By Andrea Busche
As baby boomers enter their golden years, senior citizens remain one of America’s fastest-growing populations. One local organization dedicated to supporting this demographic is the Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging (AAAA). Located at 221 West 1st Street in Duluth, AAAA serves the entire seven-county Arrowhead region, including Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis counties.
“The Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging is the largest division of the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC),” said Brenda Shafer-Pellinen, AAAA’s Eldercare Development Partnership program coordinator. “The AAAA is committed to helping older adults maintain their highest level of independence. AAAA staff work to support a network of aging service providers, provide assistance to individuals and caregivers in our communities, and foster cross-sector relationships to address service gaps in the region.”
Senior citizens should be celebrated as valuable members of society, but it is important to remember that they help keep our economy running, too. According to the Longevity Economy Outlook by AARP, the economic contributions of Americans aged 50-plus totaled $8.3 trillion last year nationwide.
“Older adults are the foundations of our communities and a major contributor to our local economies,” said Kristi Kane, director of the Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging.
“Older adults are the fastest-growing segment of our population. Businesses that view their operations through an age-friendly lens help older adults age actively and independently, while potentially expanding customer base and revenue,” said Pat Eliasen, Cook County sheriff and chair of the AAAA Advisory Committee on Aging.
New awards
Recently, AAAA rolled out a new recognition, the Aging Impact Awards, AAA: Page R4
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which will be presented twice per year. These special awards highlight businesses and organizations going above and beyond to meet the needs of older adults in the seven-county Arrowhead region.
“The Aging Impact Award is part of our Age Friendly Arrowhead Business Initiative, which will be fully launched later this year and will offer assistance to businesses in the region who want to take a deeper look at their physical space, marketing, policies and hiring practices through an Age-Friendly lens,” Shafer-Pellinen said.
“We will encourage businesses across the region to take this step. The awards are also part of the larger efforts going on statewide working towards an Age-Friendly Minnesota.”
The first round of Aging Impact Award winners and honorable mentions were recently announced, and include:
Award recipients
• Chisholm Parks and Recreation Department
• Hibbing Parks and Recreation Department
• Virginia Parks and Recreation Department
• Northwoods Credit Union – Cloquet
• Reliable Insurance Agency – Cloquet
• Super One Foods – Deer River
• Super One Foods – Grand Rapids (South Store)
• Super One Foods – Two Harbors
• Super One Foods – International Falls
• Miner’s County Market –International Falls
• Streetcar Kitchen and Pub – Carlton
Honorable mentions
• ElderCircle – Grand Rapids
• Evolve U Fitness – International Falls
• Jackpine Savage Grill – Littlefork
• Shining Light Café – Northome
• Volunteer Services of Carlton County, Inc. (VSCCI) and Carlton Wellness Center - Carlton
• Patronizing these businesses is a great way to directly support the age-friendly movement
Nominations accepted
If you know of a business or organization going above and beyond to help our seniors, consider nominating them for an Aging Impact Award. Award guidelines and nomination forms can be found at arrowheadaging.org
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Need help? Got help to give?
Duluth Aging Support (DAS) and Fruit of the Vine (FOTV) Food Shelf have opportunities for seniors to find assistance where they need it, as well as offer their own wisdom, expertise and time.
DAS is a nonprofit organization which connects seniors in the Duluth community with opportunities for their
enjoyment and betterment of life.
Program Manager Cyndy Klinksiek works to reduce isolation among older adults. One way this happens is through the website’s resource library. Both seniors and their caregivers can find helpful resources regarding health and wellbeing, arts and entertainment, or dementia. Another category, Lifelong Learning, includes various education opportunities for senior citizens.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF DULUTH AGING SUPPORTFrom page R5
“Learning helps older adults stay mentally engaged, supporting cognitive health. In-person classes provide social connections too, which help combat isolation and loneliness,“ Klinksiek said.
There are also intergenerational programs, like DAS’s partnership with Mentor North’s new program, Mutual Mentoring, currently seeking older adults to partner with college students through meaningful relationships.
More information can be found at www.mentornorth.org/mutualmentoring or call 218-722-3600.
DAS also partners with Family Freedom Center at Freedom Farms for “coffee, conversation, and gardening” Klinksiek said.
This group loves to get their hands dirty and grow beautiful gardens together. They meet Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. Call 218-5224445 for details.
For more information about DAS, visit www.duluthagingsupport.org.
Fruit of the Vine Food Shelf
FOTV Food Shelf in Duluth provides guests with a week’s worth of groceries with either an indoor
shopping or a drive-thru experience.
FOTV has “served an average of 250 households per month in 2021, [and] given away approximately 278,439 pounds of food in the last 12 months,” said Natalie Pierce, compassion ministries director at the food shelf.
