Newsletter of the Vital Aging Network--
celebrating 20 years of service and education!
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In this edition
- Don't be a victim of fraud!
- A high schooler's perspective on ageism
- Combating Ageism seminar a success
- You can attend an Aging with Gusto seminar in Chaska
- Wellness 50+: upcoming events
- Events sponsored by our partners
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Don't want to be a victim of fraud?
Here are some tools:
In this day of multiple forms of electronic communication, seniors--along with everyone else--are more at risk than ever before for becoming victims of fraud.
AARP is working to do something about that. Jay Haapala, associate Minnesota director for community engagement at AARP, has shared some of his organization's efforts with us. The first is an article from a recent AARP bulletin called Learn to spot, foil lastest cons in Minnesota. The second is the AARP Fraud Watch Network which provides a host of articles, videos, and expert advice about fraud and consumer protection. |
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Some wisdom on ageism from a high school senior
VAN Aging with Gusto Facilitator Sally Brown works with high school youth through an organization called LYI. Recently, she came across a poem that one of her youth group members, Laicia, wrote. Although Laicia is a senior in high school, her thoughts about age will resonate with us all.
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Age does not define me
Age does not define me,
it can't define my maturity,
my intelligence,
my passion,
my dream.
Age is just there to tell how old
I am and how young I am
not what I can do and cannot do.
Age is a number big and small,
it's a number from years now
and to years on.
Age does not define me
no, not my experiences,
my thoughts,
my emotions,
my hopes.
By Laicia
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Combating Ageism seminar on March 24 draws 235 participants
It’s time to say no to ageism was the theme of a dynamic, two-hour, online workshop on March 24 designed to elevate individual and organizational awareness of the stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination directed toward people based on age.
Facilitators Sally Brown and Donna Comer of the Vital Aging Network and Adam Suomala of the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging helped participants identify institutional, interpersonal, and self-directed ageism and began discussing ways to combat ageism and create a Minnesota free of ageism.
The learning objectives for combating ageism were:
- Learn the fundamentals of ageism, including the stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination directed towards older people based on age and its impact on attitudes about aging.
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Recognize how ageism in all its forms – institutional, interpersonal, and self-directed – affects your life, work environment, and the systems you can influence.
- Take home practical strategies to identify and constructively address ageism quickly.
Some 235 participants attended.
About 90 percent of the attendees who responded felt the program was a good investment of their time and resources. When asked what the most valuable part of the program was, attendees voiced these opinions:
- The exercises raised my self-awareness about my experiences with ageism but also my part in perpetuating ageism.
- The follow-up from the small group scenarios was valuable. I really enjoyed and valued the gift of language tools and ideas to combat ageism.
Because many of the participants wanted more discussion on ageism, the Vital Aging Network and The Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging are hoping to offer this session again and possibly a follow-up in July or August.
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News about Aging with Gusto (AWG)
Aging with Gusto (AWG) is one of the primary programs of the Vital Aging Network. AWG offers workshops, seminars, and discussions designed to help older adults explore ways to live fully as they age and to understand and combat ageism.
Chaska to offer in-person AWG series in May
The City of Chaska's Parks and Recreation Active Older Adults group will be hosting an Aging with Gusto series on Wednesdays, May 4, 11, and 18 from 1-2:30 pm. This will be Aging with Gusto's first in-person session since the beginning of the pandemic. This series will be held at the Chaska Community Center, 1661 Park Ridge Drive, Chaska. Register by calling 952 448 5633.
As COVID numbers decline, Aging with Gusto sessions can be scheduled via Zoom or in-person. Please contact Donna Comer at donnajmcomer@gmail.com , 763-226-4729, for more information about our AWG and Ageism programs
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"Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning."
--William Arthur Ward, American motivational writer.
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What is Wellness 50+?
Cottage Grove - Forest Lake - Oakdale - Stillwater - Woodbury
Phillips Neighborhood
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.
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Oakdale joins a network of
Age-Friendly Communities
Oakdale citizens and supporters recently received news that Oakdale is officially a member of the AARP Age-Friendly Community effort.
