1 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? Workforce shortage Disparities in income Lack of affordable housing Opportunity: Age friendly MN and adding an aging lens to policy Agism and impact on programs, opportunity to see synergies between what works in a neighborhood for OA to also work for babies and families Disparities impacts compound over the course of a lifetime, opportunity: equity is now a part of every conversation. EX. Henn. County Age Friendly Action plan used equity overlay Opportunity: Technology’s rapid acceleration due to COVID experience, not a magic bullet to replace human interaction. Digital

Breakout Room 16

2 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? Coming up with a common definition of what ageing well means or do we even need one. Access to support services across the state Social isolation, becoming/staying part of the community Not enough attention paid to needs of older adults including funding Finding resources, including and especially work force, particularly in outstate MN. Opportunity to harness the skills and abilities of older adults that would be willing and able to be a part of the workforce. Be creative with job sharing opportunities to utilize the older adult potential work force.

Breakout Room 2

3 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? Transportation (availability, poor operational process, crime rates have negatively impacted) Safety / High crime rates COVID: equitable health care opportunities Accessibility to medical care, home necessities, food, etc. Housing (TRULY affordable housing) Availability of options Rural MN inventory that has been purchased for vacation / rental New builds of luxury, high income buildings Absence of in-person resources; digital literacy or inefficient phone services/support Availability of resources which are easy to navigate (need for Care / Service Coordination) Health literacy, stigma, and overall health advocacy (Telemedicine) Social isolation and vulnerability Scam calls -- risk of being taken advantage of Internet accessibility / affordability (hand in hand with digital access and literacy) Education on virtual interactions Public education / awareness on aging process for families---how do we ensure people are aware of educational opportunities Preparedness versus crisis management Program closures where socialization has previously occurred Ensuring Age Friendly platforms, services, etc. for those with chronic illness (ex: Dementia) and training for those providing those services

Breakout Room 3

4 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? Housing (lack of affordable and age friendly housing)-cost of long term care/ Economic and Financial security in terms of services, housing, equity and autonomy/more choices than ever before System navigation/more technology solutions being formed as well as positions in navigation We are just not ready - stuck in some of the same systems that we have designed without being able to scale the need. Funding and planning should be spread out across all sectors of government with a planning for aging lens. We are not valuing professions in aging as they should be valued. An opportunity that we have is the influx in funding because of the pandemic. On the flip side sustainability will be difficult. Opportunity that in MN we have a caring culture and a caring community - and there is a possibility to tap into that and elevate the narrative. The workforce element which creates competition across all sectors. We also need the political wheel to assist with solving this. Immigration is a broader policy issue that could be tapped to supplement the workforce. Opportunity is the lessons learned from COVID underscores the need to fast track our Medicaid budgets - need to look at policies that can expedite access to services quicker. From a public health perspective there has been increased work around prevention and there is still a lot of work to do - and we need to expand the conversation in preparation to age well. Social isolation’s many implications–room for innovation here

Breakout Room 4

5 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? Challenges: Financial for individuals Workforce shortage to care for older adults (home care/care coordination and so forth) Social Isolation Increase in Rules and Regulations (increase funding increase admin burden) Wage disparities HIPAA and PHI barriers - inability to have continuity of care Opportunity: Technology/Tele-health Care Coordination - telephone visits able to reach people who traditionally we have not been able to meet with Flexibilities and creative innovations Updating Emergency Prep. due to the pandemic in communities More awareness around inclusiveness (DEIA) Magic Wand question less paperwork more client care reliable and integrated transportation systems have health insurance companies be proactive and able to work with instead of against

Breakout Room 5

6 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? Family genetic pool Perceptions of aging A lifetime of low-wage work Recapturing the value, respect, and contributions of our elderly Becoming age-friendly in all our communities--address transportation concerns & change ageist mindsets Policy to keep people in homes is risk for isolation--need social engagement opportunities Ability to solve problems holistically--senior housing w/preschools/daycare centers, etc. Utilize benefits of our full population. Challenge of basic infrastructure of homes, having stuff, public spaces. Intergenerational homes as intentional options--get cities to allow/change zoning rules. Cancer, parkinsons, COVID-19, dementia, distrust in system a

