Vital Aging Network

THE VITAL AGING NETWORK'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE SELF-DETERMINATION, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND PERSONAL GROWTH FOR PEOPLE AS THEY AGE, THROUGH EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONNECTION. OUR VISION IS THATPEOPLE 50+ INVOLVED WITH THE VITAL AGING NETWORK WILL BE ENGAGED ANDCONTRIBUTING THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.

EVOLVE: RE-IGNITING SELF & COMMUNITY -THIS EIGHT-MONTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COURSE HELPS OLDER PEOPLE CONNECT THEIR PASSIONS AND TALENTS WITH NEEDS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE CLASS HELPS THEM HONE THEIR SKILLS AND BUILD A SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT HELPS THEM ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS. VAN HAS OFFERED THE EVOLVE PROGRAM (FORMERLY NAMED ADVOCACY LEADERSHIP FOR VITAL AGING) SINCE 2003, AND 278 PARTICIPANTS HAVE COMPLETED THE COURSE. EACH PARTICIPANT HAS DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED A PROJECT THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN, OLDER ADULTS, AND IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS IN THE AREAS OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, NUTRITION, THE ARTS AND IMPROVED USE OF COMMUNITY SERVICES.THE EVOLVE PROGRAM PROVIDES PERSONAL GROWTH, SKILL DEVELOPMENT, ANDOPPORTUNITIES TO CONTRIBUTE FOR THE INDIVIDUALS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THEPROGRAM. COMMUNITIES BENEFIT FROM THE OUTCOMES PRODUCED BY THE EVOLVEPROJECTS. IN THE LONG RUN, COMMMUNITIES BENEFIT FROM A GROWING CADRE OFOLDER ADULTS.

OASIS CATCH HEALTHY HABITS -IN 2014, THE VITAL AGING NETWORK IMPLEMENTED OASIS CATCH HEALTHY HABITS IN TWO COMMUNITIES IN WILLMAR AND ALEXANDRIA IN WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA. CATCH HEALTHY HABITS IS A UNIQUE PROGRAM THAT MATCHES TRAINED, OLDER ADULT VOLUNTEERS WITH CHILDREN IN GRADES K THROUGH 5. CATCH SESSIONS OFFER AGE-APPROPRIATE, HANDS-ON NUTRITION AND WELLNESS LESSONS; PREPARATION AND CONSUMPTION OF NUTRITIOUS SNACKS; AND AT LEAST 30 MINUTES OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO IMPROVE CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH. EACH CLASS ALSO INCLUDES MATERIALS SUCH AS HEALTHY RECIPES AND TIPS FOR ADOPTING AND MAINTAINING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AT HOME THAT CHILDREN TAKE HOME WITH THEM. THE PROGRAM COMBATS THE SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM OF OBESITY FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND OLDER ADULTS-AND IT PRODUCES REAL RESULTS. VAN IS PARTNERING WITH OASIS, A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION BASED IN ST. LOUIS, MO, TO BRING THE PROGRAM TO MINNESOTA. CATCH IS OFFERED THROUGH AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT SERVE PRIMARILY AT-RISK AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS. DURING THE 2014-2015 SCHOOL YEAR, NINETY-SEVEN CHILDREN (65 IN ALEXANDRIA, 32 IN WILLMAR) AND 13 ADULT VOLUNTEERS, AGE 50-PLUS (9 IN ALEXANDRIA, 4 IN WILLMAR) PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM AT 2 LOCATIONS (WOODLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN ALEXANDRIA AND ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN WILLMAR) BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2014 AND MAY 2015. SIX CLASSES WERE FACILITATED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD: 4 IN ALEXANDRIA AND 2 IN WILLMAR. VOLUNTEERS FROM BOTH CITIES CONTRIBUTED OVER 150 HOURS (150.5) VALUED AT OVER $3,300 ($3,332).