Planning for a healthy future engages elected officials such as the City Council and local leaders in wellness such as the Oakdale Wellness 50+ team, and partner agencies such as the Vital Aging Network, Oakdale Library, Maplewood Oakdale Lions Club, Washington County Health, Trellis, and Family Means. Together they form a task force that will pursue a five-year process to make Oakdale more livable for people over the age of 50. Fifteen other Minnesota communities and the governor's office have joined the statewide effort.
The first step is a community-wide survey to be conducted in the summer of 2022, followed by community listening sessions. These tools will discover how citizens believe Oakdale can become more age-friendly.
"Age-Friendly" and "livability" are defined as those activities and resources that enable residents to thrive at every age. The Oakdale task force is focusing on people aged 50+, but many of the ideas and improvements will benefit all ages. Age-Friendly Communities encompass outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, social connections, civic engagement, information resources and health
services.
Photo caption: Age-Friendly task force members: front--Colleen Herrmann;
left to right--Jackie Chlebeck, Deborah Moeller, Bonnie Wilson, Colleen Swedberg, Jan Cunningham, and Mark Skeie. Additional task force members include Gretchen Benson of the Oakdale Library, Glen Bearth of the Maplewood Oakdale Lions, Beth Brisky of Washington County Health, Beth Wiggins of Family
Means, and Diane Graham Raff of Trelis.
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Oakdale Wellness 50+ activities scheduled soon
Oakdale has a movie club that meets every other month, facilitated by the Oakdale Public Library*. The next movie to be discussed is Secondhand Lions on April 27 at
2 pm. The library reference desk provides the movie prior to the meeting and sets up a lively discussion in person and on zoom. To join, email oakdalewellness50new@gmail.com.
Wednesday Walks Oakdale Wellness 50+ will continue its successful Wednesday Walks program all summer long. Walkers meet at the Oakdale Discovery Center* Wednesdays at 9 am with no registration necessary. Join us! email oakdalewellness50new@gmail.com for more detail.
Build strength at the Oakdale Nature Preserve on May 11 On May 11 at 10 a.m. fitness instructor Susan Weum will guide walkers around the Oakdale Nature Preserve to demonstrate the safe and strength-building use of the park's six exercise stations. This will immediately follow the usual Wednesday Walk for those who want to do both! Register at www.oakdalefun.com or call 651-747-3860.
*The Oakdale Library is located at 1010 Heron Avenue North, Oakdale. The Discovery Center is located at 4444 Hadley Avenue N. Oakdale.
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Stillwater Wellness 50+ offers back-to-back events on May 12
You are invited to two events at Stillwater's Community Thread on Thursday, May 12, starting at 2 p.m.
Community Thread is located at 2300 Orleans St. W., Stillwater. Call 651-489-7434 to register for either or both of these important events.
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Grandparenting on Purpose
The Grandparent Love event in March at Community Thread was a great success, and the majority of the participants wanted meet again. As a result, another event--this one titled Grandparenting on Purpose--is planned for Thursday, May 12, from 2-3:30 p.m.
The focus of this discussion will be defining what relationship grandparents would like to have with their grandchildren and what they can do to make it happen. There will be free time for conversation as well.
(During the first Grandparent Love session in March, the group discussed the joys of being a grandparent and the challenges that accompany that blessing. Participants noted that, among the group, some 37 grandchildren were represented, and they shared ideas for enhancing bonds and addressing challenges such as distance, in-law relationships, and staying connected during the teen years. One participant said of the session, "Gave me perspective on what is down the road and good ideas for the future."
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Learn about aging and hearing loss
At 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, directly following the Grandparenting on Purpose event, you are invited to join everyone at Community Thread for a discussion about aging and hearing loss
The discussion will be led by audiologist Dr. Kristi Albers. Dr. Albers has special interests in hearing aid technology, treating hearing loss, tinnitus, and wireless technology that works with hearing aids.
Register by calling 651-489-7434. The discussion is available in person and via Zoom.
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Untreated hearing loss effects --beyond saying “What?”