Breakout Room 6

7 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? C: Funding for programs and services C: Lack of individual wealth/money/resources C: Lack of services/supports for middle and lower class C: Not workers to do the work or are interested in the work, undervalued/marginalized and not sought as career path O: Need to redefine the value of older adults and caregivers. Disconnected between stated values and actions. C: Decline in number of available family caregivers C/O: Elderly waiver: challenge current programs and reimbursement, how can we make it more robust C: Policies don’t always support caregivers (paid or unpaid) C: Equity and availability of/desire for technology C/O: BIPOC & LGBTQ community needs - different/additional needs and need a culturally competent workforce to support C: Disconnection on where to find planning resources, how to plan for aging. Feeling of having to figure it out when the shoe drops C: Various value structures and ways of living, not one size fits all C: Ageism and lack of recognition of when its taking place. Impacts policy and public perception of aging. More public definition of aging would be helpful. O: Leadership development and pipeline for future leaders/succession planning C: Prevalence of dementia and Alzheimer’s - need to recognize impact as plan and develop services C/O: Increase in cross-generational interest and involvement in aging - seems to be starting C/O: Difficult to navigate HCBS and medicaid system. Need to make simpler, reduce complexity, more transparent. Needs to work for us rather than against. Question certain regulations and lack of flexibility. Impacts providers that may want to move into system and families C/O: Recognition of systems that created current regulatory system - how do we start to unbundle and think differently, more person-centered, individual policies.

Breakout Room 7

8 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? Look to the future: Appropriate housing for older adults, people of different abilities, transportation in areas that do not have good means of transport. Physical infrastructure of our community: sidewalks-weather conditions make it difficult for older adults In same city there is excellent space and housing but other areas we do not have the right housing and conditions for everyone. AARP is working on improving by funding through the challenge grants to develop crosswalks, bike lanes etc to improve the mobility of seniors/ people who are disabled and need to move around. AARP is trying to bring some solutions for communities in need. Opportunity: to get some traction around opposing ageism; there is a greater understanding of impacts of ageism and if we continue to work on it we can do better-the pandemic has increased the conversation around vulnerable and older adult issues that were not so highlighted. If we keep on looking at them with aging lens then it will help. Watched about social isolation--what older adults have been experiencing for years--Community engagement--intergenerational space, including the different generations in all parts of life--how to include college students--Netherlands has

Breakout Room 8

9 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? Health behaviors opportunities that we don’t hear about Equity in health care access for older adults Opportunity in that retirement looks different now for many - workforce options for older adults Technology is an opportunity to address social isolation Workforce is a challenge Lack of funding in aging services compared to other areas of need Opportunity for some coordinated family foundation funding Workforce Transportation and isolated services in Greater MN Opportunity - Example of free Pine Tech degree for graduation seniors in Pine County - replicate in other address to focus on workforce/caregiving

Breakout Room 9

10 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? Human nature works against us, it is hard to get people to do things early in life that will impact our health as we get older Our society looks to healthcare and supports health care rather than public health which helps people address risk factors Fear in various communities, for example that relationships will not be respected. Also differently abled individuals - many challenges and some a simple as snow removal needs to be really good if you use a walker Stigma Ageism

Breakout Room 10

11 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? Increase volunteerism - Needed! How to recruit, train use effectively Technology - Navigation needed! Assistance with access, the very old, remember the phone! Accessing affordable servcies super complex Block Nurse Model - effective but not available, BNP are micro-orgs that have challenging scaling to demand Rural Communities ahead on community based voluntary efforts - Mary Bauer source of info!!

