[{"topic_area":"Health Care;Home Care Services and Supports;Assisted Living;","comment":"As a nurse with over 40 years of service to people living in MN, I\u2019ve seen the dramatic changes that have changed and negatively affected home health and home care services over time. I've seen changes occur through working in both the public health sector and now, working for a large non-profit. Many home health and home care agencies are closing today because the revenue earned, especially when serving Medicaid clients, does not even cover the agency\u2019s expenses.  We need to support higher wages for direct care staff and nurses, but until legislators move to better reimburse these agencies, even more providers are facing possible closure, resulting in less and less access to home health services. We know that home health and\/or home care is the most economical way to care for people & yet allow them to remain living in their own homes. If better reimbursement for these types of services doesn't increase, the first to go without services, will be those at highest risk who rely on Medicaid. I sincerely hope changes can be made to stabilize this valuable resource of care to those in need.","zipcode":"55033","first_name":"Anonymous","last_initial":null,"city":"Hastings"},{"topic_area":"Health Care;","comment":"My Mother experienced ageism when being treated in the hospital. I feel if the situation happened to anyone younger, her surgeon may have acted more professionally towards she and us (her family), her treatment would\u2019ve been better and her medical complications that resulted due to negligence would not have occurred.","zipcode":"55044","first_name":"Angie","last_initial":"H","city":"Lakeville"},{"topic_area":"Financial Stability;Scams;","comment":"Hello, \n\nI think there is an opportunity to build awareness about how to avoid becoming a victim of scams. Whether it is via email, phone, text, or door-to-door solicitation, I hear more and more about the elderly becoming victims of scams. \n\nMy mother-in-law and her partner have both been victims of scams two times in the past year. Two of the incidents required intervention by law enforcement. One of the incidents ended up with the scammer visiting their home and collecting a blank check. \n\nThe scam outlined here is one example of how the elderly are preyed upon: \nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/VrKW58MS12g?si=B3X0843lb4lvU9UD\n\nThese scams drain our family members of their finances, and they are becoming a drain on their families and communities, including law enforcement.","zipcode":"55068","first_name":"Anonymous","last_initial":null,"city":"Rosemount"},{"topic_area":"Chemical\/ substance use treatment services;","comment":"I am a mental health case manager and an Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Through the last several years agencies that did treat with Medicare funding have gone by the wayside. Living in the twin cities I know of only one hospital that offers outpatient services. there are none for a higher level of care. Since the aging population is the highest consumer of Prescribed Medications, many pain and anxiety medication that are highly addictive, and the fact that many live alone with depression, grief and loss, and alcohol issues. What is it the states plan to address these tragic circumstances? If they have Medicare, they are meant to pay for the services out of pocket which as you know is a lot of money for people on a fixed income. There is a huge disparity between younger adults with either MA programs or commercial insurance. These groups are likely to get the needed services any many with FMLA and paid time off, yet seniors struggling will most likely not get the needed services.  This is leading to severe physical and mental health decline in oldest community members. This lends itself to more crisis services, hospitalizations and despair. Getting these services to this population is crucial to living a better life in the Golden Years.  They should not be left to their own devices to treat this paralyzing illness.","zipcode":"55092","first_name":"Theresa","last_initial":"A","city":"Wyoming"},{"topic_area":"Housing;Health Care;Assisted Living;Insurance;","comment":"For the last three years I have been working to get my Mom on any kind of programs she is eligible for as a low-income, disabled, unemployed, elderly adult (my mother is 77). \n\nThe number of case workers and county workers I have had to interact with is somewhere between 8-10 individuals, none of whom are able to answer basic questions about the services available to her through Ramsey County. We have been assigned two case workers through Kindred Services, both of whom were unable to confirm which forms I should fill out on the mn.gov website to get her on Elderly Waiver; in fact, I was misinformed by the first case worker and wasted months of time and thousands of dollars waiting for the county to approve the paperwork, only to find out what I had been directed to submit was incorrect. Ultimately it was the county financial case worker (who denied my mother's first application) who explained I had not completed the correct applications and I should have filled out something called a Longterm Care Application.\n\nThe level of incompetence and misinformation between Kindred Services and Ramsey County is appalling. Eventually I did submit all of the paperwork required for the Longterm Care Application in early November 2023, but then it took the county so long to review the application that I had to resubmit almost everything because they needed more recent documentation of her finances, insurance costs, medical costs, prescription costs, etc. I even had to submit a copy of my mother's divorce decree as evidence that the monthly deposit she was receiving from her ex-husband (my father) was legitimate.\n\nMy mother was finally approved for Elderly Waiver, but then it took her former assisted living facility months to get things moving between Kindred Services and the county so that they could get reimbursed for her cares.\n\nI learned recently that the county never loaded my Mom's Medicare information into the system, so they thought she hadn't been paying for Medicare for years. I was speaking with yet another person in the county to figure out if my Mom is eligible for Group Residential Housing (only to find out her income of $1,300 a month is about $100 over the limit so she has been denied). They confirmed that I had submitted all of the paperwork and documentation related to all of her insurance coverage, but somehow this just got missed. They were surprised that my mother is still paying for all of her health insurance (Medicare Part D, CMS Medicare PPD, a United Healthcare premium, and prescription insurance totaling nearly $600\/month).\n\nI am currently trying to determine if my Mom should even still have her own insurance, or if the services she is receiving through the county cover this. One county contact said she should get reimbursed for all of her insurance payments back to when her county assistance started. When I asked how I was supposed to know this and who was supposed to make this happen, they directed me to call her insurance company. \n\nI've also learned that there are several items my Mom should not be paying for out of pocket any longer, such as her adult incontinence underwear (which cost $100+ a month). It was an accounting person at her current assisted living facility who informed me of this, but I NEVER received any information or instruction about this from a case worker or the county. My mother and I have probably be spending hundreds of dollars a month on items that should be covered by her county support.\n\nI invite anyone with any legislative responsibility connected to supporting the aging population in Minnesota to sit down with me so I can show them the massive piles of paperwork, forms, emails, etc. I have related to trying to get support for my mother. \n\nI am contacting every legislator on the Legislative Taskforce on Aging, as well as the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners and Kindred Services, to find out where the buck stops in terms of who is ultimately accountable for this.","zipcode":"55102","first_name":"Regan Hall","last_initial":"R","city":"Saint Paul"},{"topic_area":"Housing;Disabilities\/Accessibility;Family\/Friend Caregivers;Recipient of Care by Family\/Friend;Home Care Services and Supports;Financial Stability;Problems with retirement from government ;","comment":"I have been a court appointed volunteer guardian for 34 years\nOur problems began when I advocated for a group of supported employees with disabilities to keep their jobs during COVID.  Our government employer wanted to give their jobs away to non disabled employees working from home.  Repeated examples of retaliation onto me and the person I am guardian for the last 3 years.  Recently we both retired from our government jobs and now struggling with SSA determining that the person I am guardian for who became a ward of the state after she was born is not a disabled adult child?  Due process was not given before RSDI was terminated?  Now there are problems with selecting CDCS even though she has been on a DD Waiver since 1993 with a job coach the entire time before she retired.  