Changing Aging

. . .  Enough with the headlines that depict seniors like neanderthals who live in a cave.

Here’s one today from the Hartford Courant:  Seniors Unexpectedly Receptive to New Technology.

 HELLOOOOOOO  . . . . yes, seniors do use technology, they work out, they work, they breathe, they have sex, they’re human beings.  And pretty soon America’s going to have more people with seniority than we’ve ever had. 

Time for media, policymakers, businesses and every aspect of our society to get real to America’s new reality.

If you want to read how technology is changing aging services, download our technology whitepapers or visit our technology section, where you can find other resources such as the Center for Aging Services Technologies.

 Keep it Real.

So yesterday in Minnesota the State Legislature voted to override Governor Pawlenty’s veto of a gas tax.  The result:  Minnesota’s first gas tax hike in 20 years . . . . and bad headline writing.

Today’s Saint Paul Pioneer Press featured a chart to show the gas tax impact.  It created three categories of drivers, labeling them as:

1.  Gas Guzzler

2.  Middle of the Road

3.  Little Old Lady with a Prius.

Enough with the cute, old labels.  Why not call the “Middle of the Road” person, a “big, middle-aged person.”  It wouldn’t cross the mind. 

Politics in Minnesota, the long-running newsletter on - just as it name says - politics in Minnesota had very kind words for the work being done at Ecumen.  Below is the text:

 Who Needs Dennis Hopper?

Many of our readers are Baby Boomers who, like your publisher, are now starting to think about life down the line. Boomers present an unprecedented age wave. The Department of Human Services figures the half billion the state spends on senior care will grow to at least $20 billion by 2050. That’s obviously unsustainable. Plus, Minnesota’s 1.48 million Boomers don’t envision living in institutions (”Cuz I just don’t see you playin’ shuffleboard, you know what I mean?!“).

Enter Ecumen, a completely reinvigorated former nursing home organization previously called Board of Social Ministry. In 2003, the board of trustees wanted to reinvent and brought in highly respected Kathryn Roberts to be CEO (bio here). Roberts, in turn, brought in a “change agent” board of trustees and staff, names many of our readers know, including:

Board chair Loanne Thrane (former state director for GOP U.S. Sen. Rudy Boschwitz), Dave Karsnia (Detroit Lakes business leader), Keith Halleland (health law guru), John Byom (former International Multifoods CFO), Lynn Anderson (Gov. Perpich’s chief of staff), Bob Hoffman (former MnSCU board chair), Rev. Dean Johnson (former DFL Senate Majority Leader), Rev. Kris Linner (author), Peggy Lucas (Brighton Development founder), Joanne Negstad (Lutheran World Relief exec), Lisa Deverell, (Land O’ Lakes exec), Dianne Nimmer (entrepreneur), Rev. Hank Noordzy (Duluth community leader), Jerry Peterson (former West Publishing exec.), David Stillman (Generations expert), and ELCA SE Minnesota Bishop Harold Usgaard.

Roberts also recruited Steve Ordahl, who headed Underwater Adventures, Lifesource C.O.O. Kathy Bakkenist, former UCare exec Mick Finn and Eric Schubert from Himle Horner’s leadership team.

Ecumen has been doing lots of good stuff like conducting the largest ever study of Minnesota Boomers, adding hundreds of housing units, developing housing and services for other organizations, starting the “Changing Aging” blog, creating a more tech-driven system and working for laws to get technology to market faster. Ecumen is certainly a company to watch, professionally (and personally for those of us who will have seniority next).

Elmer Andersen, the former Governor of Minnesota, entrepreneur, writer, and philanthropist, was a model for successful aging.   He died in 2004.  This month’s Twin Cities Business Magazine features Ecumen CEO and president Kathryn Roberts discussing the impact that Governor Andersen had on her leadership style. 

Below is the article:

 ”I met Elmer Andersen in the early 80s, when I was running the management analysis division of the Minnesota Department of Administration.  I was asked to lead the staff support for a task force that was to make recommendations to the governor and the legislature on how post-secondary education should be organized in the future.  Former Governor Elmer Andersen was chair of that group.

“I was 20-something.  I walked into the first meeting and everyone had gray hair; the average age was probably mid-70s.  I thought, ‘How the heck is this going to work?  This group is supposed to develop new ideas.’  But it was the most provocative, insightful, dare-to-be-different kind of conversation I had ever participated in - and it was all fueled by Elmer.

“I was wowed by his charm, his intellect, and his vision, which were apparent the moment you walked into his circle of light.  Elmer had a sage leadership, a professional courtesy for everybody.  He gave people permission to talk, to generate ideas, and to give their opinions.  He had this quiet, thoughtful presence that exuded leadership.

