CHAI: New center is committed to healthy aging
The Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation, or CHAI, a new center emanating from the Center on Aging (founded in 1994 by the late Professor Robert L. Kane), resides in the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and is led by Joseph A. Gaugler, PhD, and a team of experts. Given our membership’s interest in aging, UMRA is a supporting organization; and one of our own, Lynn C. Anderson, represents UMRA as a member of the Age-Friendly University of Minnesota Council, one of the CHAI initiatives.
Established in October 2020, the mission of CHAI, as noted on the center’s website, is “to advance interdisciplinary aging science; create meaningful and immersive educational experiences in aging; build and sustain innovations in care and services; and establish vibrant community, governmental, business, and individual collaborations to promote healthy aging for Minnesotans and people across the country.”To achieve its mission, the center supports research, education, and equity and community cores.
The Research Core, led by Tetyana Shippee, PhD, is designed to advance programs of scholarship in aging, including dementia, long-term care, technology, and determinants of health and resiliency. There could be opportunities to participate in these research programs and to develop new areas of mutual interest with funding from UMRA’s Professional Development Grants for Retirees (PDGR) program. [Note: Shippee was one of the presenters for UMRA’s February 2020 workshop on senior housing and long-term care.]
The Education Core, led by Rajean Moone, PhD, provides academic programs and courses and opportunities for student support, and includes a graduate group in aging studies and the Age-Friendly University initiative. [Moone was one of the January 2021 UMRA A.M. presenters on Minnesota as an Age-Friendly University.] The Equity and Community Engagement Core (led by Robbin Frazier) builds relationships with communities, government, and business. Together, these two cores provide avenues for professional development and research with resources for educators, health professionals, and students interested in improving care for older adults.
I participated in a CHAI Aging Assembly in December that reviewed the center’s mission, core programs, and interest in engaging the University community and beyond. I found their commitment to the aging population and its well-being to be inspirational, and the continuing development of the center’s services, programs, and opportunities, briefly described here, to be information UMRA members would like to know.
Please visit the CHAI website for more detailed information.
—Frank Cerra, MD, UMRA president
News
Make your own discoveries in Portugal in 2025 on this journey to medieval monasteries, fertile vineyards and cities that are equal parts history and modern energy. Deadline to express an interest is Friday June 7, 2024.
Spend eight nights in Madrid and Barcelona in 2025. Express your interest by June 7, 2024.
Embrace the colorful history of the Canadian Maritime provinces for 11 nights in 2025. Express your interest by June 7, 2024.
Spend four nights in Québec City in 2025. Express your interest by June 7, 2024.
Spend 9 nights on the Douro River in Portugal in 2025. Express your interest by June 7, 2024.
Embrace and explore Mexico City as it showcases all facets of Mexico’s national character in 2025. Deadline to express an interest is Friday, June 7, 2024.
Bright and bold living history awaits you in beautiful St. Augustine, Florida in 2025. Express your interest by June 7, 2024.
The election of UMRA officers and new board members for 2024–25 will be conducted via an online poll from May 13 to 19, with the results to be announced at our annual meeting on May 21. Look for the ballot in your email inbox on May 13. Diane Young has been nominated to be president-elect.
“I convinced myself I could handle this problem without support groups or doing additional research, but that’s only because I didn’t want to make it any more real than it already was. Denial comes in many forms, and one is to avoid thinking about the problem any more than need be.” —Alice A. Larson
Meet UMRA member Peter Moe. He retired in 2023 after a career that spanned nearly half a century at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, and is credited with developing the “Arb” into one of the few in the U.S. with world-class fruit and landscape breeding programs.
The University Retirees Volunteer Center (URVC) has welcomed two new members with valuable skills and experience to the URVC Leadership Council: Lynn Slifer and Jeanne Jacobson.
The University plans to remove retirees from the @umn.edu internet identity domain on December 7. UMRA has advocated for ensuring continued access to this identity (including email, Google Workspace, and associated services), citing University retirees’ enduring contributions to and engagement with the University. Thus far, our efforts have not prompted any change of plans.
Leading the online Journal of Opinions, Ideas & Essays has been a labor of love for Kris Bettin. Alas, a change in family needs has necessitated her retirement. So, JOIE is seeking a new leader to join a savvy editorial committee of five and bring fresh ideas for continued development of the UMRA-sponsored journal.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to explore your photographic interests, hone your photographic skills, and hear what other retirees are up to, the UMRA Photo Club is a great place to be. We have fun! And whatever your skill level, there is room for everybody.
Soon you will receive an email or letter inviting you to renew your UMRA membership for the 2024–25 year. Please renew before you get busy with your summer activities. Your support helps to make our programs and many other member benefits possible!
This will be a new regular column where you can find organizational tasks that need your help! We are currently looking for help researching a new UMRA Membership Database and URVC volunteer database, and a co-producer for UMRA's Zoom webinars. See more details: