November 2023

Visit our website at: https://vital-aging-network.org/

In this edition:

• Random thoughts about being old--by Sally Brown
• Aging with Gusto events
• Donate to VAN on Give to the Max Day, Nov.16
• Measuring aerobic activity--by Mia Bremer
• An intro to end-of-life doulas and their services
• Wellness 50+ events

News from Aging with Gusto

Random thoughts about being old

by Sally Brown, Aging with Gusto Facilitator

I’m 77 years old. As Maggie Kuhn, founder of the Gray Panthers, amazing woman, and a person I knew through my work with the Panthers, said, “The best age is the age you are.” I think 77 is old and I love it.

My sister is just four years older than me and she keeps worrying about getting old. She says she knows she will get “decrepit” and have to give things up that she enjoys. She chalks it up to being over 80. She’s a super positive person and keeps very active. She’s in two hiking groups with her friends, cuts wood for her fireplace and house heating, taps her maple trees, plays with and takes care of her grandchildren, hosts get togethers at her house for friends, and bicycles all over upstate New York. Yet, she is worried about getting old. When I try to talk to her about it, and about how she has given things up throughout her life and discovered new things she loved, she just repeats various ways of saying she doesn’t want to get old. I wonder if when I turn 80 I’ll start to think differently. I hope not.

What does “old” mean anyway? One person at an Aging with Gusto session asked that question. It led me to think a lot about it. I have come to embrace an exchange between a young girl and an old man who she had adopted as her grandfather from the novel News of the World by Paulette Jiles. The girl asks the man, “Grandpa, What is old?” The old man replies, “It’s when you have a lot of birthdays and have lived a long time.” It is really that simple. Old means you have lived a long time.

But, ageism... Ageist stereotypes, misconceptions and overgeneralizations have led us to tie a whole bunch of other things onto the word old. Certainly there are changes as we age, which begins when we are born and continues throughout our lives. There are physical, mental and emotional changes throughout life. We also face both joys and challenges, and gain things and lose things throughout our lives. So the things we associate with the word “old” strike me as overly negative and simplistic.

A while back I came across a quote by Anne Lamott that jumped out and grabbed me. It felt powerful, positive, and affirming. I sensed in my body how it honored the continuity of life and all its experiences. It filled me with a sense of wholeness. “We contain all the ages we have ever been.”

I spent time the weekend before Halloween with several friends, all of us connected through our work with Aging with Gusto. Marion, who is 96 years old, suggested we come visit and carve pumpkins together. We had fun sharing memories of all the Halloweens we carried within us and gabbing with each other about what we were enjoying in our lives. And then we dove in and used our creativity to decorate a bunch of pumpkins. I guess old can be quite fun.

(Above: Sally Brown, seated left, and her friends with some of their pumpkin creations.)

Learn more about our Aging with Gusto and Confronting Ageism workshops

Aging with Gusto workshops: are designed as a three-part, interactive series of sessions, with each session lasting about 90 minutes. Sessions may be held in person or via an online platform such as Zoom. They are led by trained facilitators.

Learn more about Aging with Gusto by watching this short video.

Download this flyer about the work of Aging with Gusto

Confronting Ageism workshops: are one-session events also led by trained facilitators that guide you and your group through activities that explore the roots and impacts of ageism and create opportunities for you to discover ways to combat them.

Both workshops are available in person or virtually via Zoom.

Jan Cunningham is Aging with Gusto's program coordinator. Contact her at jancunninghamAWG@gmail.com for information about scheduling Aging with Gusto and Confronting Ageism workshops for your groups.

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Recently...

On Tuesday, October 17,  Aging with Gusto led a group of about 40 Senior Community Service volunteers gathered in Minnetonka in a discussion entitled What Contributes to Your Aging with Gusto. The presentation centered on the contributors to Aging with Gusto and offered participants practical strategies to implement the contributors into their lives.

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On the horizon...

An offer not to be refused: For a limited time, you can bring Aging with Gusto's innovative, interactive, three-part series to your facility or community at no cost. This is a special offer and will only be available to a limited number of organizations which can register a minimum number of 10 participants. To reserve a date, contact Janet Cunningham at jancunninghamawg@gmail.com or call (651) 999-9908.

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A staff opportunity related to Confronting Ageism: Education MN Field Services in Rochester MN is planning a Confronting Ageism seminar for their staff on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at 11am. This will be a Virtual event. More details to follow as we get closer to the event.

