Our Perspective | By Dawn Simonson, President and CEO of Trellis.
As the area agency on aging for the Twin Cities metro area, one of our most important roles is advocating for the well-being of older adults. We have been particularly active in that role during the past few months.
Meals for Seniors
I am co-chair of the Senior Meals and Services Coalition with Jason Swanson, President of the Minnesota Association of Area Agencies on Aging. The Coalition is leading a campaign to add $20 million for each biennium to the Senior Nutrition Program to meet the nutritional needs of older adults. This program has not seen an increase in funding for more than 20 years while the population of older adults has grown exponentially. Current funding does not meet the need and is putting the health of older adults at risk.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on older adults. It and other forces have left many struggling with isolation and economic hardships. One of the most troubling impacts is a striking increase in food insecurity.
According to Defeat Malnutrition Today, as many as one in two older Americans is at risk for malnutrition. Lack of nutrition puts people at higher risk for illness, longer hospital stays and hospital readmissions.
This week’s activities
We were at the Capitol this week, advocating for the Meals for Seniors legislation, HF2523 and SF2244. On Thursday, Leah Hebert Welles, Open Arms of Minnesota, Roxanne Jenkins, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, and I testified before the House Human Services Finance committee. The committee passed the legislation and recommended it for potential inclusion in the Department of Human Services omnibus bill. That’s a significant victory. We want to especially thank Representative Peter Fischer for his leadership in authoring and supporting the bill. We have several steps to go, but the Coalition is on its way to ensuring the basic need for food is met for our most vulnerable older adults.
We need your help!
Contact your legislators and advocate for HF2523 and SF2244. Learn more about the need and our proposed solution on mn4a.org.
Progress in support for volunteer drivers
We also provide leadership for the Volunteer Driver Coalition’s effort to increase the mileage reimbursement that volunteer drivers can claim as exempt from federal taxes to 65.5 cents from 14 cents, matching the business rate. Congressman Pete Stauber (R-MN) has agreed to reintroduce the legislation. He will participate in the Volunteer Driver Coalition meeting on March 16.
An increase in the reimbursement rate is essential to keeping volunteer drivers to help older adults access transportation for medical appointments, grocery shopping and other errands. We’ll have more on how you can help pass this legislation once the bill has been introduced.
We are committed to advocating to ensure that older adults can optimize their well-being.
Please add your voice. Contact your legislators, raise awareness about these issues in your newsletters and on social media and engage your networks. Together we can make these important legislative changes for older adults.