We live together in a market rate apt and will be struggling now that RSDI has termed and PERA is only 112.00.a month.  It seems like our most vulnerable and senior population is suffering for not only mandated choice, affordability, but services that they qualify for.  Thank you for your time and reply.\n","zipcode":"55108","first_name":"Lynne","last_initial":"K","city":"Saint Paul"},{"topic_area":"Assisted Living;","comment":"Concerned with care in assisted living and\/or memory care units designated for persons with dementia, especially where no family\/friends are visiting to monitor. Perhaps the legislature could make recommendations to MDH to monitor these facilities more frequently.","zipcode":"55116","first_name":"Mary Jean","last_initial":"M","city":"Saint Paul"},{"topic_area":"Home Care Services and Supports;","comment":"I'm having trouble finding someone who will come to my home and give me a haircut at a reasonable price and while wearing a mask.  The barber at the shop I used to go to refused to where a mask.","zipcode":"55124","first_name":"Paul","last_initial":"B","city":"Apple Valley"},{"topic_area":"Health Care;Recipient of Care by Family\/Friend;Jobs\/Employment;Family\/Friend Caregivers;","comment":"We have experienced a substantial gap in coverage options for people with either chronic conditions and\/or aging in place. With the forecasted burden that will be placed on skilled and non-skilled housing facilities and the lack of housing for our baby boomer generation it seems that aging in place should be a viable and affordable option. Family members are carrying much of the burden at a significant financial cost due to working less or not at all to care for family members. The reimbursement rate is virtually nonexistent unless the family becomes destitute. \nWe also need to address the much lower cost of in-home care and the marrying of primary health care taking place within the home through tele-health and treatment in the home. This removes much of the burden placed on care facilities that are already experiencing delays in providing care due to over demand and staff shortages. Much of the future of health care will take place in the home with skilled nursing and non-skilled care attendance. This will lower the cost to the patient and provide much needed relief to care facilities that can then focus on more needed acutely care.","zipcode":"55372","first_name":"Bryan","last_initial":"P","city":"Prior Lake"},{"topic_area":"Disabilities\/Accessibility;Transportation;Quality of Life for all ages & all abilities;Home Care Services and Supports;Jobs\/Employment;","comment":"Awareness of barriers by lawmakers & general public\nLack of accessible transportation\nLack of accessibility into & within public buildings\nLack of accessible sidewalks, curbs & trails","zipcode":"55744","first_name":"Myrna","last_initial":"P","city":"Grand Rapids"},{"topic_area":"Question to task force about how to proceed;","comment":"I have served on the MN Board on Aging for seven years; first appointed by Gov. Dayton and then reappointed by Gov. Walz. I also served in elected public office for 18 years in MN local and state governments. I am commenting in response to Task Force Chair Klevorn's question at the 10\/10 meeting about how to proceed with the work of the task force. I don't think the answers given by the task force members addressed the question. Only Dr. Gaugler brought up the idea of a framework to be used in organizing the work of the task force. His comments along this line were not expanded on by the chair or other task force members. I believe that Dr. Gaugler is correct in his suggestion about a framework. I believe he was describing a framework that would include all the government aging-related services and programs and all the private, for-profit, and charitable aging service and programs now being offered or being planned for the future in Minnesota. A comprehensive, exhaustive gathering of this information and the data supporting those services and programs is important to the work of the task force. However, other aspects of the framework absolutely vital to the work of the the task force is a mapping out of all the aging services and programs in the state according to the jurisdiction in which they operate, areas of collaboration, areas of disconnect (where the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing) and where there is duplication of services and funding. This framework, when built out, will clearly point to the need for a centralized state board, at the highest level of government, that will devised a statewide, coordinated plan for meeting the challenges and needs of our growing aging population now and into the future and have the authority and funding to carry out the plan.","zipcode":"55330","first_name":"Stephanie","last_initial":"K","city":"Elk River"},{"topic_area":"Health Care;","comment":"I had testing done for a spot in my abdomen. The surgeon didn't think anything needed to be done at this time. When asked if it should be rechecked after a period of time, the response was 'Well she is 72 years old. The doctor felt that my life had no value and why waste resources to test again. Medical care is being denied older people solely on the basis of their age, not overall health and capability. I am very active in every respect and continue to contribute to society.","zipcode":"55331","first_name":"Kris","last_initial":"S","city":"Excelsior"},{"topic_area":"Health Care;Family\/Friend Caregivers;Assisted Living;regulation of ALF;","comment":"\nMy Dad started living at an Assisted Living Facility in December 2020.  In August 2021, we were required to sign a new lease due to the legislative changes and new licensing requirements in Minnesota.  As I started looking into  and learning about the changes, I was impressed and encouraged to learn that Minnesota was committed to ensuring quality care for my dad and others.\n\nThe Minnesota Department of Health conducted a survey after issuing a new license to The Waters on Mayowood where my dad resides. I was surprised and disheartened to read the number of violations that were identified during the survey process.  Even more disturbing was the fact that there was little to no accountability for corrections to be made.\n\nThese findings prompted me to learn more and to reach out for help.  I have corresponded with The Minnesota Department of Health on several occasions.  I have worked closely with The Ombudsman's Office for Long Term Care,  I have been in touch with The Attorney General's Office.  Representative Kristin Robbins and Shiloh Huddleson have agreed to help call attention to the issues affecting vulnerable seniors and advocate for change.\n\nThe Department of Health posts a weekly list of substantiated and unsubstantiated complaints that have been investigated. While the lists include many cases, it  is important to note that many concerns go unreported. If you've not yet seen the postings, , I encourage you to subscribe.  The number of preventable injuries and deaths is growing and I firmly believe that if we don't call for greater regulatory measures and compliance, the situation will continue to get worse.\n\nI would be grateful to hear from you and to know that you are aware of these issues and that you are committed to creating greater protection and safety for Minnesota's seniors.  I would also appreciate learning more about your involvement with The Task Force on Aging and  the ways that you are working to ensure quality care for the senior population.\n\nSincerely, Tess Minkema\n","zipcode":"55356","first_name":"Tess","last_initial":"M","city":"Long Lake"},{"topic_area":"Health Care;Transportation;","comment":"I was hiking along Lake Superior on a trail in Duluth in February 2023 and fell hard on black ice. I landed on my ankle and bounced and heard a crack. In about 10 minutes another hiker came along and helped me to get up and get back to my car. My ankle was broken in several places and I found out that I needed surgery. I received great services with getting an x ray and then getting scheduled for surgery the following week.\n\nI went in to my local clinic for the pre op medical exam.  I came in on crutches and a walking cast and the 2 medical staff I saw a young nurse and a Doctor talked to me using baby talk. I was in pain so it was difficult to tell them to dial down the baby talk routine. I am 73 years old and luckily I am aware and articulate. There is a need to teach medical staff about interacting with people and elders in particular. The use of baby talk or assuming that your patient is not aware of anything is offensive and not helpful in communicating. As a Mental health therapist I have heard many elder clients express concern about how some medical providers communicate with them. I think there is a need for training in the area when communicating with elders and other minority clients.\n\nI was able to receive excellent medical care and the surgery went well. My recovery was long and I couldn't drive for 3 months. Since I had to go back to work I called several cab companies for transportation. When I asked if I could get a hand walking into the cab I was told no.I asked if I could get help putting my knee scooter into the cab I was also told no. I called several cab companies and received the same response.There was a  wait to get on the list for medical transport. So I hired a local college  student to drive me to and from work for 3 months.