Because of the pandemic, FOTV has been temporarily offering a food delivery service, benefitting many older guests with disabilities. Around 30% of guests at the food shelf are over 55.
“Many are on fixed income and knowing that they can get good, fresh, free food regularly is a huge relief,” Pierce said.
While FOTV meets the practical food needs of anyone in need, it also meets relational needs through volunteering.
“There are opportunities to meet people in the same stage of life as you,” Pierce said.
Several retired volunteers enjoy serving behind the scenes or with guests during open hours. Pierce and her team welcome anyone who would like to volunteer at the food shelf and, she said, “We’re always willing to accommodate physical limits.”
For more information about Fruit of the Vine, visit www.duluthvineyard. org/ministries/fruit-of-the-vine or call 218-525-3462.
Some charities will sit down with prospective donors to discuss the specifics of how their donations will be spent.
Donating to a favorite charity or charities is a great way to make a difference in the lives of people that need a helping hand.
Choosing a charity to support can be a difficult decision, as many organizations are in need and worthy of your charitable dollars. Learning how to vet charities can help prospective donors make the best decisions in regard to which charities to support.
Do your research
The holiday season tends to be the most popular time to give, but charities accept donations year-round. Research charities rather than make knee-jerk donations when the impulse to donate strikes. The Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance has reviewed more than 1,000 charities, assessing each on a host of factors that include organizational oversight and program effectiveness. Such reviews are free to access and can help donors rest easy knowing they made informed donation decisions.
Volunteer with an organization
Another way to vet a charity is to volunteer with it. This hands-on approach can give a first-hand glimpse into just how effective a charity’s programs are and how the organizations direct donations. In addition, volunteering has been linked with improved happiness and provides a great way to meet people.
A charity’s financial filings are public record. In the United States, donors can look on Form 990 in the organization’s filing with the Internal Revenue Service. This form indicates if a charity finished the year with positive or negative assets. If it’s the latter, the charity might be suffering from mismanagement or legal troubles that are preventing it from meeting its mission statement. That’s not the case in every instance, but it should at least present a red flag to would-be donors.
Many charities will happily speak with prospective donors. Such organizations will be specific regarding how donation dollars are spent, including where your donation will be directed should you decide to go forward. Many will even allow donors to dictate how their donations will be spent, as many donors want to know their money is going toward programs and not organizational operating costs.
Healthy roots are the foundation for healthy plants. Once it has grown a substantial root system, the plant starts putting its energy in growing a larger plant and more flowers. Roots are important to a plant because they are its primary source of water and food and are also important for the uptake of oxygen. The roots of the plant take up water but they also need air to breathe.
Over-watering, in simple terms, drowns your plant. Soil that is constantly wet won't have enough air pockets and the roots can't breathe.
Move the plant to a shady area, even
if it is a full sun plant. Once the roots are healthy, move the sun plants back to a sunny location.
Be sure the pot is draining. If no drainage holes exist, add some or re-pot the plant into a pot with drainage holes. Do not allow the pot to sit in water, this will keep the soil too wet.
If possible, create additional air spaces around the root ball. One way of doing this is slowly tilt the pot to its side and then gently tap the container, the soil ball should now be loose within the container. Carefully re-stand the pot up when completed there should be small air pockets between the pot wall and around the
soil ball. This will allow the soil to dry quicker and at the same time bring oxygen to the root zone.
If the plant isn't too large, re-pot into a different pot. Be sure to add new soil. This will give the roots nice, clean soil to grow into.
Begin watering only when the surface of the soil is dry to the touch. Do not allow the plant to get extremely dry, this additional shock could be enough to kill the plant.
If the plant is wilting badly, you can mist or syringe the plant's foliage with water which will prevent too much leaf scorch. Do not fertilize until the plant returns to its normal condition. Treating with a broad-spectrum
fungicide can be helpful. Even if you take all of these steps there is no guarantee that your plant will bounce back. It partially depends on how badly the roots have been damaged. If you have a tendency to kill a plant with kindness and are composting more than survive, you might look at changing your soil mix to a lighter, fluffier soil. Make sure you have plenty of drainage holes in your containers. If you tend to keep plants on the wet side you might want to steer clear of plants that are more prone to problems from over-watering. Information courtesy of Menards
It can be crucial that you update your estate plan throughout your life to avoid unintended consequences and complications. Once a disability or death occurs, estate planning options are limited. Issues to consider include asset protection, family disharmony, successor agents, beneficiary designations and joint accounts. Unfortunately, estate planning is always getting pushed to the bottom of the to-do list and most temporary fixes are not adequate. A good example is coordinating your beneficiary designations with
your estate plan. Many assets such as 401Ks, life insurance, CDs and annuities have you designate someone to inherit the asset at your death. What happens if that person dies? You should have a contingent beneficiary named for that situation. What if your will distributes your assets differently than the beneficiary designation, which designation trumps? It is the beneficiary designation that rules. Another potential problem is naming a person as your financial or health care agent and they pass away before you. Who is appointed to act then? A contingent agent? What if you already are incompetent and no contingent agent is appointed? Does someone have to get a legal guardianship over you to help you with your financial
and health care decisions?
