Ashley Hagen Named Program Developer

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Ashley Hagen

We are pleased to announce Ashley Hagen as MNRAAA’s newest Program Developer. Ashley will work in Blue Earth, Nicollet, Brown, Watonwan, Sibley, Le Sueur, Waseca, Martin and Faribault counties.

Ashley has worked for MNRAAA for the past five years in the Senior LinkAge Line. She has previously held the roles of Case Aide, Information & Assistance Specialist, and, most recently, a Community Living Specialist in the Return to Community Department. Before joining MNRAAA, Ashley worked at Prairie River Home Care as Authorization Specialist and Recruiting Coordinator at assisted living and nursing homes in the Mankato area.

Ashley lives in Eagle Lake and enjoys live music, trying new food places, pickleball, pinball, traveling, and hanging out with friends.

When asked why she accepted the Program Develop position, Ashley stated, “I am excited to bring the experience and knowledge I gained through the Senior LinkAge Line to this new role. This position gives me an opportunity for continued professional growth.”

“MNRAAA is fortunate to have Ashley in this role. Through her time working on the Senior LinkAge Line side, she has seen the gaps in services. Now she can take that information to assist communities in expanding their ability to care for older adults and caregivers.” stated Jason W. Swanson, Executive Director.

Ashley can be reached at ahagen@mnraaa.org or by calling 507-387-1256.

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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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Live Well, Age Wisely with Trualta

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with Laura Thomas, Director of Aging Well at Prairie Five Community Action Council

A grandparent who is raising a grandchild, a spouse providing care for their partner, an adult child who stops in once a week to get meds set up for a parent and tend to household chores – these are all examples of caregiving. On the prairie, a modest estimate is that 25% of us serve as a caregiver for others in an informal capacity.
There isn’t a class in school that everyone takes or a manual that we all receive in life to prepare us for caregiving. It can get overwhelming and it’s common for a caregiver to wonder where to find answers, ideas, or support. The Minnesota Board on Aging (MBA) has two wonderful options that are available to you through Prairie Five to help identify and address needs and provide support – caregiver consults and a database rich with resources.
I am a Caregiver Consultant for Prairie Five’s counties (Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift, Yellow Medicine) and the MBA describes this service as “trained professionals that help you on an individual basis with problem-solving, information, skills and emotional support. Your consultant can help develop strategies for you to achieve a balanced lifestyle allowing you to both provide good care and protect your own health.” Sometimes I get calls from people who are worn out and just looking for a person who will listen compassionately and non-judgmentally. I always feel honored when people share their stories or experience with me – our struggles are what make us human! Caregiving can feel isolating and opening up to another brings the realization that we aren’t alone in the world.
Recently, the MBA announced that they are able to make Trualta available to caregivers for free for the next 1.5 years. I got so excited when I started browsing the website – I can’t believe everything they offer! Trualta is an easy-to-use, personalized, interactive portal that helps caregivers manage care on their own. It is offered ‘on demand’ which means that anytime you want to use the service, it is available. It can be accessed on a tablet, smartphone, or computer and is so convenient a person could use it while waiting for an appointment or before bed.
Trualta is offered to family, friends, or neighbors who are caregiving in Minnesota. It has short lessons that have been created by clinical experts in aging and allows you to personalize your experience based on what best fits your situation. The Personal Care section, for example, has information on ‘Shaving,’ ‘Oral care for older adults,’ ‘Skincare,’ and ‘Choosing the right products when assisting in the bathroom,’ to name a few. The Caregiver Wellness section includes ‘Balancing work and caregiving,’ ‘Caregiver guilt,’ and ‘Reframing negative thoughts.’ And, it’s more than just a place to find skills training; there are also activity ideas such as, ‘Relax and unwind,’ ‘Good morning stretches,’ and ‘Keeping hands and minds busy.’
There are also several longer presentations by Teepa Snow, a dementia expert who is well-known and highly respected for her informal, practical approach. If you can check the weather on your device, you have the skills to navigate this site! If you are interested in more information or would like to set up an account or to find out who are the Caregiver Consultants in your area, call Senior LinkAge Line at 800-333-2433. There are a limited number of Trualta user licenses for the state so now is the time to get started!
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CAPABLE Program Expands Eligibility Area

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In partnership with Allina Health – Home Health and Habitat for Humanity, the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging is now accepting referrals for a new, grant-funded CAPABLE program.

CAPABLE (Community Aging in Place—Advancing Better Living for Elders) was developed by the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. The program helps seniors by teaming a nurse, an occupational therapist, and a handy worker to address the home environment and assist the older adult in setting goals to improve safety and independence. As part of this, the program also provides minor home modifications. Our goal is to support seniors in our community to safely age in place at home.

Changes to the physical space motivate participants, addressing both the person and the environment they live in, allowing them to thrive.

Participant criteria:

  • aged 65 years and older
  • own their own home and live in Brown, Nicollet, Watonwan, eastern Redwood, or southern Sibley counties
  • do not have the means to afford home modifications
  • cognitively intact or have only mild cognitive impairment to be able to participate in the brainstorming and action planning process
  • some or a lot of difficulty in performing Activities of Daily Living, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, or walking across a small room

This program is separate from any insurance-covered Home Health episode (homebound status and skilled clinical need not required). This project is funded by the Minnesota Department of Human Services Live Well at Home Grant.

To enroll, contact:

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