National Eagle Center

For More Information, Contact:
Jenny Schlagenhaft
jtschlagenhaft@gmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wabasha, Minn. —The population of the United States is rapidly aging. By 2030, one of every five people in the U.S. will be 65 or older. By 2035, the number of adults older than 65 will be greater than the number of children under 18. These statistics are amplifying efforts to engage and mobilize communities across the country to implement changes that make communities more livable for people of all ages, especially older adults.

The organization behind this national initiative is AARP. Recently, it welcomed Wabasha-Kellogg into its Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. Now numbering 755 communities, the Network provides resources and information on age-friendly best practices, models and research to members working to improve community livability. Membership offers opportunities to collaborate and learn from others working toward the same goal.

AARP Minnesota State Director, Cathy McLeer said, “Well-designed, livable communities promote well-being, independence and resilience, sustain economic growth, and make for happier, healthier residents. Governor Walz, the Minnesota Legislature and the Governor’s Council on an Age-Friendly Minnesota have taken important action to encourage community participation to ensure our state adapts to the needs of our aging population and changing world.”

Locally, this work began earlier this year in response to the Wabasha County Community Health Needs Assessment. Last year’s assessment identified senior health and mental health as the most important health priorities to address over the next three years. Local action teams have been in place for many years to address these health priorities and implement programs and activities that improve the quality of life for seniors and the mental well-being of all citizens.

Joining the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities was the first step taken by the Wabasha County Senior Action Team to help identify and implement opportunities to make Wabasha and Kellogg more livable and better able to support people of all ages. Launching an age-friendly initiative confirms a commitment to enable the very old, the very young, and everyone in between to thrive at every age and every life stage. An age-friendly model is derived from the eight domains of livability, which empower people to stay active, engaged, and healthy with dignity and independence as they age.

The AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities targets improvements in the eight domains, originating from the World Health Organization, that influence the health and quality of life for all as we age. Communities participating in the AARP Network commit to improving their livability through an assessment of needs, development of an action plan, implementation of new projects and programs, and ongoing evaluation – all with the involvement of older residents. The eight areas of focus for the age-friendly process are:

1. Outdoor spaces and buildings
2. Transportation
3. Housing
4. Social participation
5. Respect and social inclusion
6. Civic participation and employment
7. Communication and information
8. Community support and health services. Based on input from community members, livability projects are planned, implemented, and evaluated in three phases over a five-year period, with continued assessment and improvement cycles to follow.

“Our age-friendly team represents many local organizations and older citizens and is currently developing a needs assessment that invites community members to identify priorities we need to address that will improve livability and make our communities great places to live, work, and play,” explained Jenny Schlagenhaft, team member. “Participation from a cross-section of local residents will guide the development of an action plan to make Wabasha and Kellogg more age-friendly for all. Community members are encouraged to watch for more information in newspapers and social media about how they can participate in this important assessment process.”

The W-K Age-Friendly Team meets on the first Wednesday of every month at 2 p.m. at the Wabasha County Public Health Conference Room, 411 Hiawatha Drive. E, Wabasha. In-person and virtual options provide flexibility for members to engage in this important work. Interested community residents are welcome to attend.

Photo: Jim Scheibel, professor of Practice, Hamline University School of Business and longtime volunteer of AARP presents a Certificate of Membership to the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities to members of the Wabasha-Kellogg Age-Friendly Team. Pictured from left: Jessica Mollison, Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota; Jenny Schlagenhaft, Gundersen St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and Clinics; Kathy Geraghty, community volunteer; Maggie Sonnek, Gundersen Health System; Jim Scheibel, Rita Fox, co-chair, Wabasha County Senior Action Team; Mandy Edelbach, Gundersen St. Elizabeth’s; Camille Bruns, Southeast MN Area Agency on Aging; and Jodi Johnson, Wabasha County Public Health and co-chair, Wabasha County Senior

Action Team. Not pictured: Tina Moen, Wabasha County SHIP; Abby Oxendine, Gundersen St. Elizabeth’s; Dana Bergner, Three Rivers Community Action; Bonnie Sandberg, Elder Network; Bev Hall, Wabasha Library; Emily Durand, mayor of Wabasha; Scott Lien, GrandPad; Deb Anderson, UCC Church; Jada Herman, Hiawatha Valley Mental Health; and Alethea Broadwater, Elder Network.