Support VAN on Give to the Max Day, November 16!

Why support VAN with your donation? To empower Minnesotans to be vital, live fully, and contribute to community throughout life. Founded in 2001, the Vital Aging Network (VAN) works to promote self-determination, civic engagement, and personal growth for people as they age. We achieve those goals by providing education, leadership development, and opportunities for connection. (VAN is based in the Minnesota Twin Cities.)

VAN provides avenues for you to:

• Learn. (Check out VAN’s Aging with Gusto series)
• Engage. (Check out the opportunities for involvement and fellowship through VAN’s Wellness 50+ offerings)
• Lead. (Check out the opportunities to volunteer and become a VAN leader through VAN’s volunteer opportunities)

You can support VAN by donating on Give to the Max Day, November 16, 2023.

To donate, click here.

Here's what VAN Executive Director Mark Skeie has to say

"The Vital Aging Network (VAN) continues to grow and touch lives throughout the State of Minnesota. In the 20 plus years of its existence, VAN has created a positive influence on many individuals.

Programs such as Aging with Gusto have allowed people to think of aging in a positive light. The importance of maintaining a positive attitude is critical to our longevity and our legacy.

In addition, the Wellness 50+ program has helped communities recognize the older adults in our communities as assets who create a richer and self-fulfilling place to live.

Our communications through the monthly VAN newsletter and our website continue to provide a conduit to important news to older adults across the state.



To accomplish all of this we need your donations. We are an all-volunteer organization which requires countless hours to continue to maintain our ongoing activities. Please consider a donation and/or participating as a volunteer."

Get those screenings and preventive care procedures

During the COVID pandemic, many of us delayed regular visits to our doctors and those important screenings, preventative tests, and vaccines that we know are important to our health. It was understandable--access was limited; we were getting conflicting messages about the safety at medical care facilities; and, frankly, we just didn't know what was what!

But things are different now. And if you know you're overdue for an appointment with your primary care doctor, or if you have passed that due date for a preventative test, the best time to make an appointment is today!

You'll have yourself to thank for your continued good health and vitality

How hard are you working? - Safely measuring aerobic activity for older adults

by Mia Bremer

The word “aerobic” means “with oxygen”.  Cardiorespiratory exercise, then, involves moving in a way that increases the heart rate requiring a constant source of re-oxygenated blood via the lungs. When you do aerobic exercise, such as walking fast, running, biking, or taking a Silver Sneakers circuit class, you are doing fantastic things for your body and mind. Cardiorespiratory exercise not only strengthens the heart and lungs, but increases stamina, lowers blood pressure, helps control blood sugar levels, and grows your hippocampus which protects cognitive function and reduces other health risks.

 As we age, however, blood pressure changes and medications, diabetes medications, statins, and diuretics, as well as other health changes, can affect our heart rate. To work safely, there are a few methods that older adults can adopt to insure a safe workout or physical activity.

Read her suggestions.

PS: Mia Bremer was a top finalist for this year's Outstanding Contribution to Public Health Education Award sponsored by the Minnesota Society of Public Health Education. Debra Eardley was the award winner, but Mia received strong endorsements from the public health community . “The value that Mia Bremer brings to the community and people committed to their quality of life as they age, makes her an excellent nominee,” said Bremer’s nominators Jean Streeta, a retired community voluntee,r and Heidi Miller, Director of Northeast Park and Recreation Center Minneapolis. Read the entire news release about the award here.

Thinking about planning for end-of-life? You may want to learn more about end-of-life doulas

An End-of-Life Doula (also known as a death doula or death midwife) is a trained, non-medical professional who helps a dying person and their loved ones before, during, and after death. Doulas provide practical and emotional support, education about the dying process, and compassionate guidance from someone who has been there.

Most importantly, a death doula is someone who is comfortable having uncomfortable conversations about death. It has become part of our culture to deny or ignore death. We don’t like to think about or talk about it. So when we or a loved one receives a difficult diagnosis, we are often completely unprepared which leads to fear, anxiety, and being overwhelmed.

VAN has been in conversation with death educator and grief coach Michelle Kolling about the potential for creating a presentation about this service, possibly next spring.

Michelle is scheduled to make a presentation about the service on Sat. April 13, 2024,11:00-1:30, at the Oakdale Discovery Center.

