Day 2- Breakout 4 Session Details
Keynote : “Living in 2 Worlds”
Living, as an Ojibwe/Anishinaabe in today’s world comes with unique challenges. Our culture and way of life are deeply rooted in tradition yet we are highly adaptable. We follow a seasonal way of living, guided by the four seasons, while also striving to experience the four phases of life. Our connection to the land fosters a healthy and fulfilling life, allowing us not to only sustain ourselves, but to thrive!
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4A: Three Rivers Park District Age-Friendly Programs
Giannina will highlight work being done with our Latino communities and Bisharo will highlight work being done with our Somali communities. There have been several programs this year (and in previous years) that has brought seniors out into the parks for various programming and to be in community with one another and they will also discuss the many benefits this has brought to these communities.
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4B: Demystifying Geriatrics: Navigating Clinical Professional Services
Clinical geriatrics is provided by a range of providers each offering important insight into the health of all of us as we age. These providers often work in acute, primary, and long term care settings. This panel will explore professional scope of practice, trends in service provision, and insights from clinical geriatrics professionals. Data from a study of Minnesota Medical Directors will be presented to understand more about their role, needs, and challenges.
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4C: PANEL: Supported Decision Making in Minnesota: From Theory to Practice
Minnesota embedded supported decision making into its guardianship law in 2020, with the intention of promoting less restrictive approaches, self-determination, and autonomy rather than reliance on unnecessary utilization of guardianship in situations where people with neurocognitive, developmental and other disabilities may struggle to independently meet their own needs. In 2024, six agencies were awarded supported decision making grants from DHS to provide supported decision making services. In this session, panelists will share their program goals and outcomes to date to demonstrate how supported decision making is a viable approach to assist adults across the lifespan to preserve their autonomy while getting support to address vulnerabilities and risk.
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4D: Speaker One: Bridging the River to Age-Friendliness: A Two-City Approach
Creating an age-friendly community is challenging—doing it across two cities, two counties, and two governments adds another layer of complexity. Join us as we share our journey to make Mankato and North Mankato more livable for all ages. Learn about our process, key milestones, and how we’re balancing the needs of both communities to develop a unified action plan. Whether you're working on a similar initiative or simply curious about what it means to be an age-friendly community, this session will offer valuable insights and inspiration.
Speaker 2: Listen To Your Elders: Age-Friendly Conversations with Immigrant Communities”
No description or learning objectives
4E: Seeing Aging Differently: Unpacking Ageism Through the Lens of Mindfulness
In a society often driven by youth-centric ideals, ageism ”both societal and internalized” can significantly influence perceptions of aging. This session invites participants to examine the narratives surrounding aging and, through mindfulness practices, gently unpack and challenge these limiting beliefs. By promoting awareness and self-compassion, Dr. T will introduce tools to help cultivate a more age-affirming mindset. Attendees will learn to approach aging with curiosity and joy. They will leave with practical mindfulness techniques designed to encourage inclusion, reduce internalized ageism, and inspire a reimagined and empowered view of aging in their lives and communities.
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