Breakout Room 11

12 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? Challenge: Federal (CMS) does not recognize innovation (wants to fund rates/traditional service) Challenge: Time spent on writing applications, reporting, jumping through hoops; small, community orgs lack the personnel altogether complex grant applications Challenge: Culturally-specific community/service providers stretched (difficult to be aware of policy & program changes impacting clients) Opportunity: Subtract (burden)! Raise the threshold to $100k for close audit requirements; general operating support of $30k with onsite “visits”, capacity building Opportunity: Collaboration and information sharing Opportunity: Social programming, community, nonprofit & state networks Opportunity: Technology amplifies small orgs’ capacity to deliver remote services Opportunities include: to engage with coalitions to inform policies and programs, i.e MLCOA, MNDEC, Age-Friendly MN, MGS Opportunity to take an asset-based approach to community engagement and co-creation of solutions in cultural communities Seed Funding for grass-root development of innovative programs

Breakout Room 12

13 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? Challenges: Lack of transportation (especially in rural areas) Lack of intergenerational places/opportunities to gather together Decline of community spaces, like churches and the social connectivity and capital that is maintained through religion Access (large divides in who has access to technology, etc) Lack of general awareness of the demographic shifts Wealth inequality Competing demands for resources Staffing shortage (specifically in ltc settings, hospice/palliative care high turnover, etc) Lack of overall value our society places on ltc careers (part of this may have to do with that this profession is largely represented by women) Lack of societal understanding of the value of caregivers, both paid and unpaid Longer life-expectancies - people are living longer and may do so needing more care RIDICULOUSLY complex system - even the experts can’t navigate it (if it’s too difficult to navigate, we won’t reach people) Opportunities: We feel we are at a unique place to make a lot of significant improves to our ltc landscape We’re encouraged about the support and effort MN makes in its LTSS system. We feel we have a very collaborative environment among the people that work in this space (we feel this can also be built on - ideas on some new relationships and alliances (like intergenerational opportunities, connecting kids to older adults, etc) Increased awareness to apply an age-friendly lens to policy changes and initiatives, such as age-friendly MN (combating ageism) Pandemic has increased funding opportunities to tackle this kind of work. The pandemic has also increased societies awareness of long term care facilities, in addition to social isolation, death and grief and bereavement, that maybe wasn’t on people’s minds before. People’s own experiences with isolation d/t the pandemic may have increased awareness and empathy towards the issues older adults often face.

Breakout Room 13

14 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? Financial burdens/stressors Opportunity to think differently Change narrative Opportunity to co partner Equity lens can mean that everyone thrives if used Opportunity to address inequalities Make our communities better System weaknesses are visible so we can address - health equity Change is hard Opportunity are the cultural changes but hard too Not spending too much time in the terrible… looking at the positive and opportunities Mindfulness needs to be part of the discussion of innovation Living is aging the opportunity is to look at this in all aspects - wipe out agism -

Breakout Room 14

15 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? Ageism is a major challenge and helping people understand what to do about it People want to age in their home and navigate the complex systems to help make this happen for them. We have an older adult performance group to help raise awareness about aging issues and provide education (RSVP) Help see older adults as a resource Challenges - so many challenges (abuse, ageism, discrimination) and Opportunities - committed people working to make positive change (programming, policy change, etc.) - Momentum building to create change Workforce challenges Intergenerational community-building opportunities Creative community-driven approaches to help older adults age well in community Equity and inclusion Volunteerism is critical - older adults are providing essential support to help other older adults in place and promote vital aging. Continue to focus on volunteer opportunities