Many people think that by putting their child as an owner of an asset they are avoiding estate planning. This temporary fix has many unintended consequences such as the parent’s asset being garnished for the child’s debts, the asset being subject to the child’s divorce action, or the child taking the asset and not distributing it the way they were instructed.
In your meeting with an estate planning attorney, you should address your current asset situation and what your intentions are. All assets should be discussed including who the owners are and if there are any beneficiary designations. Family nuances should be discussed as the best made plans can be contested when a child has
unreasonable expectations. It is never too soon to start your estate plan so that in the event of your untimely death, everything will be laid out for your family and complications will be avoided. Unintended consequences like probate or guardianship can be avoided by keeping your estate plan current. Protect your and your loved one’s futures by setting up an estate plan today!
Attorney Yvonne Michaud Novak is a member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, an exclusive national organization. She opened her own law office in 2007 after a varied career which included nursing home administration, estate planning and business paralegal, and work as a certified financial planner.
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As a cooperative, our members, those who do business with us, own MPECU entirely. So when we make decisions, we make them for the good of the whole, not the few. We’ve got all the services you need, priced right, to help you navigate your financial journey.
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St. Croix Hospice supports patients and their families when they need us the most, delivering exceptional hospice care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year wherever a patient calls home including private residences, assisted living facilities and nursing homes. St. Croix Hospice takes pride in round-the-clock availability, prompt response and sameday admissions, including evenings, weekends and holidays.
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Law Office of Yvonne Michaud Novak
Licensed in both Minnesota and Wisconsin, Yvonne understands the significance of your particular legal problem and takes pride in providing practical solutions tailored to your needs.
Asset Protection & Business Planning
* Bankruptcy * Estate Planning * Family Owned Businesses * Incapacity Planning
* LGBT Estate Planning * Pet Planning * Trust Administration & Probate 202 W. Superior St., Ste 303, Duluth 218-720-2888
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Contact the Sathers J.S. Realty team — Jackie, Jamie, Julie and Braxton — for help buying or selling your home!
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Juniper
Take charge of your health. Juniper provides small group classes —in-person, online, or by phone — that help you stay active, independent, and feeling your best. We offer classes in three categories: Live Well, Get Fit and Prevent Falls. Juniper is making evidence-based programs available to people throughout the state of Minnesota through an integrated network of community organizations and health systems. Together we are helping people live healthier, more connected lives.
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The Senior LinkAge Line® is a free statewide service of the Minnesota Board on Aging in partnership with Minnesota’s Area Agencies on Aging. The Senior LinkAge Line assists older Minnesotans and caregivers by connecting them to local services, finding answers and getting the help they need.
800-333-2433
mn.gov/senior-linkage-line
In the spirit of our “giving” theme in this issue of Generations, we found this easy cake-in-a-jar recipe, perfect to give as a thank-you gift for someone special.
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup bittersweet or semisweet chocolate pieces
1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1/3 cup peanut butter-flavored, butterscotch-flavored or white baking pieces
1/3 cup bittersweet or semisweet chocolate pieces
1 egg, lightly beaten | 3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup butter, melted and cooled, or 1/3 cup vegetable oil
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1. Layer in a wide-mouth 1-quart glass jar or a 32-ounce canister or container with a tight-fitting lid the following ingredients, adding each ingredient at a time in this order: flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and the 1/3 cup bittersweet chocolate pieces. Tap jar gently on the counter to settle each layer before adding the next.
2. For topping, tear off one 12-inch square of plastic wrap. Place walnuts, peanut butter pieces and the 1/3 cup bittersweet chocolate pieces in center of plastic wrap; twist plastic wrap to seal. (Or use a small plastic bag.) Place topping mixture in jar. Cover the jar.
3. Give as a gift (or store the layered jar of cake ingredients at room temperature up to 1 month) and attach a recipe card with the baking instructions.
BAKING DIRECTIONS
1. Before using, remove topping mixture; set aside. Shake remaining ingredients in jar to mix.
2. Lightly grease an 8x8x2-inch or 9x9x2-inch baking pan.
3. In a large bowl, combine 1 egg, lightly beaten; 3/4 cup milk; 1/3 cup butter, melted and cooled, or 1/3 cup vegetable oil; and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla. Using a wooden spoon, stir in jar contents until combined. Spread batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle with topping mixture.
