Minnesota Takes First Steps to Become 'Age-Friendly Society' for Growing Number of Seniors

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has rolled out an executive order to make the state more age-friendly for the burgeoning senior population, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune . The effort will involve nine state agencies, tribal leaders, local governments, nonprofits, businesses, and private citizens. Minnesota has among the lengthiest life expectancies in the United States, and citizens 65 and older are expected to outnumber school-aged children in the coming year. "This work . . . must be a collective effort that requires coordination, collaboration, innovation, and focus across state agencies," Walz stated in his order. The Governor's Council on an Age-Friendly Minnesota will likely be established in the first few months of 2020, with the goal of designing a comprehensive plan for the state, and suggesting policies for lawmakers to discuss in the 2021 session. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging has been lobbying to set up a framework that will grant cities and counties the flexibility to respond to specific community needs. Over five years, the framework would assist municipalities, tribal governments, and other stakeholders in tackling challenges like ageism in healthcare and the workplace, disparities between urban and rural regions, and policies that deny flexible housing options for older adults.