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WINTER 2015
A GING
C ONNECTIO N
Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging
READY TO FACE AGING?
Here are five facts that will
surprise you!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE…
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Ready to face aging?
Roundtable Discussion
Older Americans Act Funds
By the time we reach 2031,
25% of Minnesotans will be
over the age of 65.
At least 60,000 Minnesotans
will turn 65 every year between
now and 2031. That’s like a new
city the size of Lakeville every
year, populated entirely by
seniors. The effects of the
coming demographic shift will
be
wide-ranging
and
long-lasting.
Older Americans Act Funds
Staff Directory
Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging
Arrowhead Regional Development
Commission
221 West First Street
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 722-5545 or (800) 232-0707
Senior LinkAge Line®
(800) 333-2433
www.arrowheadaging.org
www.ardc.org
As baby boomers reach
retirement age, Minnesota’s
senior population will double.
By 2020, there will be more
seniors in Minnesota than
school kids. If our student population increased as quickly, we
would need 1,200 new classrooms and 1,200 new teachers
every year.
Create a continuum of senior
care that lasts throughout our
lifetimes.
Long-term care isn’t about just
nursing homes. From in-home
support to assisted living to
more
intensive
care
environments, today’s long-term
care provides options that let
seniors and families preserve
their quality of life for as long as
possible.
We are going to need more
caregivers.
Over the next decade, we will
need another 1.3 million
professional caregivers in our
country, in large part to care for
our growing senior population.
In Minnesota, finding enough
high-quality caregivers and
paying them fairly are among the
most important challenges that
need addressing if we are going
to care for today’s and
tomorrow’s seniors.
The people have spoken.
In a statewide scientific survey,
91% of people agreed that the
State of Minnesota should
provide the funding needed for
day-to-day services for older
adults who cannot afford
long-term care services on their
own. It’s an issue that is on our
minds and in our hearts—how
can all aging Minnesotans
receive the quality care they
need?
Go to FaceAgingMN.org and stay
informed about the state of aging in
Minnesota.
Roundtable Discussion around Rural Healthcare for Older Adult
Older adults living in rural Northeastern Minnesota face health care challenges from a lack of access to resources, shortage of medical staff and isolation in small towns, industry representatives told Sen. Al Franken on Saturday during a listening session in Duluth.
Those challenges — and possible solutions — were laid out at the meeting with Franken, DMinn., co-chairman of the bipartisan
Senate Rural Health Caucus, at the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission.
Concerns expressed during the session included health care jobs going unfilled because skilled workers don’t want to move to
rural Minnesota; inability to pay competitive wages to entice people to the health care industry; the need for broadband Internet in
rural areas to communicate and use electronic health records; and the inability for some residents to receive services because of
their distance from medical facilities.
Skilled health care workers need to be drawn back to the rural areas where they grew up, said former state Rep. Tom Huntley of
Duluth, who chaired the Minnesota House Health and Human Services Finance Committee. There’s a particular shortage of gerontologists in rural Minnesota, he added.
Franken echoed that concern, pointing out that more gerontologists are going to be needed as the post-World War II baby boomer generation continues to age. Gerontology in rural areas isn’t seen as an attractive option for many people going to medical
school, he said, adding, “Man, oh man, it’s ahuge need.”
“The big message: You’ve got to grow your own,” Huntley said.
Health care workers who didn’t grow up in a rural area often don’t want to move to rural Minnesota, he said, but it’s also difficult to
convince people who grew up in rural areas to leave for schooling and then return home when they complete their education.
Franken suggested student loan forgiveness to steer people into both a medical specialty such as gerontology, as well as specific
geographic areas.
Rural health care providers also often have a difficult time paying competitive wages for staff such as registered nurses and certified nursing assistants.
Tony Sertich, president of the Duluth-based Northland Foundation, explained that in small towns, people may choose to work ata
gas station instead of a health care provider because of the wages.
The foundation operates three assisted-living facilities in small Northland communities and “we’ve burned through the potential
employees in these small towns,” he said.
Franken said after the session that if agas station is paying a higher wage than a skilled job, “we need to think about our priorities
in America.”
Access to broadband Internet in rural areas also should help rural health care by expanding and improving the ability for medical
professionals to share information about a patient, said Toby Pearson of Care Providers of Minnesota. Some home-care providers
and nursing homes can’t access electronic health records because of the cost of purchasing the needed software and the lack of
broadband Internet, causing a breakdown of communication.
