Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging (AAAA) launches award to celebrate age-friendly businesses and organizations

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.”

Important economic contributors

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

From page R2 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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