\n\n","zipcode":"55369","first_name":"Joan","last_initial":"N","city":"Maple Grove"},{"topic_area":"Housing;Financial Stability;Transportation;","comment":"Women who have been single mothers for years, or raised their children and didn\u2019t work do not have the same social security benefits as men. When they did go get a job they made considerably less money. You have to of had been married to a man for 11 years to obtain part of the man\u2019s earnings. Women who divorced because of abuse or alcoholic behavior by the man are discriminated against. Choosing to raise children should be considered. There should be a minimum amount of social security established. I have a friend who receives $900 a month and still has to work at 73 as a waitress. She\u2019s been a waitress her whole life and past wages were horrible. Also affordable housing for elderly isn\u2019t affordable if you are single. You can not pay over $1000 dollars when you make $1300. It\u2019s only affordable if your married-so again single women discriminated against. Also subsidized housing have waiting lists of years, so with the inflation that is happening where do you think the elderly woman are going to live? Housing and affordability of living is a huge problem for the elderly-and children today are not very anxious or adaptable to having the elderly move in with them. Maybe some kind of incentive for multi generational homes! Also please check out the program SW transit has in Chaska, Eden Prairie -all communities need this.","zipcode":"55372","first_name":"Jeanne","last_initial":"H","city":"Prior Lake"},{"topic_area":"Financial Stability;","comment":"Aging in Minnesota has become more and more of a problem from the point of affordability. We have ever increasing taxes and diminished purchasing power because of high inflation. I am a person in my 80s who finds it necessary to help support my adult children, my grandchildren and to cut back myself. I am also concerned about the net outflow of Minnesota\u2019s population in the last two years. These are folks that are generally higher income earning and higher tax paying. That is probably why most of them are leaving Minnesota.","zipcode":"55441","first_name":"Anonymous","last_initial":null,"city":"Plymouth"},{"topic_area":"Health Care;Insurance;","comment":"I am one of the 80% of seniors who have developed a hearing loss. It has been recommended that I get hearing aids bilaterally for moderate to serious hearing loss. My Medicare plan (Allina\/Aetna Eagle PPO - my husband is a 100% disabled vet) includes $1000 per ear for hearing aids. Sounds good, right? read the fine print. That is only available if I go through their \u201capproved\u201d clearinghouse where their \u201celigible providers\u201d agree to price fixing. So any approved provider will demand an out of pocket of $1500-$4500 depending on the type and accuracy of the hearing aid. So I called the insurance company and said I could get them cheaper elsewhere could I submit a reimbursement?  No\n\nI called MN Consumer affairs and was told they don\u2019t regulate Medicare plans and to call Medicare\/CMS. I did. After verifying that the information I\u2019d provided was accurate, they said they don\u2019t regulate plan specifics- too bad. \n\nSo, 1) in a PPO plan, why am I not allowed to choose my provider? 2) why am I forced to pay extortion prices (same hearing aids - $4500 level cost $1600 at Costco). 3) why are seniors expected to carry the burden of exorbitant out of pocket bills, a loss of a full life without hearing aids or settle for less than what best fits their life and finally 4) this is either a monopoly or extortion- I can\u2019t decide. Thank you.","zipcode":"55378","first_name":"Sally","last_initial":"T","city":"Savage"},{"topic_area":"Access to food;Health Care;Home Care Services and Supports;","comment":"Open Arms of Minnesota has faced a significant increase in requests for senior nutrition specifically focused on medically tailored meals. While Minnesota has wonderful resources for food insecurity in general, we are the only organization focused on providing medically tailored meals for individuals and their caregivers facing critical or chronic illness. Our meals are made from scratch, preservative free and planned and prepared under the strict supervision of Registered Dietitians and classically trained chefs. We home deliver or ship our meals at no cost to the client or their family.","zipcode":"55404","first_name":"Lisa","last_initial":"L","city":"Minneapolis"},{"topic_area":"Skilled Nursing Facility;","comment":"My story is a first-hand account of life in a Skilled Nursing Facility- from a Resident\u2019s point of view.  My book is entitled \nPERSPECTIVE My Life in a Skilled Nursing Facility.  Having just completed the book, it is, as yet, unpublished.  I want to share excerpts from it to contribute to the dialogue on Aging.  Sonja Schmieder","zipcode":"55408","first_name":"Sonja","last_initial":"S","city":"Minneapolis"},{"topic_area":"Social Engagement\/activities for seniors;","comment":"I am writing to highlight the disparity \nin social engagement and activities \nin different neighborhoods \nOf Minneapolis. \n\nI feel social engagement and activities \nis very important for Seniors. \n\nI am 72 and still a registered nurse \nHave spent over forty years working \nwith aging and seniors. \nHave seen the benefits of social support \nfor Seniors on physical, emotional and mental levels. \n\n\nAs  a new member of the Minneapolis \nAdvisory Committee on Aging.\nHaving a city wide seat,\nmy first interest, on personal level,\nwas to start an informal look \nat what is offered for Seniors \nacross the city.\n\n(Reaching out to you as a resident, \nnot speaking for the whole committee) \n\nEmailed every council member \nasking about what is offered in\ntheir different wards \nwas eye opening.\n\nWhile the southwest area of MPLS \nhas large and healthy programs \nthe Northside is truly lacking\n\nPlanning to do a year survey \nof the different Senior programs \nthat are in our city. \n\nVisiting and  attending  events to\nlearn more about these programs. \n\nAsking basic questions to  staff\nHow do you help, \nwhat is working and what is not.\n\nWhat is your funding stream,\nCity, county, state, federal, \ndonations or grants?\n\nWhere are they located? \nParks, libraries, churches or city owned spaces.\nNear a transit line?\n\nAsking the seniors attending the events \nquestions with a ward specific \nnature in mind. \n\nI am highlighting this problem in MPLS \nas you know people in high places \nwho are also trying to figure this out. \n\nMinneapolis might be a ripe place \nfor a research project. \nMaybe there are grants out there \naround social equity etc?\n\nThank you for the task force on aging.\n\nI hope to attend a meeting\nin person soon.\n\nThanks again for working \nto make this world \na better place.\n\n","zipcode":"55417","first_name":"Beatel","last_initial":"I","city":"Minneapolis"},{"topic_area":"Insurance;","comment":"I worked for 11 years as a long-term care social worker, until understanding that those who had lots of resources weren't impoverished and got to decide where they live and age.  So I changed careers and now do preventative social work:  putting into place long-term care insurance when it makes sense and creating financial plans that get people through retirement in dignity.\n","zipcode":"55418","first_name":"Dena","last_initial":"D","city":"Minneapolis"},{"topic_area":"Home Care Services and Supports;","comment":"Workforce shortages have limited many agencies to limit the number of patients they are able to take on. Caregivers in home care, specifically for us were home health aides, are hard to find. My agency has been without a home health aide in a caregiving role for almost 2 years. We finally were able to hire 1 person, however at a premium rate of pay in order to secure that caregiver. Otherwise we either had to decline taking this patient for services when home health aide services are ordered, or we would have to have our nursing and therapy staff serve as the home health aide in order to complete that care, but that then took our clinicians away from being nurses and therapists at a much higher cost to the agency. It is a challenge to get home care workers despite disciplines as it is, then asking them to serve in multiple areas and complete more visits, is taxing to our already busy work force. Sufficient workforce should be a priority in order to ensure access to healthcare needs across all of MN, especially in our rural communities. This is a cost saving alternative to bricks and mortar type of residential care- keeping people in their homes to age in place is preferable and most cost effective for our healthcare systems. With an increase in workforce I am confident that we could serve many more Minnesotans in their home, their preference of aging in place.","zipcode":"55422","first_name":"Anonymous","last_initial":null,"city":"Robbinsdale"},{"topic_area":"Housing;","comment":"Increasing costs of home ownership; \nmy husband is in hospice and I am very worried about how my finances alone will cover our expenses once he has passed. We downsized to this house at age 62 so we could afford to send one child to college then retire at age 68.  