If a senior citizen transitions from a hospital to a nursing home and there’s access
to records and communication between the
staff at the two facilities, it will create a
smoother transition that will reduce the senior’s rate of readmission to the hospital,
Pearson said.
Huntley pointed out that when his wife
needed to go to the emergency room following a surgery in Duluth, the emergency
room staff in the hospital — 120 miles from
Duluth — was able to communicate electronically with her surgeon.
“That’s the way it ought to be, but it’s not
like that in a lot of rural places in the state,”
he said.
Melissa Larson of Integrity Health Network added that communication networks 2
also need to be set up between a patient’s care providers and social workers who are linked into government assistance programs.
OLDER AMERICANS ACT FUNDS
HELP SENIORS LIVE INDEPENDENTLY
ARDC’s Area Agency on Aging has made awards in 2015 to 16 organizations to provide services for persons age 60
or older and their family caregivers with Title III Federal Older Americans Act funding totaling over $1.8 million.
These services are designed to help seniors in Northeastern Minnesota age well by maintaining their independence at
home and in their communities.
TITLE III-B
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
Project: Senior LinkAge Line®
Grantee: Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging
Funded Services: Information & Assistance and Outreach
Counties Served: Seven Arrowhead Counties
Contact Person: Marjori Bottila
Telephone: 1.800.333.2433
Project: Senior Citizens’ Law Project
Grantee: Legal Aid Service of NE Minnesota
Funded Services: Legal Assistance and Legal Education
Counties Served: Seven Arrowhead Counties
Contact Person: Kris Parendo
Telephone: 218.623.8103
Project: Senior Wheels
Grantee: ElderCircle
Funded Service: Assisted Transportation
County Served: Itasca County
Contact Person: Kim Smith
Telephone: 218.999.9233
Project: Communities Called to Care Program
Grantee: Volunteer Services of Carlton County
Funded Services: Assisted Transportation,
Chore & Consultation
Counties Served: Carlton and Southern St. Louis Counties
Contact Person: Jill Hatfield
Telephone: 218.879.9238
Project: 60+ Chore Service
Grantee: Floodwood Services and Training
Funded Service: Chore
Areas Served: Floodwood, Brookston and Meadowlands
Contact Person: Jim Taray
Telephone: 218.476.2230
Project: Care Partners Senior Rides Program
Grantee: North Shore Health Care Foundation
Funded Service: Assisted Transportation
County Served: Cook County
Contact Persons: Kay Grindland & Debi LaMusga
Telephone: 218.387.3788
TITLE III-B
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES CONTINUED
Project: Angel CARE Initiative
Grantee: Aitkin County CARE, Inc.
Funded Services: Assisted Transportation,
Chore & Consultation
County Served: Aitkin County
Contact Person: Matthew Hill
Telephone: 218.927.1383
Project: NP Volunteer Transportation Services
Grantee: Northwoods Partners
Funded Service: Assisted Transportation
Area Served: Ely area
Contact Person: Lisa Porthan
Telephone: 218.365.8019
Project: Volunteer Driver Program
Grantee: Community Partners
Funded Service: Assisted Transportation
Area Served: Two Harbors area
Contact Person: Kirsten Cruikshank
Telephone: 218.834.8024
Project: Title III Self-Directed Services
Contractor: Consumer Directions, Inc.
Funded Service: Title III-B Self-Directed Services
Counties Served: Seven Arrowhead Counties
Contact Person: Shantel Jaszcak
Telephone: 1.800.400.4670
Project: AgeWell at Home
Contractor: Age Well Arrowhead
Funded Service: Chore, Consultation, Homemaker
Area Served: Duluth Area
Contact Person: Becky Perrett
Telephone: 218.481.3150
TITLE III-C
SENIOR NUTRITION SERVICES
Project: Senior Nutrition Program
Contractor: Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency
(AEOA)
Funded Services: Congregate and Home Delivered Meals
Counties Served: Seven Arrowhead Counties
Contact Person: Marilyn Ocepek
Telephone: 218.748.7325
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TITLE III-D
DISEASE PREVENTION & HEALTH PROMOTION
Project: Carlton County Medication Therapy Management
Contractor: Community Memorial Hospital
Funded Service: Medication Management and Therapy
Area Served: Carlton County
Contact Person: Megan Undeberg
Telephone: 218.879.4641
Project: Health CARE Education
Grantee: Aitkin County CARE, Inc.