“I learned a lot about leadership of groups from him and how to synthesize that into a product.  In addition to being a leader who brought people with disparate thoughts together — which I try to model — Elmer was a man of high integrity.  I got from him an understanding of what a public servant was.  For Elmer, it really was a higher calling.”

Who has impacted your leadership style?  How?

About half of baby boomers told us in our Age Wave Study that their retirement isn’t going to mean that they stop working.  Many plan to do work that they enjoy in retirement.  As baby boomers have more time, America will have a wealth of experience and expertise that should shape some pretty valuable innovations and change in this country. It’s baby boomers who will transform senior housing and aging services, and a number of other professions, too, perhaps even newspapers.

In Minnesota, a group of baby boomers see that traditional print newspapers haven’t figured this internet thing out yet, and they see huge opportunity.  Yesterday former Minneapolis Star Tribune publisher and editor Joel Kramer announced that he and a bunch of other boomers are starting an online newspaper called MinnPost.  It looks to go beyond simple, quick hit, slash and burn journalism and provide much deeper insight and analysis.   You can read the full MinnPost reporter roster to date here.  It’s an impressive list.  And MinnPost will be a welcome addition and, hopefully, a model for other communities.

While other papers are dropping their aging beats, MinnPost has snagged Kay Harvey, formerly of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, who will cover aging, demographics, gender and psychology.  A lot of interesting fodder out there when it comes to the age wave and future of Minnesota and the country.

Here’s an interview that Joel Kramer did with Leonard Witt, former Minnesota journalist and now professor at Kennesaw State University in Georgia.  (Leonard, love your blog, but please, please drop the word “geezers” out of your vocabulary . . . thank you.)

Some policymakers are starting to feel the ripples of the age wave and how it will impact America.  Whether that impact is good or bad, will depend on the actions we take today.

When you look at the Ecumen Age Wave Study, you can see how aging is a great opportunity for policymakers to have a hugely positive impact.  Successful aging is an American issue, not a Republican or Democrat issue.

According to Kristine Gerencher at cbsmarketwatch.com between January and June Congress introduced 14 bills that would positively impact family caregivers or those they care for.

Last week we talked about legislation introduced by Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar.   Today she had an op-ed appear in the St. Cloud Times addressing senior care.   The text of which is below.  

Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman also is taking a look ahead, seeing the substantial role that technology can play in successful aging and senior care, he introduced in February legislation that would create a consortium to foster development of technologies that would enhance independence, health and lower costs.  The age wave is coming . . .

Minnesota and the nation will soon experience major changes as the baby boomer generation reaches retirement age and as more Americans live into their 80s and beyond.

We know seniors want to be able to live independently and stay in their own homes as long as possible. Families, especially adult children, are essential in helping to make this happen.

It is already a big issue for many families, and it will only get bigger.

The number of Minnesotans older than age 65 is expected to double from 2000-30, approaching a quarter of the state’s total population.

At the same time, the number of Minnesotans available to care for them will shrink. Although suburban communities will experience the most dramatic changes in the future, the impact is currently most serious in rural Minnesota.

Most senior care comes from informal caregivers. Adult daughters and sons are increasingly responsible for helping their parents with tasks ranging from the mundane (like shopping for groceries and helping with chores around the house) to the more intensive (like managing personal finances and helping to make major health care decisions).

Many caregivers belong to the “sandwich generation.” They support their aging parents while also struggling to raise their own children, sandwiched by competing demands for caregiving.

Caregiving can be an overwhelming responsibility for many families. It can be an exhausting and endless job. It does not get easier over time. As a result, many caregivers develop physical and mental health problems.

Caregiving also comes with serious financial costs.

Most caregivers report taking time out of the work force, cutting back on hours and turning down promotion opportunities.

One recent study found women who provide care to an aging parent suffer about $8,600 per year in lost wages and benefits.

Family caregiving also has a significant impact on our economy, costing businesses an estimated $33 billion annually in lost productivity.

For all of these reasons, I am introducing federal legislation to assist our family caregivers.

First, I want to provide financial relief by expanding the existing federal Dependent Care Tax Credit so families can claim tax credits for expenses incurred caring for their aging relatives who do not live with them.

Families will be eligible for up to $1,200 in tax relief per year. While this will by no means cover all elder care expenses, it is a start.

Second, I want to enhance support for family caregivers by promoting best practices in quality, coordinated care and by providing more direct support for family caregivers.

The legislation will establish a National Caregiving Resource Center where families, public agencies and private organizations can learn about best practices and promising innovations.

This legislation will also bolster support for the National Family Caregiver Support Program, which helps fund direct services to family caregivers.