4. Bake, uncovered, in a 350 degree F oven about 35 minutes for the 8x8x2-inch baking pan or 25 to 30 minutes for the 9x9x2inch baking pan or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature. Makes 9 servings.
AGRICULTURE BALLOONS BANNER BOOTH BUMPER CARS CHICKENS CHILDREN COTTON CANDY ENTERTAIN ENTRANCE FAIRGROUNDS FERRIS WHEEL
FESTIVAL FIELDS FUNNEL CAKE GATHERING LAUGHTER LEMONADE LIVESTOCK POPCORN RIDES SNACKS SUMMER TICKETS
Happiness— it’s what people want most out of life. If we aren’t actively looking for it, we are talking about it, spreading it, dreaming about it, or, hopefully, experiencing it. For many, it’s a goal to be happy. Then, there are those who always just seem happy. How do they do it? Is it naturally in them or do they work at it?
HISTORY OF HAPPINESS HAPPENS DAY
The Secret Society of Happy People, founded in 1998 by Pamela Gail Johnson, was originally a ‘secret’ society to allow members to talk about everything that made them happy because they were genuinely happy people, but they did so secretly so as not to allow overhearing Debbie Downers to rain on their parade. From this came their slogan, “Are you happier than you admit you are?”
They created Admit You’re Happy Day in 1999, which eventually evolved to Happiness Happens Day. In 2000, they declared the month of August as Happiness Happens Month because, well, why limit a celebration of happiness to one day? Every year, a theme is chosen for Happiness Happens Month. In 2019, they encouraged everyone to acknowledge people who make them smile, also known as our “Smile Starters.” The Society offers many tools and resources to promote happiness, personally, at work, and in the community. For example, they created a Happiness Counter to help you recognize daily happy moments that tend to be overlooked. It lists 31 “types” of happiness that people often feel or experience throughout the day. At the end of each day, you can reflect on how many of them you experienced and realize you had more moments of happiness than you acknowledged and embraced during the day.
Over the years, more and more people have talked about happiness — how to get happy, be happy, find happiness, spread happiness. With that, the popularity of the Society grew — so much so, they outgrew the need for secrecy! So, in 2019, the group became simply the Society of Happy People.
Who is happier — married people or single?
Studies show married people are happier throughout life but, if you are not married, having other deep, meaningful relationships can bring about great happiness.
How many times per day do people smile?
Adults smile, on average, 20 times per day, which is a fraction of that of a child who smiles 400 times per day! Let’s not lose that smile factor as adults. As Truvy (Dolly Parton) said in “Steel Magnolias,” “Smile, it increases your face value!”
How happy are Americans?
On a scale of one to three, with one being “not too happy,” Americans average 2.18. Interestingly, since the 1970s, Republicans have been
consistently happier than Democrats and the trend lines do not change meaningfully based on who occupies the White House.
HAPPINESS HAPPENS DAY ACTIVITIES
Be a smile-starter — Make others happy through small, smile-inducing gestures: write a handwritten letter, call, send flowers, or bake cookies. The list of ways you can spread cheer to others is truly endless but be sure to mention today is Happiness Happens Day and that they can make it happen by passing it on!
Give kudos — Seek someone out to thank or compliment them for a job well done. When we let people know how much we appreciate or admire them, it exponentially increases happiness, not only for them but also for you.
Make a list — Make a list of things that make you happy and things you see as happiness zappers. Knowing the zappers may help you avoid them or, at least, better prepare for responding to them. Also, when you recognize happiness zappers for what they are, you can more quickly reframe your state of mind and move thoughts to the list of things that make you happy.
AMAZING WAYS
Gratitude — Expressing gratitude leads to an overall optimistic attitude; it is consistently and strongly correlated to feelings of happiness.
Volunteer — Giving of your time to help others has been shown to decrease feelings of depression and improve optimism and a sense of worth.
Give — We’ve all heard the phrase: it is better to give than to receive — yes, giving is another action that leads to happiness and benefits the giver as much, if not more, than the receiver.
Encourage — Lifting others up brings about a reciprocal effect — put out positive thoughts and feelings and this is what you will likely receive in return.
Reminisce — Spend some time looking at old photos, flipping through high school yearbooks, or reading old letters and you will find feelings of happiness overflowing as you stroll down memory lane.
In a 2016 survey, when Americans were asked which they would prefer: to have a happy life or a life of achievement, 81% of people answered they would rather be happy! Being happy is important so we love having a day dedicated to making happiness happen.
Studies of social networks have revealed that not only does your direct circle of friends impact how happy you are but people you know indirectly can, too, so we want happiness to extend well beyond our innermost circle.
Medical studies have shown happy people are more likely to live longer due to having a stronger immune system, fewer aches and pains, and decreased stress, blood pressure, and heart rate.