Breakout Room 15

16 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? Work force issues are hard to solve – skill level Diversity, equity issues are looming large as our demographics change Ageism Bringing our resources together – be more intentional about bringing the resources that we have now together – How to coordinate all of the services – There has been past work, could we look back No sacred cows Medicare and Medicare Advantage programs – opportunity, Local level seems to be most important because services get delivered and the choices get made at the local level Dementia care, Caregivers burden is large challenge Inability to attract aging funders – 1% of philanthropy goes to aging Health, equity and disparities - opportunity with data to compare senior services – using that better to understand Intergenerational approaches is an opportunity Housing issues are challenges – and the way our society segregates generations in terms of where people live Diversity focus is a long-time in coming Cultural responses Chippewa Tribe 25% match is difficult Lack of service providers in rural areas We want to keep our elders at home, if we need to place our elders in a senior care facility, it is most likely outside of our community Add here] [Add here]

Breakout Room 16

17 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? Failing to include older adults in funding decisions (by definition excluding) Accessible housing, Labor challenge Access to technology & willingness to embrace it Caregiving in family life is more acknowledged Commoditization of services causes a rush to where the money is - This leaves social determinants and family caregiving at a disadvantage. Federal funds are coming to help with some of this work (positive) HCBS availability - small providers struggle to stay financially viable - especially in rural communities

Breakout Room 17

18 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? costs of housing (including assisted living, etc) foundations not prioritizing aging services public dollars - possible opportunities? growing trend of older adults needing emergency housing for the Tribes - access to good health care; transportation; internet/computer access social isolation; generations segregated more awareness of the demographic reality of growing older population; hearing more from elected officials of this. mental health issues

Breakout Room 18

19 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? Same challenges as always: seniors need to have financial means which provides access to food, affordable housing, technology, services. Gap between haves and have nots seems to be increasing... Not enough workers no matter where care is needed; staffing challenges only getting worse without any clear “silver bullet” to solve. But think how to use technology as a supplementing solution..so caregivers can be caregivers. Technology challenges/opportunities: financing, infrastructure, use as an opportunity to think forward but don’t lose human connection and human interaction/communication. Don’t replace communication with technology strategies. Medicare program so complex it is difficult for seniors to determine “best” of the alphabet plans-(A-B-C-D)-so much paperwork and expense. Not all seniors have a supportive family structure to help them navigate the system, payors, choices--need to simplify and make user-friendly. Need enhanced navigator role if they need assistance. Rural MN has their own struggles with virtual access, technology

Breakout Room 19

20 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities? Workforce shortages/insufficient living wage-sustaining job options and roles Lack of desirable and affordable housing options Transportation shortages/limitations Caregiver support (challenge and opportunity) Lack of awareness of activities we could do everyday to sustain us Opportunities for connection and sustaining ourselves and our purposes Need for glide path to create a supportive network and continually meet new people (of all ages,not just our own) Supports in dealing with loss and grief and making new connection Build intergenerational culture, values,caregiving, and life continuum--cross generational pathways Adult day providing new opportunities for connection Public libraries and community ed programs offer intergenerational/multi-cultural opportunities to, public institutions can help bring us together Ageist narrative that limits opportunities Music and life long learning offer opportunities Technology as a compliment but not replacement for face to face interaction From a Emergency Room perspective - Transportation and lack of resources when family members are unable to provide short term care after a health incident. Opportunities are the shift and acknowledgement of social isolation vs. stoicism Learned helplessness that prevents us having a voice and influence MN Landscape Arboretum model/culture of engagement for all generations

Breakout Room 20

21 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? [Add here] [Add here]

Breakout Room 21

22 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? [Add here] [Add here]

Breakout Room 22

23 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? [Add here] [Add here]

Breakout Room 23

24 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? [Add here] [Add here]

Breakout Room 24

25 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? [Add here] [Add here]

Breakout Room 25

26 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? [Add here] [Add here]

Breakout Room 26

27 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? [Add here] [Add here]

Breakout Room 27

28 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? [Add here] [Add here]

Breakout Room 28

29 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? [Add here] [Add here]

Breakout Room 29

30 of 30

What are a few major challenges or opportunities that Minnesotans face today in aging well? [Add here] [Add here]

Breakout Room 30