SEMAAA News

Don’t miss the opportunity to:

• Hear from communities who are doing great work and learn from their successes and challenges.
• Discover about new initiatives that promise to help us take the next leap forward.
• Join water-cooler conversations to engage in conversation on topics of your choosing.
• Experience the latest theatrical video from The Remember Project and connect with others on themes raised in the play.
• Join a community of learning to engage year-round.

People leading dementia-friendly community efforts, Dementia Friends and Champions, healthcare providers, civic leaders, senior center staff, volunteers, people with dementia-related illnesses, caregivers… anyone interested in making their communities more dementia friendly. This is for you!

Thursday, October 7 – 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Interactive with small and large group discussions and optional selections with ample time for breaks and networking activities.
Zoom – Cost: Free

Questions? Contact Jen Rooney at jrooney@trellisconnects.org.

The results of the survey will be used to set priorities and develop strategies for both the State Plan on Aging and the Age-Friendly MN Council. Results will also be used by other State agency partners as well as by regions, sover-eign nations, and community organizations.

To participate, please go to mn.gov/dhs/age-friendly-mn/ and click on “Take the Community Survey”.

The Olmsted County Falls Coalition works on this all year, and they make a special push to address solutions and raise awareness during Fall Prevention Awareness week. With COVID in mind, they are not planning on leading multiple in-person presentations this year but instead will focus on a series of virtual roundtable discussions with Wellness/Activity directors of independent and assisted living communities. The goal is to find out more about what they are already doing to prevent falls, learn from each other, and offer additional resources and support to enhance programming and education in those settings.

In addition to the roundtable discussion, the coalition has presented at Towne Club Apartments to 25 people in early August and may present to a group of seniors at Autumn Ridge Church in October. From their work last year, the coalition still has copies of the “Build Better Balance” books. This year, they are matching older adults to student coaches or working in small groups to move through the material covered in the book. This is possible through a partnership with Family Service Rochester, Winona State University, and Mayo Clinic DP Students. If interested in taking part in this, call FSR at 507-287-2010.

There are still some evidence-based fall prevention classes available to sign up for this fall if you are interested:

• Austin YMCA– Virtual—September 21st-December 9th, 9:30-10:30, www.yourjuniper.org
• Ace Brain Fitness-Virtual—September 14th-December 7th, 10:30-11:30 www.yourjuniper.org
• Stewartville- United Methodist Church-In-Person-900 John Wesley Ave NW, September 14, Tue & Thurs. 10-11:30, Call FSR to register- 507-287-2010

A statewide virtual event sponsored by Minnesota Association of Area Agencies on Aging in partnership with Whitney Senior Center, AARP, and Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division.

For Older Adults, Caregivers, Professionals, and those interested in learning about staying safe in their home and community.

Fire
Kathi Osmonson and Bob Reif
Deputy State Fire Marshals
MN State Fire Marshal Division
(Pre-recorded presentation with Live Q & A)

Contact one of these agencies to get connected and learn more about this evidence-based program.

• Elder Network– 507-285-5272
• Family Service Rochester– 507-287-2010
• WellConnect– www.wellconnectsemn.org
• Winona Friendship Center– 507-454-5212

• September 28th: 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm (with Jerry Roberts)
• October 4th: 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm (with Chad Wojchik)
• October 21st: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm (with Chad Wojchik)
• January 13th: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm (with Jerry Roberts)

NEW TO MEDICARE / ABCD’s – Do you want to better understand your Medicare options and benefits? Let a certified Senior LinkAge Line® Specialist from the SE MN Area Agency on Aging help you make informed decisions. This class outlines the parts of Medicare, enrollment periods and penalties, special programs, and tools and tips for comparing current health and drug options available in Minnesota. Annual open enrollment begins in October and ends in early December.
Registration through Rochester Community Education.

• October 5th: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm – facilitated by Jerry Roberts.

HOW SLL CAN HELP YOU! / MEDICARE UPDATES – Event is specifically for residents of Three Links Care Center in Northfield, no outside registration available. General SLL information with reminders of Medicare OEP and updates.

• October 7th: 1:30 pm – 3 pm – facilitated by Chad Wojchik.

PAYING AND PLANNING FOR LONG-TERM CARE* – Long-term care is the personal care and household help you need as you grow older or have a chronic illness or disability. Medicare and your health insurance do not pay for most long-term care. This presentation will provide you with information on why and how to plan and pay for your future long-term care needs.

• December 13th: 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm – facilitated by Chad Wojchik.

*Register for SEMAAA hosted events at
www.EventBrite.com/o/semaaa-34313681085
If you are unable to make it to a virtual event and prefer a 1:1 phone conversation;
Senior LinkAge Line® is available Monday – Friday from 8 am – 4:30 pm @ 1-800-333-2433.

Join Mayo Clinic, AARP, and the Alzheimer’s Association for the Mayo Clinic Conference on Brain Health and Dementia on Friday, October 29th, virtually via livestream. This FREE event is for people living with dementia, care partners and families, healthcare professionals, and anyone interested in supporting friends and neighbors who may be experiencing memory loss, Alzheimer’s, or another dementia.
A Brighter Path Forward will focus on lessons learned that have deepened our understanding of the dementia experience, challenged our perspectives, and inspired us like never before toward greater empathy, inclusivity, and innovative reforms to create a better world for those impacted by dementia.

• The MN Board on Aging has had a decrease in federal funding that helped cover Health Care Choices printing costs.
• Postage costs have risen, and it is very expensive to mail such a large item to thousands of people each year.
• It is much more cost effective for people to view the book online and down-load pages they consider most useful.
• Did you know? Often, people only use a few pages of the 200+ page book to choose their Medicare plan!
• In addition, some plans make updates to benefits, etc. throughout the year.
• Once the books are printed, this information immediately becomes out-of-date once there has been an update.
• The online version is always the most up-to-date edition! Check it out!
• People can also refer to their print copies of “Medicare and You,” which is mailed out to enrollees each September.

We have so many reasons to celebrate and here are just a few:

As a nation, we recognize the impact that the murder of George Floyd has had on putting the spotlight on equity, inclusion & social justice. We take time to vison forward to the tributes and positive changes to come.

As a state we applaud and celebrate the efforts of all who advocated to move the MN Age Friendly initiative to a state-wide platform, boosting forward education around ageism and momentum to build robust aging services among an aging nation.

As a community we celebrate the tradition of honoring and preserving local landmarks such as the ear of corn water tower and most importantly the efforts of both public and private sectors to embrace the Listen, Learn and Act initiative to promote community inclusion.

As a AAA, we look forward to celebrating in October, 40 years of service to the southeastern region of MN. SEMAAA’s fall newsletter will look back at some of the great memories and a snapshot of the future!

As for me, personally, I was so happy to celebrate my Mom’s 88th birthday with her. Pictured – Joanne with a special guest, “Frank the Bear,” that rascal has popped up at several Zoom meetings and celebrations!

Finding Ways to Engage at Every Age,

Laurie
Executive Director