Cass: Central Minnesota Council on Aging continues focus to help senior citizens

WILSON TOWNSHIP — The Central Minnesota Council on Getting older continues to advocate for seniors residing in Cass County.

Lori Vrolson, representing Central Minnesota Council on Getting older, introduced the group’s annual report back to Cass County commissioners on the common board assembly Tuesday, June 21.

Through the presentation, Vrolson mentioned the Central Minnesota Council on Getting older is dedicated to sustaining the very best stage of independence of older folks by growing and coordinating group care, lowering isolation and bettering entry to companies.

As a result of pandemic and the rise of federal funds, the group was ready to make use of roughly $5 million regionally in 2021 in comparison with the approximate $3 million it obtained in 2019.

Of this funding, Vrolson mentioned Cass County obtained 6% of Central Minnesota Council on Getting older funding towards packages. Packages the Central Minnesota Council on Getting older gives to folks age 60 and older embody congregate meals, dwelling delivered meals, assisted transportation, helping in chores, homemaker assist, caregiver consulting, respite care and authorized help.

One program Vrolson targeted on was the senior meals program, which presently presents low earnings seniors as much as 20 frozen meals per 30 days.

When requested the place seniors can purchase this meals bundle, Vrolson mentioned the Central Minnesota Council on Getting older focuses on offering it on the Diet Help Program for Seniors websites moderately than native meals cabinets as a result of the meals are solely out there to folks over age 60.

When youthful households would go to the meals shelf, they’d query why this was not out there to them, she mentioned.

One other program mentioned was assisted transportation and the shortage of volunteers. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, most volunteers had been reluctant to drive folks to and from appointments or buying journeys.

Presently the issue discovering volunteers to drive is as a result of enhance in gasoline costs.

In different enterprise June 21, County Engineer Darrick Anderson requested the board undertake a decision to authorize presents of compensation to landowners for easements required for the County Freeway 70 mission that can present a brand new river crossing in East Gull Lake and exchange the prevailing dam crossing.

The subsequent Cass County commissioners board conferences will likely be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 5, within the boardroom on the courthouse annex in Walker; and at 6 p.m. July 19 at Birch Lake Township, 3611 fortieth Ave. NW, Hackensack.

Kyndra Johnson is a Cass County correspondent.