Dr. Kristi Albers
Nearly 48 million Americans are living with some degree of hearing loss, and for those over the age of 55 statistics rise with nearly 1 in 3 having hearing loss. Despite advancements in digital technology and increased user satisfaction, willingness to wear hearing aids continues to remain low. Studies have demonstrated that only 1 in 5 Americans who could benefit from hearing aids have chosen to wear them. The reasons many choose not to wear hearing aids continue to often be vanity, cost, or denial.
Unfortunately, the negative effects of untreated hearing loss for many Americans are far reaching beyond simply saying “What?” too often. Studies have demonstrated hearing loss can have a global negative impact on overall quality life if left untreated. Like a domino effect, untreated hearing loss may lead to frustration, isolation, depression, relationship issues, auditory deprivation, and greater risk of cognitive changes such as dementia.
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Wellness 50+ Twin Cities events
All of our events (Community Groups, Biking, Kayaking and 1st Tuesday) are posted on the Wellness 50+ website calendar. Use this link ( https://vital-aging-network.org/wellness-50) to see the calendar and to add upcoming events to your personal calendar.
Biking and kayaking
Monthly biking and kayaking events are planned throughout the warmer months. Come join us on bike rides on the fourth Monday of the month. Planned rides will be on the Gateway Trail, meeting at the Oakdale Discovery Center going east on one ride and west on another. We will also bike Hastings, the Stillwater Bridge Loop, and Cannon Falls Trail.
Kayaking events will be on the third Monday of the month led by Wahoo Adventures. Participants will paddle at Lake Gervais/Keller Lake, William O'Brien State Park, Willow River Wisconsin State Park, and White Bear Lake. Kayak rentals are available. Find more information on the Wellness 50+ calendar. (See web address above.)
Registration for these events will be on our Meetup group "Wellness 50+ Twin Cities". Join the group (Wellness 50+ Twin Cities Meetup Group) and you will receive an email when an event is ready for sign up.
Get ready for summer bicycle maintenance and tour (April 25, 9:45 a.m. - noon at Oakdale Discovery Center)
Wahoo Adventures will get you and your bike ready for summer riding. After a quick "tune up" we will ride to Gateway Cycle to see what service and products the bike shop can provide. This is a great opportunity to meet other Wellness 50+ bikers and learn more about the rides we have planned plus local and state biking trails. Registration is on Meetup (Meetup Event for April 25th Biking). Event cost is $20.
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1st Tuesday at the Parks
--April 1st Tuesday
We walked the paved paths of scenic Cottage Grove Ravine Park the morning of April 5 before the rain came. It was brisk but a nice walk to welcome spring on clear park paths.
--May 1st Tuesday
Come stretch and relax with free Yoga at Lake Elmo Park from 10 to 11 a.m. on May 3. Registration will be through our Meetup group so be sure to join Wellness 50+ Twin Cities to be informed when the event is ready for registration.
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Events from our partner organizations
We'd like you to know about these events sponsored by organizations with which we are partners:
Washington County Parks
Did you know that the County Parks offer outings like free bird watching hikes, and other fee-based events such as Zumba, Yoga and Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP)? Use this link to see the Parks calendar and register (Washington County Parks Event Calendar). You can sign up to receive the Washington County Parks Quarterly Update email along with other county updates using this link (Washington County Email Updates).
Volunteer opportunity at Cottage Grove Ravine Park
Help the Friends of the Mississippi (FMR) pull garlic mustard at Cottage Grove Ravine Park (Thursday May 19, 6 - 8 p.m.)
With 515 acres of hills and heavily wooded ravines, a small lake and a smattering of small prairies, Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park features a beautifully diverse landscape. FMR needs volunteers to remove garlic mustard, making way for native woodland and savanna plants and habitat. FMR volunteers have been contributing to the restoration of Ravine Park for about ten years. Join us as we build upon our successful efforts and help the oak forest. Use this link for more information and to register (FMR Garlic Mustard CG Ravine)
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Aging and Mental Health Support Group sponsored by Wilder Foundation
The Wilder Foundation is offering an Aging and Mental Health Support Group. Learn more here.
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“The older I get, the more I want to be authentically myself. ” – Julianne Moore, American actress.
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For more information about VAN's Wellness 50+ program
or e-mail: wellness50mn@gmail.com
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