We are now both 70. Last year our mortgage increased by $156 a month, considerable when just 1 bill goes up that much. Today a plumber gave an estimate to change out 1 sink faucet and 3 stem valves for $1000. I will need to watch YouTube and do this myself. I could go on with examples\u2026seniors need inflation proof measures in place so they can stay in their homes. \nIdeas; \nother retirees helping retirees, property taxes freeze at some point for retirees, subsidies for low income retirees","zipcode":"55423","first_name":"Susan","last_initial":"K","city":"Richfield"},{"topic_area":"Health, Wellness, Vitality, Combatting Ageism, Access, and Sense of Purpose;","comment":"With generous funding from an Age-Friendly Minnesota community grant, I developed an online Field Scan of Older Adults and Nature in Minnesota: \nhttps:\/\/irp.cdn-website.com\/2c41a412\/files\/uploaded\/A%20Field%20Scan%20of%20Older%20Adults%20and%20Nature%20in%20MN_2024.pdf\n\nThe Field Scan explores what is going on across Minnesota to help support access to nature for those 55 years and older. It looks at benefits, barriers, considerations, and opportunities and provides models and recommendations. I was delighted to discover a wide and diverse range of organizations and people engaged in this work.\n\nThe report offers 8 recommendations:\n1)\tSee older adults and recognize their need for access to nature across the life course. \n2)\tSeek out and listen to the varied and diverse voices of what older adults want with respect to nature and elevate their visibility and influence. \n3)\tPlan for and create spaces addressing the specific needs of older adults at all levels of ability and in all seasons. \n4)\tRecognize and promote opportunities nature presents for connecting with others and ourselves. \n5)\tEngage with older adults as adult learners and embrace the power of sharing stories with others. \n6)\tInvest in opportunities that support older adults\u2019 access to nature. \n7)\tConsider and support those caring for older adults. \n8)\tBuild the emerging field supporting older adults to access nature.\n\nThis Field Scan of Older Adults and Nature in Minnesota should be considered a beginning point. There is undoubtedly much more happening across Minnesota and a broader story to tell about the importance of ensuring that people have access to nature as they age. The statewide report also includes a vehicle for readers to share more and\/or new information as well as feedback. See Appendix G in the report or visit this form: https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSekRFl5XuRyHNifnk4q4s46qzQSrarn77P5XujTHmeDZyV2Bg\/viewform?usp=sf_link\n\nI am grateful to have been funded through an Age-Friendly Minnesota expansion grant to, using the Field Scan as a foundation, focus on field building work in Phase 2. A statewide Advisory Council is helping to inform the work, and a summary brief has just been published:\nhttps:\/\/irp.cdn-website.com\/2c41a412\/files\/uploaded\/Field_Scan_Summary_Brief_Sept_2024.pdf\n\nI would be happy to share more at any point about the work.\n\nI want to emphasize the importance of Age-Friendly Minnesota community grants in supporting local work to help make Minnesota a great place to grow old. The wide range of efforts and innovations is impressive and important.\n\nThank you to the Task Force for your work to address Minnesota\u2019s growing aging population. I hope you will consider the importance of access to nature across the lifespan and the many benefits and opportunities before us. \n\nBest,\n\nJoelle Hoeft (she\/her), Consultant\njoellehoeft@gmail.com\nc: 763.544.1992\nwww.linkedin.com\/in\/joellehoeft\n","zipcode":"55427","first_name":"Joelle","last_initial":"H","city":"Golden Valley"},{"topic_area":"Health Care;Jobs\/Employment;Home Care Services and Supports;","comment":"Finding, training and retaining caregivers to serve the communities. Support from the counties as partners in providing services.","zipcode":"55437","first_name":"Darla","last_initial":"T","city":"Bloomington"},{"topic_area":"Housing;Transportation;Home Care Services and Supports;Financial Stability;Insurance;Taxes;","comment":"As cost of living increases, seniors continue to struggle to maintain a middle class standard of living.  I guess limited opportunities for tax relief to allow for more income is needed.  Affordable housing for seniors is needed in safe areas and communities.  More affordable one level townhomes is needed.","zipcode":"55442","first_name":"Kathy","last_initial":"P","city":"Plymouth"},{"topic_area":"Taxes for retired Minnesotans;","comment":"My wife and I are retiring and were looking at finding best places to retire. For our income we looked at all 50 states and MN came out with the highest retirement taxes for us. Even IL and CA give some tax waivers for 401k\/Social Security. MN was the only state where we would be paying full taxes on Social Security and 401k withdrawals and private pensions. We found PA to be the state where weather wise it was not too hot (like FL or TX). To my surprise I found PA had a huge number of active 55+ communities. We thus bought a house there and will be moving there next year. PA does not tax social security pensions nor 401k withdrawals or pensions. Last week, US news ranked 500 best places to retire and PA had the top 5 ranked cities. Retirees have fixed income and live on their savings and MN should be more competitive in giving some breaks to retirees to retire in place. Both my wife and I have always been in the top MN tax rate and would have if we had retired here. MN is increasingly relying on the top tax bracket group and it was unfortunate that not one cent of the state surplus came back to those who actually contributed to the surplus. I wish the best for your leadership and do hope tax policies to retain the tax base is put in place for the long term fiscal health of the state. Otherwise like NY benefits to the needy will need to be cut as the tax base erodes. MN also has one of the highest estate taxes and they start at prettly low asset levels compared to the federal exemption. Many senior Minnesotans spend 6 months and 15 days outside MN, more to have low taxes rather than just the weather.","zipcode":"55442","first_name":"Anonymous","last_initial":null,"city":"Plymouth"},{"topic_area":"Home Care Services and Supports;Assisted Living;Skilled Nursing Facility;Housing;Disabilities\/Accessibility;","comment":"I believe that skilled nursing facilities need strict control.  The residents who have little money should not have to suffer less than proper care.  The CNA certifications need to be stricter and the pay and benefits for these folks needs to improve.  The elderly need to be cared for.  They, as a generation, took care of us.  Don't cast them aside because of money.  There is plenty of money.  Skilled nursing facilities make a good profit at the resident's expense.  Change the dynamics.","zipcode":"55442","first_name":"Kathy","last_initial":"P","city":"Plymouth"},{"topic_area":"Health Care;Financial Stability;Family\/Friend Caregivers;","comment":"My mom is currently 71 years old; my dad was 70 years old when he passed away approximately 2 years ago. My parents were both diagnosed with cancer within one year of each other in 2016.  My mom had uterine cancer and my dad had colorectal cancer. My parents had been married for 50 years.  They were very young when they got married (my mom was 18 years old and my dad was 20 years old). They had an old school relationship; my dad held all the power and my mom had no say in anything. My mom raised the kids and my dad worked. My dad ended up having healthcare through the Federal Employees Program, so healthcare was not really an issue. I would say their healthcare was actually pretty great compared to others.  My mom had a great doctor through the Allina system. Her doctor was an OBYGYN and an oncologist; she was extremely versed in how to treat uterine cancer.  At the time of diagnosis, my mom had Stage 4 uterine cancer which has a very high rate of recurrence within 5 years. She is currently going on 6 years without recurrence of her cancer. At the time she was receiving chemotherapy, my dad kept trying to change her doctor to a more rural healthcare facility (closer to their house) so they did not have to drive \u201cinto the city\u201d to get healthcare. My brother and I kept telling them that my mom should continue to see her current doctor. My dad went to the VA and his oncologist did not perform his radiation and surgery in the correct order.  My brother and I kept telling him to get a second opinion. \nMy dad passed away almost 2 years ago. My mom didn't know how to make any decisions without my dad, but didn't trust my brother and I to help her make any decisions. She ended up selling her house for $50,000 to her neighbor (who we felt did not have her best interest in mind); this amount was well under what her house was worth. My mom could not handle the stress of making decisions and just wanted to be done with taking care of the house. She was also in the middle of grieving. My dad was a hoarder of \u201cstuff\u201d and antiques. My brother and I had already cleaned out the first house owned many years earlier, so we already knew we were not going to do it again.  