With age comes any number of things, from wisdom to wrinkles. As life evolves, these elements are expected to accompany aging. But what if the weight of the worry you carried also grew as you got older? What if your chances of becoming isolated increased over time? Would you prepare? Would you care?
According to the Minnesota Department of Health, the number of aging adults (65 and over) in Minnesota will double in the next twenty years. Currently, one in eight individuals is associated with this age group; by 2030, one in four will fall into this category. This permanent population change is bound to make waves, so it’s up to us to jump on board and make this ride a worthy one.
Whether it’s you, a loved one or a neighbor that’s growing older, there are endless opportunities to ensure you’re involved in securing a more satisfying senior experience for yourself or someone else. On “Befriending the Elderly,” a recent radio broadcast by The Caring Effect, Krista Boston, director of consumer assistance programs for the MN Board on Aging at the Department of Human Services for the State of Minnesota, mentioned that there are more than 10,000 helping agencies that provide more than 20,000 services to assist this age group. It’s usually a matter of knowing where to start, getting involved and inviting others to join you on the journey.
Are you or a loved one entering this life stage?
Although all situations are unique, Beth Ulrich, executive director at The Caring Effect in Minnetonka, gave a few recommendations on the recent “Befriending the Elderly” broadcast:
- Prepare. Predicting what will happen is impossible, but aging is inevitable. So explore your options early and start these conversations soon. Research shows that if you wait until you’re in a crisis, your decision-making abilities deteriorate.
- Request help. Nobody should be expected to go this alone, yet most do. Don’t let your pride keep you or your family from finding resources that were made to make this process easier.
- Adjust. The goal of most seniors is to stay in their home as long as possible, so take advantage of in-home assistance options. Embrace change by making minor adjustments to help you or your loved one build confidence.
Still stuck on where to start? Ulrich and Boston share several support systems available to help you along the way:
- Senior LinkAge Line®, a free statewide service will help you get started.
- Minnesota Seniors Online, a senior’s one-stop support shop that synthesizes need-to-know information into an easy, online directory.
- Seniors Helping Seniors, an organization that helps families explore the endless options that exist for in-home assistance.
Not aging, but want to support our seniors?
Ulrich noted that according to research done by The Wilder Foundation, sixty percent of seniors don’t live near their families, and 30 percent who live in nursing homes never have visitors. These statistics must seize our attention if we hope to play a part in lowering the loneliness seniors are susceptible to experiencing.
There are a few things you can do to make volunteering work for you:
- Nail your niche. Given the various volunteering venues, determine what you enjoy doing and seek opportunities that suit your serving style.
- Make a calendar commitment. If it’s not planned, it will be put off.
- Pool more people to increase your impact. Gather a group to give back together.
There are countless ways to commit to our community. According to The Caring Effect’s program director Monica Gaffy, here are a few to consider:
- The Caring Effect
- Jewish Family & Children’s Services
- ICA Food Shelf
- Little Brothers, Friends of the Elderly
- Hospice Foundation of America
- Meals on Wheels
Let’s commit to serving our seniors. Supporting our loved ones, our neighbors and ourselves is essential if we hope to build a community that cares.