WELLNESS 50+ -THE VITAL AGING NETWORK, WITH SUPPORT FROM HEALTHPARTNERS AND A BUSH FOUNDATION COMMUNITY INNOVATION GRANT, LAUNCHED COMMUNITY-BASED WELLNESS INITIATIVES IN FOUR MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES IN 2013 AND 2014. SELF-DIRECTED TEAMS OF OLDER ADULTS, TRAINED THROUGH THE VITAL AGING NETWORK'S EVOLVE PROGRAM, LEAD THE INITIATIVES. THE TEAMS ENGAGE A CROSS-SECTION OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN SETTING THE DIRECTION AND TAKING ACTION TO INCREASE WELLNESS IN OLDER ADULTS. PILOTS ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING IN FOUR COMMUNITIES: HAMLINE MIDWAY NEIGHBORHOOD OF SAINT PAUL, ALEXANDRIA, OAKDALE, AND THE PHILLIPS NEIGHBORHOOD OF MINNEAPOLIS.

AGING WITH GUSTO -AGING WITH GUSTO DISCUSSIONS IGNITE A MORE POSITIVE VIEW OF AGING. HOW WE THINK ABOUT OUR OWN AGING AND HOW WE TREAT OTHERS AS THEY AGE TAKES ON ADDED SIGNIFICANCE AS AMERICA AND THE WORLD AGE AT AN UNPRECEDENTED RATE. OUR SOCIETY FAVORS YOUTH AND SHIES AWAY FROM AGING. AGEISM IS ALIVE AND WELL AND CAUSES REAL HARM TO OLDER PEOPLE. PREJUDICE AGAINST PEOPLE AS THEY AGE COMES WITH A TWIST: IT IS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST OUR FUTURE SELVES. AGING WITH GUSTO DISCUSSIONS: 1) ENCOURAGE MORE POSITIVE VIEWS OF AGING; 2) HEIGHTEN APPRECIATION FOR THE CAPACITY OF PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO CONTRIBUTE IN THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES; 3) INCREASE AWARENESS OF IDEAS, BEHAVIORS AND PRACTICES THAT ARE BASED ON MISCONCEPTIONS AND BIASES ABOUT OLDER PEOPLE; AND 4) DEVELOP IDEAS FOR HOW TO "AGE WITH GUSTO." THE VITAL AGING NETWORK HAS PARTNERED WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS LEADINGAGE MN, EPISCOPAL HOMES, THE YMCA, EBENEZER SENIOR HOUSING, THE MINNESOTA STATEWIDE ACTIVITY PROFESSIONALS AND OTHERS TO OFFER AGING WITH GUSTO DISCUSSIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. ($1,221)VAN FORUMS - REGULARLY SCHEDULED FORUMS PRESENT SPEAKERS ON A VARIETY OF VITAL AGING TOPICS, INCLUDING HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, ARTS, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, SPIRITUALITY, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, AGING POLICY, LIFELONG LEARNING, MEDICARE ENROLLMENT, AND OTHER TOPICS RELEVANT TO OLDER ADULTS. ($14)MAPPING YOUR RETIREMENT -MYR, INC., A MINNESOTA NONPROFIT CONTRIBUTED ITS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AROUND MAPPING YOUR RETIREMENT: A PERSONAL GUIDE TO MAINTAINING YOUR HEALTH, MANAGING YOUR MONEY, AND LIVING WELL TO THE VITAL AGING NETWORK IN 2014. MAPPING YOUR RETIREMENT ADDRESSES THREE CRITICAL ELEMENTS OF A MEANINGFUL RETIREMENT: LIVING YOUR LIFE, MAINTAINING YOUR HEALTH AND MANAGING YOUR MONEY. THE GUIDE BRINGS TOGETHER KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE FROM 15 CONTRIBUTORS. TO QUOTE THE BOOK: "WITH GOOD HEALTH, GOOD LUCK AND GOOD PLANNING, RETIREMENT CAN BE A WONDERFUL NEW ADVENTURE. IT TAKES COMMITMENT, AND SOME ASSEMBLY IS REQUIRED. THE REWARD CAN BE A LIFE WELL LIVED." MAPPING YOUR RETIREMENT IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE FROM THE VITAL AGING NETWORK WEBSITE AND WORKSHOPS ARE SCHEDULED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. ($1,380)