MPR forum panel A forum which focused on the future of Todd County was held May 6, in the auditorium of Long Prairie-Grey Eagle High School. The Hundreds of Todd County residents attended a recent forum in Long Prairie to discuss the current challenges facing this area; and to explore solutions for their county’s future.

The ‘Ground Level’ forum, presented by Minnesota Public Radio News (in conjunction with the Initiative Foundation), was one of the results of the reporting MPR News did in Todd County over the past two months.

During that time, MPR reporters talked with a variety of Todd County residents. According to a handout at the forum, the reporters talked and listened to people from all corners: business owners, elected officials, seniors, physicians, volunteers, teachers, high-school kids, third-generation farmers and recent Latino arrivals.

A video presentation, which included a few interviews conducted by MPR News during the past few weeks, was shown at the forum. It highlighted some of the challenges facing Todd County residents, including care for the elderly; farming; and retaining young people.

Attendees of the forum were invited to read through a handout which offered some things to think about and to have conversations around, including:

o Many who live in Todd County have been here for generations. They treasure their cities, small towns and countryside; and they seek ways to keep the area vital and economically viable

o Residents are aware the county faces challenges. The population is older than Minnesota as a whole and current trends will strain social and healthcare networks

o At the same time, highpaying jobs can be hard to come by. That means young people move away for work or college and often don’t come back

o If age and employment trends continue on their current paths, there will be more elderly in Todd County in need of services and fewer young working people to support those services.

However, residents can make decisions that will ease the coming demographic crunch, was the message of the MPR News forum.

Kate Smith, MPR News host and senior editor, led a discussion with three panelists who are in a position to shed light on the pressures on Todd County. They included:

o Dr. John Halfen, medical director of Lakewood Health System based in Staples. He is a family physician specializing in geriatric care.

o LaRhae Knatterud, the director of aging transformation for the Minnesota Department of Human Services. She leads a project identifying the many impacts of an aging Minnesota.

o Ben Winchester, a research fellow for the University of Minnesota’s Extension Center for Community Vitality. A sociologist, he researches the dynamics of leadership in rural communities.

Concerns about our aging population was a topic that was addressed by both Smith and audience members.

Dr. Halfen said he believed approximately 60 percent of business conducted at LHS comes from the geriatric practice. New programs have been instituted at LHS to address the situation, including an expanded home health department and psychiatric services for the elderly.

Home health care services are a lot cheaper than nursing home facilities; so this is an option more people are looking into. There are also some ‘technological gizmos’ available that allow elderly patients to check their own medical information at home.

Volunteers with services such as ‘Meals on Wheels’ also help many seniors on fixed incomes remain at home.

“I volunteer about 25 hours a week,” said one man in the audience. “However, I’m a senior myself and need a little help. Perhaps a larger stipend would encourage more people to help out.”

Another woman said she wished more people would pattern themselves after the Amish community. “Why aren’t we willing to take care of our parents...bring them into our homes?” she asked.

There aren’t as many young people living in this area

that would be able to take care of their aging parents. “We’ve been losing our 18 year olds for 50 years,” said Winchester.

“They are attracted to the city. We need to build a place that these kids want to come back to.”

Although the MPR News team has completed their project, efforts will continue to be made by the Initiative Foundation to help Todd County residents make choices for the future.

A ‘community visioning’ session’ is scheduled for Tues., June 8, at the Browerville Community Center. A free dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. The session will focus on the next 10 - 20 years, and ways to provide services for elderly people in Todd County.

This event is sponsored by Todd County, Todd County Council on Aging and the Initiative Foundation.

Verna Toenyan, LSS Todd and Crow Wing County Respite Coordinator is one of the leaders of the visioning session.

“Many current programs are sunseting due to lack of increased funds, inflation, expanded utilization by a growing aging population,” Toenyan said recently. “We need to be pro-active in redesigning current programs, assets and resources and designing new opportunities to utilize volunteers and technology in the effort to keep the aged in their homes.”

Find out more about the community visioning session at www.ifound.org/community_health.php.