Third, I want to protect consumers and make it easier for families to prepare for their needs by requiring more accountability from the long-term care insurance industry.

About 8 million Americans have bought long-term care insurance to protect themselves and their families.

But one of the biggest complaints is the denial of benefits.

The only recourse for consumers right now is to go to court, which is expensive and time consuming when people are most vulnerable and in need.

My legislation will provide consumers with the right to have their claims reviewed by an independent board.

These proposals represent small steps in addressing the needs of our nation’s caregivers. But they are important steps, and I hope more will follow. …

This approach is good for our seniors, our families and our businesses.

And, because providing care to seniors at home is far less expensive than in a nursing home, it is also good for all of us as taxpayers.

A huge congratulations to Ecumen’s team members, Ecumen has been named for the third straight year as one of Minnesota’s Best Places to Work. 

The award is bestowed by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.  More than 200 companies vied for the “Best Places to Work” designation.  Ecumen was one of Minnesota’s top 10 large companies.  Winners were selected based on anonymous surveys conducted by employees.  The survey sought ratings on several topics:  work environment, embracing innovations/new ideas, people practices, personal growth and development, people in the organization and how things work day-to-day.

The Business Journal highlighted Ecumen’s dual commitment to delivering great customer experiences and innovating. 

Highlighted was the Ecumen Innovation Station, the growing Ecumen University learning program and Ecumen’s Family Helping Family initiative, which provides interest-free loans to employees facing household and family emergencies.   In 2006, more than $175,000 was granted for a number of events from house fires to paying for funerals.  Many employees donate to this fund through payroll deducation.

Ecumen is being shaped by more than 4,000 team members.  For insight from one of those people and ingredients that go into making a great workplace, read Ecumen CEO Kathryn Roberts ‘ article “Does Your Workplace Have Soul?” 

At Left, Leah-Killian Smith, leader at The Villages of North Branch is warmly greeted by resident Edna Holmgren during one of the last days of a former county nursing home in North Branch, Minn.  Photo by Richard Tsong-Taatarii, Star Tribune.

“This is going to be so different.  My new room will be nice.  But the rest of the place is so interesting that I don’t think I’ll be spending much time in my room anymore.”

The above quote by Carole Feakes, who is moving today from Green Acres Country Care Center in North Branch to the new Ecumen community of The Villages of North Branch, really outlines a big difference between the the yesterday and today in our profession.  The Minneapolis Star Tribune has a very interesting story about The Villages of North Branch, a new senior housing development that will open today. 

The All-Important IT Factor

While The Villages of North Branch is brand new and beautiful, The Villages’ success is going to be driven by the team members who create and nurture IT. 

Find out more about IT in this discussion launched by Debbie Manthey.  Share your thoughts.  IT is what makes the beautiful interior design of bricks and mortar come to life.  The IT is what you’ll find today as The Villages team members and community volunteers welcome 68 people to their brand new homes.  The IT is IT.

Before and After Photos

Here are some of the before and after photos from North Branch.  One photo you’ll notice is a collage of historic photos from North Branch.  The Villages of North Branch feature a number of photos from the Historical Society.  What will be particularly neat is that there will be story tellers who live at The Villages who will be able to to share the stories that these photos represent.

Storytelling connects generations. 

Here’s two ways that Minnesota senior housing communities can celebrate The Greatest Generation, preserve legacies and make meaningful multi-generational connections.

 Share Your Story and Photos

The Minnesota History Center has a web site where it is collecting the stories of members of The Greatest Generation.  The site has a treasure trove of stories and photos.  And it makes it easy for others to contribute theirs. 

Minnesota’s Greatest Generation Film Festival

Filmmakers of all abilities and ages are invited to submit short films (10 minutes or less) on any aspect of the life or legacy of an individual or group.  The topic:  “Coming of Age in the 1940s.”  The submission deadline is September 17th and Minnesota’s Greatest Generation Film Festival will be held at the History Center on Oct. 21.

The Wellington’s Experience

Last weekend 8 seniors from The Wellington, an assisted living community in Saint Paul, were celebrated at the Minnesota History Center.  A group called TV by Girls received a $10,000 grant from the History Channel.   Teenage girls produced short films with 8 women who are residents of The Wellington.  The stories were centered around themes such as home, work, resilience, love and were all about life as a member of The Greatest Generation.   The project was called “Minnesota’s Greatest Girls.”

The stories were tremendous, but even cooler were the connections and friendships made.  While the films aren’t online yet, you can read about the premiere here.

Yvonne Severson, director of nursing at Clarkfield Care Center, sent this video clip.  She said in her email, “Maybe if you start skating now, you’ll be this good when you get to be 81.”

 RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT.  Not a Chance.  Check out the video .  This person shows that age is simply a number.