We were trying to be helpful by trying to find a company to deal with their house and everything inside of it. She ended up selling to her neighbor and his realtor friend (and made her pay closing costs!), even though she knew my brother and I did not think it was a good idea.\nShortly after selling her house, my mom was going through her email and got an email from Geek Squad (who she has used in the past). They called her after she answered the email and asked her to pay them back; they had scammed her and told her they had accidentally put a bunch of money in her checking account. For 3 days in a row she took $15,000 from her bank and put it into a Bitcoin account at a gas station. I had asked my mom to go mini golfing with my family that weekend and had said she could not go with us, but also could not tell me why. I thought what on earth is she doing that she can't tell me? She ended up calling me before she submitted the 4th $15,000 (she lost $45,000 total) and told me she thought maybe she was involved in a scam. So needless to say, my mom has had a hard time knowing what to do since my dad passed away.","zipcode":"55442","first_name":"Janelle","last_initial":"C","city":"Plymouth"},{"topic_area":"Skilled Nursing Facility;Assisted Living;Home Care Services and Supports;","comment":"Took care of my Dad, Mom and 90 year old Uncle over 30 years.  From 1983 to 2015.  My uncle's nursing home facility was sold to a for profit from Texas.  Care declined.  My uncle got Scabies while there.  How is that possible?  Need higher standards for the poor souls who do not have family close by.  He got Scabies and I took his clothes home to wash.  His sheets were not changed and were soiled often and I had back up sheets.  They were just lazy.  When he was dying he remained in a dual room and when we tried to move him to quiet they said they didn't have anything available.  I went in search and found a room that was obviously used by staff as a sleep room.  We had his bed moved in so he could die in peace. SERIOUSLY.  I contacted DHS to no avail.  This was in 2015, prior to Pandemic.  Everyone dropped the ball on care but had no problem collecting the money.  He eventually had to go on Hennepin County assistance and they were awful.  Insensitive, rude, and are willing to ruthlessly take everything you have.  We need to have legislation that brings dignity to the elderly, honor their contribution to MN and not take advantage of them and their caretakers because they are elderly. We are an aging state.  You will need to rely on those SSN folks to help support our programs.  Don't let greedy people to profit off these folks.","zipcode":"55442","first_name":"Kathleen","last_initial":"P","city":"Plymouth"},{"topic_area":"Home Care Services and Supports;","comment":"I have been listening to the Task Force on Aging, as often as possible, but recognize that I may have missed some of the information that\u2019s been shared. \n\nWith home care services being the future, I hope that you and the task force will take these services into consideration as you contemplate gaps to address. According to McKinsey & Company, up to $265 billion worth of care services for Medicare fee-for-service and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries could shift to the home by 2025.  While this was a Medicare study, I expect Medicaid services will follow a similar trajectory.\n\nNot only do people receiving home care have better outcomes, but the cost to provide home care is significantly less than institutional care. According to Genworth, the average cost of care in a skilled nursing facility is $449 per day or $26,940 for a 60-day stay compared to $2,674 for a 60-day home health episode. In addition, professional home care providers can safely manage complex medical cases at home, allowing families to stay together. The average cost of care in a PICU\/ICU (room charges only) is $12,000 per day compared to $600- $1,200 per day for complex home care nursing services. And, most importantly, older adults want to stay in their own home.\n\nAdditionally, with the ability to serve clients with medically complex needs, home care agencies are a critical part of the solution to overcrowding in hospitals. Currently, home care agencies are not able to accept all referrals from hospitals due to workforce shortage challenges, which are exacerbated by the historically low reimbursement rates restricting employee wages. Last November, our members reported 25% of their positions were unfilled and approximately 23% of their referrals were being turned away.\n\nHome Care investments made by the legislature last session were an important step towards reimbursement rates reflective of the cost of providing services. However, additional investments are needed to ensure access to home care across the state of Minnesota. While most of the home care wages are meaningfully lower than other jobs with similar skill levels, the nurse positions are competing with travel nurses and those who work in facilities for significantly higher wages. Our data from this past spring, reflects the following home care wages (this table doesn't align well in this text box; I will email this to Rep Klevorn also).\n\n\n\tHMKR\tPCA\tHHA\tLPN\tRN\tPT\tPTA\tOT\tOTA\tSW\nHourly\t$15.48\t$15.42 \t$17.60 \t$25.24 \t$33.75 \t$41.59 \t$28.45 \t$37.16 \t$27.80 \t$26.70 \nAnnual\t32.2K\t32.1K\t36.6K\t52.5K\t70.2K\t86.5K\t59.1K\t77.3K\t57.8K\t55.5K\n\n\nPlease contact me if I can be of any assistance to the Task Force on Aging\n","zipcode":"55443","first_name":"Kathy","last_initial":"M","city":"Brooklyn Park"},{"topic_area":"Home Care Services and Supports;Day care for the elderly ;","comment":"Very hard to find support without paying a lot out of pocket","zipcode":"55446","first_name":"Mariam","last_initial":"M","city":"Plymouth"},{"topic_area":"Health Care;Family\/Friend Caregivers;Home Care Services and Supports;","comment":"Family caregivers need help. We need a home based nursing system to have nurses come into a home to advise caregivers on issues such as adult diaper rash or other minor health issues that can become major. It is difficult to transport disabled (wheelchair bound) family members to clinic appointments. A great deal more home based help of many kinds is needed.","zipcode":"55447","first_name":"Marte","last_initial":"H","city":"Plymouth"},{"topic_area":"Health Care;Housing;","comment":"Properties that rent to seniors need to recognize that many of their residents have mobility and other issues that require some level of safety. This will require regulatory oversight to make sure that basic safety is met. They aren't renting to 20 year olds.  My father was in a independent living facility, where about 80% of the residents used a wheel chair, cane or walker. This was in Sauk Rapids. The management said they would do a same day wellness check if he didn't come to his noon meal. But this was ignored - while I was traveling out of the country, his body laid in his room for 7 days. They ignored others asking them to check on him, his newspapers were piling up outside his room and obviously wasn't at lunch.","zipcode":"56301","first_name":"Anonymous","last_initial":null,"city":"Saint Cloud"},{"topic_area":"Health Care;Access to food;Housing;Transportation;Disabilities\/Accessibility;Family\/Friend Caregivers;Jobs\/Employment;Home Care Services and Supports;Assisted Living;Skilled Nursing Facility;","comment":"I am a St Louis County Social Worker in northern rural St Louis County and we are REALLY struggling for services to keep people in their homes.  It is forcing them into assisted livings, moving in with family --sometimes out of the area. Assisted livings and adult fosters are struggling to get, maintain, and retain staff -- as they cannot find staff in rural areas (Ely, Cook, Nett Lake, Virginia, Hibbing, etc.). An adult foster in Cook Mn, actually closed and relocated to Hibbing, Mn due to being unable to find staff.\nTransportation is zero, especially in very rural areas, ---even more so for wheelchair needed transport.  I have had people enter hospice in order to get the providers to come to see them in their home, should they be on hospice, no. Do they technically qualify, yes.  The reason is they do not have any transportation to get to the clinic and hospitals.  Rural areas struggle the no pay for down time EXAMPLE:  Virginia, MN to Ely 100 miles round trip. Providers do not get paid for down time, so the 50 mile trip (unpaid) \/ 10 min to pick up and drive the person to the appt (paid) \/ then the wait time (unpaid) \/ Return 10 min trip home (paid) \/ return trip to Virginia 50 miles (unpaid) .  Providers are refusing to service rural areas due to this.   Paying transportation higher rates and allow for reimbursement for all travel related to person, would help solve this issue.\nTelehealth?  We do not have the broadband infrastructure in rural areas to support technology in home to do this.  Make getting broadband easier for all rural areas --similar to the development of the telephone, and electricity, --right not rural mn has to rely on their townships or elected officials to fight or apply for grants to get the development needed to support this.