Funded Service: Evidence-Based Matter of Balance
County Served: Aitkin County
Contact Person: Matthew Hill
Telephone: 218.927.1383
Project: A Matter of Balance
Grantee: Northwoods Partners
Funded Service: Evidence-Based Matter of Balance
Area Served: Ely area
Contact Person: Lisa Porthan
Telephone: 218.365.8019
Grantee: Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging
Funded Service: Evidence-Based Health Promotion
County Served: Seven Arrowhead Counties
Contact Person: Debra Laine
Telephone: 218.529.7534
Project: Aging Well
Grantee: ElderCircle
Funded Service: Evidence-Based Matter of Balance,
Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, & Arthritis
Foundation Exercise Program
County Served: Itasca County
Contact Person: Robyn Gunnerson
Telephone: 218.999-9233
TITLE III-E
CAREGIVER SUPPORT SERVICES
Project: Caregiver Support
Contractor: Age Well Arrowhead
Funded Service: Caregiver Counseling
Area Served: Duluth area
Contact Person: Becky Perrett
Telephone: 218.481.3150
Project: Care for the Caregiver
Grantee: Aitkin County CARE, Inc.
Funded Services: Respite and Caregiver Counseling
County Served: Aitkin County
Contact Persons: Tricia Martin and Callie Taylor
Telephone: 218.927.1383 and 877.810.7776
TITLE III-E
CAREGIVER SUPPORT SERVICES
CONTINUED
Project: Care Partners Caregiver Support
Grantee: North Shore Health Care Foundation
Funded Service: Caregiver Counseling
County Served: Cook County
Contact Persons: Kay Grindland and Jeannette Lindgren
Telephone: 218.387.3788
Project: Caregiver Support Program
Grantee: Community Partners
Funded Services: Respite, Caregiver Counseling, Education
and Support Groups
Area Served: Two Harbors area
Contact Person: Linda Kinnunen
Telephone: 218.834.8024
Project: Respite Program
Grantee: ElderCircle
Funded Service: Respite
County Served: Itasca County
Contact Person: Linda Barth
Telephone: 218.999.9233
Project: Caregiver Support Program
Grantee: Floodwood Services and Training, Inc.
Funded Services: Respite and Caregiver Counseling
Areas Served: Floodwood, Brookston and Meadowlands areas
Contact Persons: Donna Tracy and Stacy Stevens
Telephone: 218.476.2230
Project: Koochiching Caregiver Support Program
Grantee: Koochiching Aging Options
Funded Service: Caregiver Counseling, & Info Events
County Served: Koochiching County
Contact Person: Doug Skrief
Telephone: 218.283.7030
Project: Caregiver Support and Respite Services
Grantee: Lutheran Social Services of MN
Funded Service: Respite
County Served: St. Louis and Carlton Counties
Contact Person: Peg Kirsch Lee
Telephone: 218.724.0648
Project: Range Respite
Contractor: Range Respite, Inc.
Funded Service: Respite
County Served: Northern St. Louis County
Contact Person: Linda Kolocek
Telephone: 218.749.5051
Project: DayBreak In-Home and Group Respite Program
Grantee: Volunteer Services of Carlton County, Inc.
Funded Services: Respite and Caregiver Counseling
County Served: Carlton County
Contact Persons: Cari Terrior-Johnson and Kris Dwyer
Telephone: 218.879.9238 (respite); 218.393.7003
(counseling)
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AREA AGENCY ON AGING
STAFF DIRECTORY
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
1-800-232-0707 OR 218-722-5545
Advisory Committee on Aging Meetings
March 10, 2015and May 12, 2015—12:30 p.m.
ARDC-221 West First Street, Duluth, MN
Arnold, Alicia
Information & Assistance and Counseling
Specialist, ext. 526
Bottila, Marjori
Contact Center Coordinator and Information &
Assistance and Counseling Specialist, ext. 538
Casey, Hannah
Information & Assistance and Counseling
Specialist, ext.523
On-Site Health Insurance Counseling
If you need help with Medicare or insurance paperwork,
ENIOR LINKAGEfor
LINE
LOOKING FOR
callS1-800-333-2433
an ®
appointment
at oneVOLUNTEERS
of these sites.