Michelle says, "As a Doula, I take a holistic approach to building a circle of care that puts the dying person’s needs and wishes at the center. I help caregivers focus on what is most important as needs change and work hand-in-hand with the healthcare team. My goal is to ease fears and help families put processes in place that give them more space to simply be with their person and love them.

"Whether facing the end of your life, caring for someone who is, or simply planning ahead for the next chapter, opening yourself up to be deeply present to the dying experience can be transformational. It can positively impact how you choose to live. As an end-of-life doula, my goal is to help you live as fully as you can for as long as you can."

(Michelle Kolling is an end-of-life doula, death educator, grief coach and founder of HELD. Michelle serves on the Steering Committee of the Minnesota Death Collaborative and is a member of the International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA), where she trained in 2019. In addition, she is a Certified Grief Educator through David Kessler and is a Certified Life Coach through IntraAwareness. To learn more about how Michelle practices as a death doula, go to www.heldoula.com)

News from Wellness 50+

Wellness 50+ community-wide events

Wellness 50+ hosts a series of community-wide events in addition to events organized and led by our community groups (Oakdale, Cottage Grove, Stillwater, and Phillips neighborhood). All of our community-wide events are listed in this newsletter AND are posted on the Wellness 50+ website calendar (https://vital-aging-network.org/wellness-50). Registration for community-wide events is via our Meetup Group "Wellness 50+ Twin Cities". Join the group (Wellness 50+ Twin Cities Meetup Group). You will receive email notifications when an event is ready for registration.

Upcoming community-wide events

-1st Tuesday, December 5, Holiday Lights in Stillwater, 5 pm

Join us as we walk downtown Stillwater enjoying the sights and sounds of the Holiday Season. The plaza in front of the Lift Bridge was completed this year and will be decorated as in year's past. Optional dinner at a restaurant for those interested. Register on Meetup (Dec 5 Holiday Lights in Stillwater).

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Community-wide events we've enjoyed recently

Halloween Dance Party, Oakdale Discovery Center, October 31

Both our brains and bodies were exercised while line dancing to the "Thriller" music. Monica Mohn, a line dance instructor, has a wonderful instructional style where she tells a story that makes it easier to learn the dance moves. Ask us how "Surfer Dude" and potato chips helped us learn some of the dance moves. Attendees were in festive Halloween spirit while dancing and wearing a variety of costumes including witches, a cat, a poodle skirt/saddle shoes, a coroner, tutus, a bandit, a biker and other holiday attire. Warm cider and treats were enjoyed while socializing after dancing. 

-1st Tuesday, Evening Hike at Lake Elmo Park Reserve, Nov. 7

We enjoyed an evening hike/walk on the lighted Nordic trails before the skiing season. Lake Elmo Park is open year round for hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. We will return to the Park in February of 2024 for a snowshoeing event on the 1st Tuesday.  

The Halloween dance group tried out a "Thriller"pose at the Oakdale Discovery Center.

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Upcoming Oakdale Wellness 50+ events

The Wellness Book Club will discuss What to Eat When by Michael Poizen and Michael Crupain on Tuesday, November 28, at 6:30 pm at the Oakdale Library*.

The Movie Club will discuss Hope Springs on December 19, at 1 pm at the Oakdale Library*.

American Mahjong players meet every Monday through Dec 18 at 1 - 3:30 pm at the Oakdale Discovery Center**. Introductory sessions were held earlier, but if you are interested in playing, feel free to attend and watch. Sessions will continue weekly in 2024.

Wednesday Walks will continue at 9 am through the month of November and then move to 10 am beginning in December for the winter. Meet in front of the Discovery Center** and we will walk the paths of the Oakdale Nature Preserve.

*The Oakdale Library is located at 1010 Heron Ave. North, Oakdale

**The Oakdale Discovery Center is located at 4444 Hadley Avenue North, Oakdale

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Upcoming Cottage Grove Wellness 50+ events

Balanced Wellness: Self-Care During the Holidays

Monday, Dec. 6 from 1-2 p.m. 

Park Grove Library, 7900 Hemingway Ave. S., Cottage Grove 

Join Live 2 B Healthy®️ Fitness Professional Melissa Bailey at Park Grove Library for Balanced Wellness, a series of monthly educational wellness talks for adults ages 55+.

The format will be 30-45 minute presentation, followed by a 15 minute sample Live 2 B Healthy®️ fitness class. There will be time for Q&A and handouts will be provided. This is a partnership program with the Park Grove Library. Registration is required for the program: https://washcolib.libcal.com/event/10739788.