\nFood access:  Frozen home delivered meals are our only option.  We cannot get drivers to deliver food\/local home delivered meals.  Rides to the store and back --we cannot find PCA's and homemakers to help homebound individuals go to the store.  Pick up and delivery is hard as it can be 30 miles to the closest grocery and food shelf --we do not have the people applying to do this work due to other businesses paying higher than our state rates (even though some were just raised, it was not high enough).  Reimbursement for transportation for all waiver services and including something like this as being allowed for Alternative Care clients, would be beneficial for aging.\nFamily paid support:  i.e. over covid we allowed for spouses to get paid to take care of their partner, this has gone away, and I know of two cases that because of this --they could not find paid caretakers, and this forced transition to assisted living. A rural exception for this would be a solution. \n","zipcode":"55723","first_name":"Sasha","last_initial":"L","city":"Cook"},{"topic_area":"Transportation;Disabilities\/Accessibility;Family\/Friend Caregivers;Jobs\/Employment;Home Care Services and Supports;","comment":"My name is Myrna Peterson, a 74-year-old retired educator and quadriplegic because of an auto accident when I was 45 years old on June 21, 1995. I moved to Grand Rapids, MN, 10 years after my accident in 2005. I had been medicated with very strong narcotics because of misdiagnosis causing severe nerve pain. My condition was not healthy, and I was encouraged to go to a treatment center to flush all the narcotics out of my system.  After three weeks of rehab with able bodied teenagers and young people in their 20s, I was determined to use my limited mobility to advocate for the rights of differently abled people. \nI endured 25 surgeries within the first 20 years but then was part of setting a Guinness Book of World Records on May 15, 2015. We had 351 wheelchairs rolling in succession for 3 minutes. Overwhelmed at seeing that many people in wheelchairs at that event, we decided to host meetings in 4 different cities within Itasca County to learn why. We learned that, the 4 top barriers preventing differently abled people from participating in events outside of their home were:\n\u2022\tLack of accessible transportation\n\u2022\tPoor entrances getting into and within buildings.\n\u2022\tPoor sidewalks, curbs, and trails\n\u2022\tLack of general public awareness of accessibility needs\nI helped to establish a 501(c)3 called Mobility Mania - Accessibility for All to make some positive changes. Our mission is: To increase accessibility awareness to make Itasca County the showcase of accessibility in Minnesota and to raise finances for local accessibility needs.\nMobility Mania is fortunate to have the support of the City of Grand Rapids in our mission. The City Council unanimously supports that all new commercial construction or renovation consider having an accessibility collaboration with Mobility Mania to ensure their project is not only ADA code compliant but is as accessible as it can be. We have collaborated with many local and state agencies to meet the needs of our aging an differently abled citizens.\nI am serving my second four-year term on the MN Governor\u2019s Advisory Council on Connected and Automated Vehicles, exploring driverless vehicles and buses. Grand Rapids is a pilot city for this new technology. Three of our five self-driving vans are ADA compliant and are part of goMARTI, Minnesota\u2019s Autonomous Rural Transit Initiative, an 18-month pilot project. We resently received an ATTAIN federal grant for $9.2 million to expand the goMARTI project using electric vehicle4s that are ADA compliant for an additional three years. Aging and differently abled friends use this service for better quality of life activities.\nI am also currently serving my second three-year term on the Minnesota Council on Disability. I represent people within DEEDS Region 3 by providing resources available at the state level and share their concerns as they fit into our legislative efforts.This is a great way to stay connected with people who have a variety of abilities and ages.\nLocally, I am honored to be the Chair of the Reif Performing Arts Council, serve on the MacRostie Art Center Board and the Grand Rapids Arts and Culture Commission. I have a passion for getting differently abled people involved in visual and performing arts in our community. I feel strongly that everyone deserves a quality of life, regardless of their age or ability. Art expression can be a creative way of building confidence and self-worth. It also is great at bringing community awareness and appreciation for these unique artists.\nMobility Mania started a monthly Support Group for differently abled people and their caregivers. We have dinner together and then meet separately to share common concerns and resources with each other. We are all better together, and the diversity of abilities and age increases the quality of life and acceptance of others in our community. My personal mission is that \u2018Yesterday is gone and none of us are promised tomorrow. We all need to make the most of today!\u2019\n","zipcode":"55744","first_name":"Myrna","last_initial":"P","city":"Grand Rapids"},{"topic_area":"Financial Stability;Home Care Services and Supports;Jobs\/Employment;Recipient of Care by Family\/Friend;Family\/Friend Caregivers;Paid Care Provider;","comment":"ElderCircle served all of Itasca County and parts of St. Louis County.  Both of these counties are a large demographic area of land and it can be difficult to serve older adults who live in rural areas.  ElderCircle also serves older adults from all ranges of income levels, specifically focusing on lower income or those who were not eligible for assistance.  We refer to those who are not eligible for assistance and cannot afford to private pay the \u2018gap\u2019 bracket.   \nFor individuals who receive assistance for services, we were able to bill for those services.  Some of the concerns or issues are that the reimbursed amounts are not high enough to support the services that are being offered.  For example, in home services may be reimbursed as low as $3 per unit, so $12 for an hour of service.  How can a for profit or a nonprofit afford to provide those services for that amount of reimbursement.  Organizations must follow strict state licensing, there is a lot of oversite for these types of programs and the billing system itself can be very difficult to understand and to navigate.  As a State, we need to put more value on those services that are being offered and more value on the people providing those services.  The reimbursement rate needs to be raised, so organizations can pay direct care staff appropriately for the services they are providing.  If we do not start putting value on the work that is being provided, we will never have enough direct care workers in the field to fill those positions.  We also need to provide some sort of incentive for individuals who are going into a field of direct care work.  An example could be that while some one is working in a direct care field for aging adults, they are paying off a portion of their student loans from college.  Or if an individual does not have a student loan, maybe it is some sort of incentive program that individuals who work 25+ hours per week in the aging service direct care work, receives a bonus from the State or a large tax break at the end of the year.  These positions are looked at as entry level, when in fact these positions are essential in being able to care for our aging population.  \nWhen running an adult day, you are only able to bill for the days that a participant is there.  If that participant is scheduled for 4 days that week and are out sick, you are unable to bill for those days even though the organization must have staff and food available.  Or when providing a chore service like snow removal, if the client was in the hospital and we provided a snow removal, we would not be reimbursed for that service but we need to pay the provider who did complete the service.   Organizations are not informed when a client is in the hospital or rehab.  The organizations then need to absorb the cost of that service without reimbursement.  \nFor individuals who are in the \u2018gap\u2019 bracket, and in need of services but can only afford free or reduced cost services, organizations like ElderCircle try to provide these options.  As a nonprofit, those services are offered but it can be difficult to be consistent with those services since you are always looking for grant to help support those services.  Most grants available are looking for you to build and create new services, but not support the current services that you are offering.  It feels as if you are constantly chasing something new instead of working to continue to provide the support services that are already empowering older adults to be able to stay in their home.  How can free and reduced services be supported without constantly being asked add new or create new?  How do we support what is working?