DEPARTMENT: Public Health
FILE TYPE: Regular Action
TITLE
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Proclamation Of May 2025 As Older Americans Month In Dakota County
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Proclaim May 2025 as Older Americans Month in Dakota County.
SUMMARY
Every May, the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month is a time to recognize older Americans' contributions, highlight aging trends, and reaffirm our commitment to serving older adults.
This year’s theme, “Flip the Script on Aging,” focuses on transforming how society perceives, talks about, and approaches aging. It encourages individuals and communities to challenge stereotypes and dispel misconceptions. This year, take time to honor older adults’ contributions and encourage them to explore the many opportunities for staying active and engaged as they age, highlighting the opportunities for purpose, exploration, and connection that come with aging.
OUTCOMES
Public Health, Communities for a Lifetime (CFL) Initiative:
• Public Health’s Communities for a Lifetime, Fall Prevention Project works with fire departments in West St. Paul, South St. Paul, Burnsville, and Eagan to lower Lift Assists and falls for older adults, educating aging residents about fall prevention and available resources, programs, and services. In 2024 (over a limited 5-month period), there were 61 referrals made and 39 clients contacted by Community Health Workers and the CFL Program Manager.
• In partnership with the GoDakota travel training program, CFL offered rideshare trainings for older adults in 2024: Over 100 people attended three rideshare trainings in Dakota County. The trainings are designed to teach older adults how to use Lyft/Uber as a transportation option.
• As a model for other communities, Age-Friendly West St. Paul has crafted an action plan in 2024/25 to make West St. Paul a more age-friendly community. (West St. Paul joined the AARP Age-Friendly Network in 2022.)
Community Services and Supports for Older Adults:
These programs are designed to support people living in their homes to remain as independent as possible. The programs are: Alternative Care, Elderly Waiver, Essential Community Supports.
• The programs serve people who are age 65 and over (single or married), who are living in their own home/apartment or in assisted living. All programs include the service of case management.
• The person must have a physical or medical need for services and meet the person’s assessed needs.
• Available Services in Alternative Care and Elderly Waiver Programs: Skilled Nurse Visits, Home Health Aide, Personal Care Attendant/Community First Services and Supports, Caregiver Education and Training, Homemaker, Home Delivered Meals/Congregate Dining, Senior Companion, Medical Supplies and Equipment.
• If someone does not meet the service level of care for Alternative Care or Elderly Waiver, they may qualify for Essential Community Supports (ECS): Adult Day Program, Caregiver training and education, Chore services, Community Living assistance, Home delivered meals, Homemaking services, Personal emergency response system.
• In 2025, 152 initial assessments were completed for over age 65 programs.
• In 2024,158 individuals opened Elderly Waiver within Dakota County and were then transferred to managed care plans.
• In 2025, there are currently 270 individuals open to Alternative Care case management, 267 open to Elderly waiver case management, and 5 open to Essential Community Supports case management within Dakota County.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
To encourage residents to observe Older Americans Month and recognize older Americans' contributions to the county, staff recommends that the Dakota County Board of Commissioners proclaim the month of May 2025 as Older Americans Month in Dakota County.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
☒ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, every May, the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month is a time to recognize older Americans' contributions, highlight aging trends, and reaffirm our commitment to serving older adults; and
WHEREAS, the 2025 theme, “Flip the Script on Aging,” focuses on transforming how society perceives, talks about, and approaches aging and encourages individuals and communities to challenge stereotypes and dispel misconceptions; and
WHEREAS, this year, take time to honor older adults’ contributions and encourage them to explore the many opportunities for staying active and engaged as they age, highlighting the opportunities for purpose, exploration, and connection that come with aging.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby proclaims May 2025 Older Americans Month as a time to recognize older Americans' contributions, highlight aging trends, and reaffirm our commitment to serving older adults.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Presentation Slides
BOARD GOALS
☒ Thriving People ☐ A Healthy Environment with Quality Natural Resources
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACTS
Department Head: Gil Acevedo
Author: Jess Luce