Newsletter of the Vital Aging Network--
celebrating 20 years of service and education!
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In this edition
- Thank you for donating to VAN
- Aging with Gusto news
- Wellness 50+ sponsors blood drive; updates MeetUp platform
- In the news
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Thank you for donating to GiveMN
by VAN Director Mark Skeie
Thank you to everyone who donated to VAN via GiveMN.org on GiveMN Day, November 18. Thanks, also, to everyone who donated to VAN directly via the VAN website during that period of time and to corporations and foundations that have provided significant resources to fund VAN programs during the past six weeks.
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We are at the close of another year! It’s hard to believe it will soon be 2022. It has been a good year for VAN, one that has brought its challenges and its rewards. Despite the obstacles, VAN has continued to grow. We wish to thank all of you who have contributed your dollars to VAN. To those who have not made a donation to us this past year, there is still time. (Please see donation link below).
VAN’s accomplishments with Aging with Gusto, and Wellness 50+ have been numerous. We have touched more than 1,200 individuals this year. We hope to double that number in the coming year.
We still need your help: donate today.
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"Age is simply the number of years the world has been enjoying you."
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Notes from Aging with Gusto (AWG) |
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Questions about any Aging with Gusto sessions? Contact Coordinator Donna Comer at donnajmcomer@gmail.com or 763-226-4729.
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What is Aging with Gusto?
The Aging with Gusto Series offers a three-session discussion series, currently only online. The discussions are led by trained facilitators and offer plenty of time for participants to engage and learn from one another.
The purpose of these sessions is to:
- Encourage more positive views of aging.
- Increase awareness of ageism and its impact on attitudes, behaviors, and experience with aging.
- Explore how to maintain our well-being and manage challenges as we age.
- Develop ideas for how to age with gusto.
"I’ve appreciated the chance to connect with people.
We’re all feeling in many ways the same. It helps to feel I’m not alone in this. Thanks so much for this awesome program!"
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Aging with GUSTO announces its
Train the Facilitator Training Program
The Aging with GUSTO design team has been developing aTrain the Facilitator program to empower local leaders to bring Aging with GUSTO sessions to their organizations and members. This new initiative will expand the outreach of Aging with GUSTO and The Vital Aging Network.
This winter the Aging with GUSTO Train the Facilitator initiative will train five partner organizations of the Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging (AAA), the agency which addresses the needs and concerns of all older persons in the Arrowhead Region.
The partner organizations participating include:
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Lighthouse Center for Vital Living, which fosters vibrant lives for people with vision loss and other challenges to independence.
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Community Partners, which supports the independence of people 60+ and their caregivers in the Two Harbors area.
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North Shore Area Partners, which promotes independence for seniors in the Beaver Bay, Finland, Isabella, Little Marais, Silver Bay communities, and surrounding area.
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Volunteer Services of Carlton County, a network of volunteers and partners who secure and distribute food, clothing, information, referrals, and emergency assistance to people in need.
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ElderCircle, focused on empowering older adults so they can remain in their homes and communities.
If you would like more information about Aging with Gusto Train the Facilitator training please get in touch with Donna Comer at donnajmcomer@gmail.com
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AWG offers Ageism Workshops, too!
AN AWG's Ageism Workshop is a program on ageism designed for organizations and individuals interested in addressing the negative impacts of ageism in their work with older people and their business environments. This workshop aligns with many organizations' Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.
The Ageism Workshops provide a forum for people to raise their awareness about ageism and its impacts on older adults. This interactive workshop helps participants identify ways to address ageism in their work and personal lives.
The format normally is a 90-minute to a two-hour session, but it can also be delivered in greater depth and application to work environments as a 3-4 hour workshop.
"It opened my eyes to ageism. I’ve done some work
on racism and sexism and yet it was not a small leap to get to [recognizing] ageism. Now that I’m aware of it, I see it more often and I’ve learned to check myself on what I say. It’s changing my thinking."
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Do you have questions about hosting an Aging with GUSTO series or an Ageism Workshop?
Please contact: Donna Comer, Aging with Gusto Coordinator, at donnajmcomer@gmail.com or by phone at 763-226-4729.
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Did you go gray during the pandemic?
It's a thing. Many people--mostly women--decided to stop coloring their hair during the pandemic. Listen here to a Minnesota Public Radio panel discussing the phenomenon. The program aired on Monday, December 13.
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Cottage Grove - Forest Lake - Oakdale - Stillwater - Woodbury
Phillips Neighborhood
What is Wellness 50+?
Wellness 50+ has active teams in Washington County (Cottage Grove, Forest Lake, Oakdale, Stillwater and Woodbury). It also has a team in the Minneapolis Phillips neighborhood. Its purpose is to promote health and wellness in those communities. Wellness 50+ teams plan and facilitate activities that include walking groups, healthy cooking classes, book clubs, recipe sharing and more.
Click here to learn more about Wellness 50+ goals and strategies.
Currently Wellness 50+ is creating its calendar of events for 2022. Watch for information about a comprehensive list of both indoor and outdoor activities on the horizon for the new year.
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'Tis the season of giving
What better way to give back to your community than to donate blood.
Oakdale Wellness 50+, the City of Oakdale and the Lions Club are sponsoring a blood drive with the American Red Cross on Monday, January 3, at the Oakdale Discovery Center, 4444 Hadley Avenue North, Oakdale.
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Join us for a presentation on water quality and hydration
On Tuesday, January 18, at 6:30 p.m. Brian Bachmeier, Oakdale Public Works Director, will provide an update on Oakdale water quality, the recent PFAS (a "forever chemical") 3M settlement funds allocation, and the impact to Oakdale and other Washington county cities.
Following the presentation, stay for a discussion about hydration, healthy hydration options, and the importance of hydration to wellness.
The session will be held at the Oakdale Discovery Center, 4444 Hadley Avenue N. There is no fee to attend, but registration is required at 651-747-3860 or www.oakdalefun.com .
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Wellness 50+ streamlines its Meetup presence
In recent years VAN's Wellness 50+ program has used the Meetup platform (www.meetup.com) to promote and take registrations for its wellness activities programs. In the past, it maintained three Meetup sites: North Washington County, South Washington County, and Central Washington County.
Now Wellness 50+ is combining the existing three Meetup groups into a single group. The single site will be known as the Wellness 50+ Twin Cities group.
You can use the link below to visit the Wellness 50+ Twin Cities group. It's where you'll find biking, kayaking and Wellness 50+'s other First Tuesday events.
Wellness 50+ will kick off 2022 on January 4 at 4:30 p.m. with a First Tuesday Zumba dance event at the Historic Washington County Courthouse in Stillwater.
Please join the Twin Cities group if you are interested in participating. Joining will add you to our e-mail list for information about additional Wellness 50+ events.
Here's the link. Use it to sign up for the group and to receive more information about Wellness 50+ events.
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For more information about VAN's Wellness 50+ program
or e-mail: wellness50mn@gmail.com
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Hospital at Home: The Future of Health Care in Your Living Room
Technology, affordability, and patient satisfaction mean in-home health care solutions could revolutionize medical care for older Americans. A recent article on the NextAvenue website examined this prospect.
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Want to know more about the Senior LinkAge Line?
If you've wondered if the services offered by the Senior LinkAge Line might be a resource for you, this story first published by Trellis in October will be of interest. Read the story here.
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