\n","zipcode":"55744","first_name":"Renee","last_initial":"B","city":"Grand Rapids"},{"topic_area":"Access to food;Transportation;Family\/Friend Caregivers;Home Care Services and Supports;Paid Care Provider;Financial Stability;Health Care;Disabilities\/Accessibility;","comment":"ElderCircle received Older American Act dollars.  Prior to COVID the Title IIIB dollars were cut.  The program that is supported by those dollars are essential programs- medical transportation and grocery shopping and delivery.  With the cuts in these dollars, it has been difficult to continue to provide these services.  Cost of living and cost of almost anything has increased, and so has the number of individuals being served increased.  With cuts, it has been almost impossible to continue to serve older adults with these services due to lack of funds.  Older American Act dollars are essential in supporting older adults in our communities.  Especially rural communities.  Rural communities deal with more challenges in delivering services and are geographically challenged in providing services.  The formula for how these dollars are distributed needs to be re-evaluated.\n\n\nThere is a need for a state-wide system that is user friendly for family caregivers and providers.  And this system should allow for referrals.  Currently there is the MNHelp.  This system is not user friendly and difficult to navigate.  While I was at ElderCircle, we developed a site called \u201cAll About Aging\u201d and worked with FindHelp.com.\n\nAll About Aging by findhelp - Search and Connect to Social Care \n\nThis site is being used by providers and healthcare systems to refer for services.  It is user friendly, and providers are able to update their services easily.  Since COVID we experienced the ever-shifting changes with organizations.  This site allows for organizations to add, delete and update their services and any information they deem important to be posted.  Individuals who are looking for services for themselves or family members, are able to browse and search for services that are available in their area by entering their zip code. \n\n I would suggest that this site or develop a different site or upgrade the MNHelp site to be more current and user friendly for both providers and the end user.  \n","zipcode":"55744","first_name":"Renee","last_initial":"B","city":"Grand Rapids"},{"topic_area":"Health Care;Home Care Services and Supports;Jobs\/Employment;Assisted Living;Skilled Nursing Facility;Paid Care Provider;","comment":"\nDear Members of the MN Task Force on Aging, \n\nI am a social worker in skilled nursing and assisted living. I started in this field prior to the Covid pandemic. I remained throughout and continue to this day. In addition, I am a graduate student pursuing my Masters in Social Work who is committed to creating changes for the older people in Minnesota and across the world. We are in a healthcare crisis for this population.\n\nI am writing to you today to encourage deeper discussion on one way to address ageism within our state. We need to implement intergenerational programming on a large scale.  Currently, we have a childcare shortage and a healthcare worker shortage, particularly in the long-term care settings. The cost of childcare in Rochester, MN (my city) can cost between $200.00 \u2013 $350.00 per week, per child. Certified Nursing Assistants \u2013 the backbone of these facilities - cannot afford this. Most working in this field cannot. It makes more sense for them to stay home with their children than it does to come work. How can we bring these two sectors together? We need to combine care facilities with childcare opportunities. How can we make it more realistic for this to happen? \n\nWe need to provide incentives for agencies and institutions to bring these programs into place. It is a lot of work to implement. Infection control is on the forefront of individuals minds since the Covid pandemic. We now know that the isolation was significantly worse than the infection for people. Many folks lost their sense of purpose or motivation to live. When stuck in a room, with care staff wearing gowns, without one familiar face, add dementia to the mix and you\u2019ve lost the will to live. Why? What is the point? \n\nChildren can provide a sense of purpose for the folks in long-term care. In addition, the children can learn from these individuals as well. They can begin to understand from an early age that aging is not scary or something to avoid. Our aging population is only growing and living longer. We are ill-equipped to handle the healthcare shortage for these individuals. One small way we address aging and the childcare shortage is by implementing programs that allow facilities to combine both. Create incentives, make it feasible, and allow for creativity in implementation.\n\nWorking in long-term care is challenging. It is a big task. In addition, the regulations placed from the state can cause more harm than good to the sector. Allow for those agencies and institutions to try new programs to meet the needs of their populations. There is a wealth of creative and passionate individuals in this field and we are slowly losing them. Let\u2019s create opportunities where despair has been planted. \n\nI am just one individual, on the verge of burnout from dedication to a field without public investment. We need to do better. \n\nSincerely a very concerned social worker, \n\n\nSophie Knetter \u2013 Kuschel, LSW \n1411 3rd Ave NW\nRochester, MN 55901\n","zipcode":"55901","first_name":"Sophie","last_initial":"K","city":"Rochester"},{"topic_area":"Home Care Services and Supports;Insurance;Health Care;","comment":"Our agency has had to turn down numerous home health referrals for Medicare insured elderly as they do not qualify as being homebound or having a skilled need for wound care, PT, or short term cardiac\/respiratory pathways; medication education\/management, etc. Many secondary insurances adhere to the Medicare homebound qualifiers, which severely limits the elderly individual's accessibility to needed in-home services that would prevent frequent usage of emergency services. \n\nThese elderly individuals are frequent users of emergency departments or rescue services d\/t repeated falls in the home, frequently while getting in and out of the shower\/bathtub. Many have medication mismanagement issues that send them to the emergency department for acute life-threatening health issues that are preventable if given consistent assistance for medication management\/education.\n\nMany elderly are forced into moving to assisted living or skilled nursing facilities due to their inability to consistently manage their medications, or transfer safely in and out of the shower\/bath. Insurance only pays a portion of the cost associated with these facility stays, giving many elderly no safe option other than moving in with family or close friends who have the space and\/or ability to adequately care for them. \n\nThese elder individuals could be safely maintained in their own home at a fraction of the cost if only the insurance coverage regarding what is considered a skilled need would include medication management\/set up by home health nurses, home health aid assistance for bathing and basic skin cares, and homemaking assistance for maintaining a clean, safe home environment.   \n\nMinnesota is a progressive state that has lead many pro-active measures to improve the quality of our population such as the MN Department of Health's Live Well at Home program.  The recent budget cuts to home health reimbursement rates will decrease the ability of our state's home health workforce to provide needed in-home cares. This will result in increased financial burden on the state medical assistance funds for those elderly individuals who deplete their life savings to pay for facility long-term stays.  \n\nState agencies and legislators need to work together towards creating a viable solution to this elder care crisis through legislation that promotes healthy aging at home. Budget cuts and decreased insurance coverage are not the answer. Minnesota needs to once again, lead the way to providing our elderly with long term solutions that champion increased accessibility and financial support for in-home services. \n\nSincerely,\nColleen Drenckhahn, RN, BSN, MSNE\nGundersen-St. Elizabeth's Home Health\nWabasha, MN","zipcode":"55981","first_name":"Colleen","last_initial":"D","city":"Wabasha"},{"topic_area":"Transportation;Home Care Services and Supports;","comment":"Aging in rural Minnesota is very, very difficult due to the lack of transportation to medical appointments and basic services. In small towns like Montgomery, Morristown, Kenyon, there are no options for transportation like Uber or Lyft. One of our services provides curb-to-curb transportation to medical, dental, and mental health appointments. All of our clients are either too old\/fragile, can't drive, or lack a vehicle to drive themselves. We also provide homemaker services for those in the same demographic who can't clean their living spaces. Both of these services allow them to continue living in their own homes. It is definitely hard aging - anywhere in the US because we, as a country, don't value our aging population like other countries.","zipcode":"56069","first_name":"Wade","last_initial":"Y","city":"Montgomery"},{"topic_area":"Family\/Friend Caregivers;","comment":"As a program manager, caregivers are the most undervalued folks we as Minnesotan's support!  