Volunteer opportunities for persons interested in becoming a State Health
Insurance & Assistance Program (SHIP) counselor.
Attend a three-day training in Carlton, MN. Volunteer opportunities exist in
your community to work with seniors, their families and caregivers.
Caskey, Barb—EDP Coordinator, ext. 536
Conkins, Cindy
Aging Services Planner, ext. 542
Edwards, Kara—Secretary, ext. 520
Laine, Debra
Special Projects Coordinator, ext. 534
Tuesday, March 17—Thursday, March 19, 2015
9:30 a.m.—4:00 p.m. each day
Volunteer Services of Carlton County, Inc.
199 Chestnut Avenue, Ste. 3
Carlton, MN 55718
Pre-registration is required by contacting Lee Swenson at 1-800-333-2433,
ext. 81019 or lswenson@ardc.org.
Larsen, Stephanie
Community Living Specialist
800-333-2433 ext. 81005
Loney, Shelley
Community Living Specialist
800-333-2433 ext. 82075
Olson, Allison
Pre-Admissions Screening Specialist
ext. 525
Peterson, Laura
Pre-Admissions Screening Specialist
ext. 519
Prosen, Sara
Aging Services Planner, ext. 550
Sampson, Catherine—Director, ext. 540
Sauve, Leslie
Community Living Specialist, ext. 537
Stillwell, Heather
EDP Program Developer, ext. 524
Swenson, Lee
Volunteer Coordinator, ext. 539
Tveit, Karen
Information & Assistance and Counseling
Specialist—Koochiching County, 218-2859156
Walters, Gloria
Information & Assistance and Counseling
Specialist, ext. 521
On-Site Health Insurance Counseling
If you need help with Medicare or insurance paperwork,
call 1-800-333-2433 for an appointment at one of these sites.
AEOA—Virginia, MN
Age Well Arrowhead—Duluth, MN
Aitkin Co. CARE—Aitkin, MN
ARDC—Duluth, MN
Big Falls Community Bldg.—Big Falls, MN
Bois Forte—Nett Lake and Tower, MN
C.A.I.R—Cloquet, MN
Cook Hospital—Cook, MN
Cook County Senior Center—Grand Marais, MN
ElderCircle Office—Grand Rapids, MN
Fond du Lac—Cloquet, MN
Grand Itasca Hospital Patient Resource Center—Grand Rapids, MN
Gitchi Onigaming Community Center– Grand Portage, MN
Lake County—Silver Bay & Two Harbors, MN
Littlefork Medical Center—Littlefork, MN
Northome Resource Center—Northome, MN
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church—Duluth, MN
Volunteer Services of Carlton Co.—Carlton, MN
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Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 721
DULUTH, MN
221 West First Street
Duluth, MN 55802
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
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THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!
Thank you to our Senior LinkAge Line® volunteers who provided
1,800 hours of volunteer time in 2014.
Each volunteer serves in the way that best suits them. Some took
time to provide in-person Medicare counseling assisting in completing forms and paperwork and understanding the multiple, available
healthcare options for Medicare beneficiaries. Others lead community presentations on Fraud Awareness, taught computer and Internet skills classes through the Senior Surf Day class, provided needed support in the office or presented educational/informational
presentations to groups throughout our region. Many spent time
attending training throughout the year. Some of our volunteers
staffed the Area Agency on Aging booth at various events in the
region throughout the year such as health fairs, conferences
or expos.
Each volunteer worked to make a difference in our
communities.
The Area Agency on Aging always welcomes new volunteers with
the Senior LinkAge Line®. Visit our
Volunteer Opportunities page, on the Arrowhead Area Agency in Aging website
(www.arrowheadaging.org), or contact Lee Swenson, Volunteer
Coordinator, directly at the Senior LinkAge Line®
1-800-333-2433, x81019 or direct at 218-529-7539.
The Minnesota Department of Human
Services (DHS) has published their 2016
Request for Proposal (RFP) soliciting applicants for the Live Well at Home
Grant, previously known as the Community Service/Services Development (CS/
SD) grant program.
The complete Request for Proposal, including online application and directions,
is available on the DHS Live Well at
Home Grants website at http://
www.mn.gov/dhs/live-well.
Final proposals are due at DHS on March
27, 2015. To register for the Responder's
Webinar on February 19 and for other
grant details, go to http://www.mn.gov/
dhs/live-well.
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