm. Crowley has been active in numerous organizations in Southwest Minnesota, including Girl Scouts, Hospice of Murray County, 4-H and Lake Wilson Study Club. Crowley is interested in assisting caregivers in finding services for their loved ones.

Deborah Rezac of Mankato is a Sales Associate for Cal-Am Properties. Before moving back to Mankato to serve as a caregiver, Rezac was active in Wisconsin’s aging and diversity professions. As a specialist with the Western Wisconsin Area Agency on Aging, Rezac transitioned to the Diversity Director at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay. She remains active in diversity efforts within the Mankato area.

Rezac stated that “I want to serve on this board to continue and expand the services to the most vulnerable, to find new ways to build collaborative systems born out of capacities and assets of each community, county, and tribal sovereign nations within the MNRAAA region.” “(We need) to reach those who are not totally computer orientated and visibly work with people who work better one-on-one” was Crowley’s response to wanting to join the MNRAAA Board.

“Deborah and Dianne have worked professionally and at a volunteer level with the aging and caregiving population. They bring expertise and shared knowledge of how we can work to assist older adults to thrive,” stated Jason W. Swanson, Executive Director of MNRAAA.

“Deborah’s experience working in non-profit organizations focused on older adults will bring invaluable information to MNRAAA,” stated Kandyce Peton, Board Chair for MNRAAA. “Dianne’s financial background will be a nice addition to our board. It will be fun working with both individuals,” continued Peton.

The MNRAAA Board of Directors, which feature professionals from the twenty-seven-county area, ranging from a Director of Nursing Services at an area hospital to a registered dietitian, is a volunteer governing board.

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