It is estimated that there are 11 Million UNPAID caregivers in the nation which is valued at $350 Billion.  Caregiving is a 24\/7 job, and caregivers often neglect their own needs to care for someone elses needs. Reasoning behind this neglect is 1) no one to step in to sit with care receiver so caregiver can go to appts or a support meeting 2) guilt for asking for help 3) caregiver does not see themself as a caregiver, only a wife, mother,husband,father, son or daughter (it comes with the role of the family) 4) the care receiver is resistent to someone else taking care of them. 5) lack of affordable resources, especially in Rural MN","zipcode":"56164","first_name":"Jill","last_initial":"T","city":"Pipestone"},{"topic_area":"Skilled Nursing Facility;Assisted Living;Health Care;","comment":" I have compiled evidence of nefarious actions when my mother died during the Covid epidemic at County Manor housing at the facility in Sartell MN.  I have evidence of horrific care, verbal abuse and what I believe could be retaliation due to my monitoring her care.  My Mom died in the heat of the covid days after being locked down from family and friends. After living independently, she ended up in the rehab facility and was dead in 6 weeks.   I contacted the MN health dept., Ombudsman, human rights department each with no concern to my complaints.  I have evidence of my testimony in the form of emails, audio recordings, photos and videos.  This is a money hungry facility with the focus on getting the elderly on the 'next plan for care' which of course costs more.  With  limited staff they can not even fulfill the contract needs of their clients.  \n\nAfter my mother was dead, I had a lock of her hair removed for a drug test 3 days after her death date.  This is the results where she tested positive by over 7221pg\/mg of phenobarbital.  Something happened there and I would sure like to know what the real story is.\n\nI know you have an upcoming task force meeting on Aging, Oct 10 at 10am however I am unable to attend.  If there is anything I can do to help prevent the abuse of others I would love to share my story.  \n\n\nWith regards and bless you for your service to the vulnerable.\n\nSandy Klocker, Avon, MN\n\nIn loving memory of my mother Lorraine Kosloske.\u2764\u2764","zipcode":"56310","first_name":"Sandy","last_initial":"K","city":"Avon"},{"topic_area":"Health Care;Family\/Friend Caregivers;Recipient of Care by Family\/Friend;Home Care Services and Supports;Assisted Living;Skilled Nursing Facility;Paid Care Provider;Financial Stability;Insurance;","comment":"As the Manager for Quality Assurance and Improvement Unit and Fiscal Operations of Aging and Adult Services at the Department of Human Services and for the Minnesota Board on Aging, I wanted to make you aware of two recent studies to help increase access to long-term services and supports for Minnesota\u2019s older adult population. The studies were completed on behalf of Own Your Future (https:\/\/mn.gov\/dhs\/ownyourfuture\/), an initiative of the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Not only do these reports contain important information about the overall landscape of aging in Minnesota, such as demographic characteristics of Medicaid LTSS users, but they also provide recommendations aimed at reducing the strain on older adult families and their finances, as well as state and federal funding resources.\n\nThe first report, LTSS for Minnesota\u2019s Older Population: Current and Future Utilization and Medicaid Payments, describes baseline characteristics, LTSS service utilization, and LTSS expenditures for Minnesota\u2019s older adult population from the years 2016-2021. It also contains projections for utilization and payments for LTSS in Minnesota for the years 2023-2035. This report projects an increase in the use of Medicaid LTSS by 26% from 2023-2035. This increase in use is projected to be accompanied by an increase of Annual Medicaid payments by 71% during the same time period.\n\nThe second report, LTSS Funding and Services Initiative Study, examined funding options to provide a structure to transform the integration of existing and recommended public-private programs which provide access to care and LTSS financing for older adults in Minnesota. At the start of this study, a significant focus was on identifying the subsets of older adult populations and how they are served under the existing system supporting LTSS care and financing in Minnesota. The analysis showed that a significant portion of Minnesota\u2019s older adults, in particular those within the middle brackets with annual retirement incomes ranging from of $25,000 to $125,000, do not have the supports and funding approaches necessary to prevent a dependence on Medical Assistance programs. This became a central focus of the stakeholders\u2019 three recommendations; however, the recommendations offered are not solely for this segment of the population, they also consider improvements that could enhance the experience of all LTSS users.\n\nBoth reports are available on the \u201cReports\u201d section of the Own Your Future website (https:\/\/mn.gov\/dhs\/ownyourfuture\/reports\/). Staff responsible for the studies, along with the contractors who conducted the studies, would appreciate the opportunity to share what was learned through this work. Not only do these studies provide information on the current state of Minnesota\u2019s LTSS system such as current strengths and gaps identified, but they also have practical recommendations that the Task Force should consider moving forward with in their final report. We believe it would be beneficial to Task Force members and all Minnesotans in general to be informed of these efforts and their results.\n\nThank you in advance for your consideration of this request.\n","zipcode":"55164-0967","first_name":"Mary Olsen","last_initial":"B","city":"Saint Paul"},{"topic_area":"Housing;Sense of belonging;","comment":"I would like to move out of the large house that I raised my family in, but my community, Virginia, MN lacks options for active elders that are affordable.  In addition, my house needs work in order to sell it for it's real value.","zipcode":"55792","first_name":"Mary","last_initial":"M","city":"Virginia"},{"topic_area":"Transportation;","comment":"I am the Volunteer Driver Program Manager at Tri-CAP and we were very grateful to receive funding from AFMN to enhance our program. We were able to conduct a survey in the counties we serve to see how we could better fill the need for transportation for those living in areas where public transportation isn't available or for transportation for essential appointments where a person needs help getting to the cities or other destinations that they may not be able to do on their own. Through this grant the most impact came from the funding we received to be able to advertise for more volunteer drivers which in turn enabled us to increase our driver pool and help many more people than we had been. In August alone our volunteer drivers drove 45,701 miles transporting clients all over Minnesota. Many of these rides take people from one city to another such as St. Cloud to the cities for essential appointments such as medical, dental and family visits. Because of this grant and our increased driver pool we are now working toward subsidized self-pay rides for those who do not receive funding and do not have enough to cover the self-pay cost. Transportation is critical and help from grants keeps our program growing and helping those in need. Having reliable and affordable transportation keeps people in their homes while still having the best quality of life.","zipcode":"56387","first_name":"Tami","last_initial":"S","city":"Waite Park"},{"topic_area":"Housing;Landlords unwilling to fix issues ;","comment":"The landlord of Landview& Prairieview apartments at 204 Garfield St. SE, Warroad, MN said no to fixing caved in ceilings,  bringing black mold and health problems to tenants if low income, seniors and those mentally challenged and physically disadvantaged people.  These tenants have been scared into submission, have no where to go and so scared to say anything incase the are evicted.   \n\nI am a friend and have personally gone to the City of Warroad, called the City Attorney, the MN department of health, and Roseau County (who outsources their health to LifeCare) - each of these governments say IT IS OUT OF THEIR HANDS TO GET THESE WONDERFUL CITIZENS HELP.  What the heck?!   Isn\u2019t this the role of our government?   To take care of their citizens.  This is a TRAVESTY.  \n","zipcode":"56763","first_name":"Tamara","last_initial":"S","city":"Warroad"},{"topic_area":"Intergenerational Connection;","comment":"The Age Friendly grant funds have allowed frequent visits with West Central Area students PK-12 to area senior facilities and gatherings.  This has provided entertainment and connections for our seniors and fulfilling relationships for our students.  I can easily send you a PowerPoint showcasing several pictures and opportunities we were able to facilitate thanks to this grant.","zipcode":"56531","first_name":"Kari","last_initial":"K","city":"Elbow Lake"}]