Al Franken has lived a fascinating life.  Many know him from his Saturday Night Live days.  But he’s put comedy aside (hopefully not for good - we all need some humor) to run for the United States Senate in Minnesota.  He is the Democratic-endorsed candidate. Changing Aging recently sat down with Senate Candidate Al Franken [...]

Hope you had a great Labor Day Weekend.  Welcome back to Changing Aging! The New York Times’ “New Old Age” blog last Thursday had Ecumen CEO Kathryn Roberts provide analysis on why long-term care hasn’t thus far been a big topic with the Presidential candidates thus far.  She answers the question: Why are the candidates (mostly) silent [...]

Changing Aging is taking a break next week to enjoy the end of a Minnesota summer . . . We’ll see you next week . . . Have a great Labor Day Weekend!

For the fourth straight year Ecumen has been named one of Minnesota’s Best Places to Work by The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.  In fact, this year Ecumen garnered its best performance ever by gaining 5th place in the Top 10 of the Large Business category.  The top-five in order were LarsonAllen, C.H. [...]

The Future of Aging is going to take “Center Stage” next week at the Minnesota State Fair in the Big Top Tent, and you’re invited to participate: The Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission is holding a series of community conversations over several days next week.  The discussions are called:  Minnesota, Real & Imagined:  What Minnesotans Need to [...]

Long-term care financing is like a long dormant volcano that is starting to fizz again. The last time long-term care financing was a serious national topic of discussion was in the late 1980s into 1990 when The Pepper Commission, a bi-partisan commission led by the late Rep. Claude Pepper (D-Fla.) made long-term care financnig part of [...]

We had a fabulous day last week with Nebraska State Treasurer Shane Osborn and Trent Fellers, director of their new Long-Term Care Savings Plan last week.  Thanks to the many people who came to the morning event.   The Minneapolis Star Tribune has an editorial on the Nebraska plan today, which we’ve posted below. After meeting with [...]

Madonna finds her lucky star when she hits the big 50 tomorrow.  Mick Jagger’s is finding lots of satisfaction at 65.  And Prince got a hip replacement, so he can still get crazy and live fully after 50. This is an interesting part of the Age Wave.  In the 1950s, 60s, 70s, we didn’t have the mass media that brings [...]

Most Americans think that Medicare will pay for long-term care . . . It won’t.  In 2005 the national savings rate fell below zero percent . . . the first time since the Great Depression.  Most people have no clue what aging services cost. Aging begins when we’re young and financial literacy should, too.  That’s the [...]

Can you impact how you age? We recently featured two Ecumen centenarians - Hardy Rickbeil and Marion Davidson.  They live different lifestyles.  For example, one is a fitness buff, one is not.  We’re all different, so this raises a question below.  Please take our poll.  If you have any comments to add, please click on the [...]