
Living Well Workshop
How to avoid being scammedEvent Date:Financial scams are a multi-billion-dollar enterprise, and learning how to spot and avoid scams is more important than ever to your financial health. For UMRA’s May workshop, Jay Haapala, leader of AARP’s Fraud Watch Network, will share with us the latest criminal trends in scamming and how to avoid them. More... |
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Dealing with differences in a polarized worldEvent Date:For UMRA’s April 15 Living Well Workshop via Zoom, professor emeritus, author, and Braver Angels co-founder Bill Doherty will share with us what he has learned about overcoming differences in our families and communities in a highly polarized world. More... |
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Building a Blue Zones community: Lessons from Albert LeaEvent Date:In 2009, Albert Lea became the pilot project for adopting Blue Zones strategies to improve a whole community’s well-being. Since then, the project has expanded to more than 70 communities across North America. Cathy Malakowsky, the guest speaker for UMRA’s March 18 workshop, will explain the changes made in Albert Lea and new projects in the works. More... |
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Healthy at homeEvent Date:Many life challenges that get in the way of quality of life and good health at home have little to do with medical issues. Cathy Lauring, our presenter for UMRA’s February 18 workshop, will explore a variety of resources to assist in keeping us healthy at home—including physical, emotional, cognitive, and financial services. More... |
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Can better sleep prevent Parkinson's and dementia?Event Date:Michael Howell, MD, is director of sleep medicine in the U of M Medical School Department of Neurology. For UMRA’s January 21 Living Well Workshop, he will discuss healthy sleep, brain function, and how sleep research at the University is helping to develop cures for neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. More... |
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The importance of social engagementEvent Date:Robyn Birkeland, PhD, provides coaching support to family care partners and individuals with memory loss. For UMRA’s 2024 Living Well Workshop, she will explore loneliness and the barriers to social engagement in older adults, and ways to encourage and promote well-being and living safely. More... |
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University retiree health insurance for 2025 and beyondEvent Date:Our annual workshop on Open Enrollment for University retiree health insurance plans for the coming year will include information about changes in federal law impacting drug coverage in 2025. The presentation by Katie Kolodge will also include a preview of changes ahead for 2026, when the U will introduce a new “exchange program” offering a wider variety in premium and plan options to choose from and navigators to help guide your decision-making. More... |
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The art of medicineEvent Date:Jon Hallberg, MD, is the creative director of the U of M Medical School’s Center for the Art of Medicine and medical director of the M Physicians Mill City Clinic in Minneapolis. For UMRA’s September 17 Living Well Workshop he will talk about his lifelong effort to embody the art of medicine in all that he does. More... |
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Choosing senior living optionsEvent Date:If you currently live in your own home or apartment, have you looked ahead to when you might want to consider a senior living option? Do you have any idea what those options might be? How much they cost? What they provide? UMRA’s May 14 workshop will provide an overview of the world of senior living and the basic information you need. More... |
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Children’s mental health in the 21st centuryEvent Date:How did children’s mental health become a public health crisis? How can you tell the difference between developmentally appropriate misbehavior and behavior that needs professional intervention? For answers to these and other questions, we invited Sarah Jerstad, clinical director of psychological services at Children's Minnesota, to be our guest speaker for UMRA’s April 16 workshop. More... |
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Alzheimer’s, dementia, and the brain explainedEvent Date:Do you ever wonder whether it’s OK to forget names and nouns but not verbs? During UMRA’s March workshop, neurologist Paul Schanfield, MD, will simplify common neurological conditions related to dementia, including Alzheimer’s, and guide us through identifying symptoms, prevention, treatment, and acceptance. More... |
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Knee issues in older adults and what can be done about themEvent Date:Whether you are contemplating knee replacement surgery or less drastic measures to address knee pain, swelling, and other maladies, you don’t want to miss UMRA’s Living Well Workshop with Elizabeth Arendt, MD. An in-demand speaker who is widely recognized for her clinical expertise, she will be talking to us about issues affecting knees in older adults. More... |
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Therapeutic approaches to agingEvent Date:University of Minnesota researchers are exploring therapeutic interventions to treat aging and prevent age-related diseases. Laura Niedernhofer, MD, PhD, leads the Medical School’s Institute on the Biology of Aging and Metabolism and the Biology of Aging Medical Discovery Team and will share her work on aging—and how to slow it down—for UMRA’s Living Well Workshop on Tuesday, January 16, via Zoom. More... |
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Showcasing UMRA’s Professional Development Grants for RetireesEvent Date:The UMRA grants program provides up to $5,000 for University retirees to continue their scholarship or to pursue new projects of interest. Three recent recipients of awards, including Barbara Frey (pictured), will be featured during UMRA’s Living Well Workshop on November 21. More... |
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U of M retiree health plans and Medicare advantage vs. supplement plansEvent Date:UMRA’s workshop on Open Enrollment for U of M retiree health plans for 2024 will include a briefing on the choice between Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) plans, by Jeff Snegosky of BCBS of Minnesota, followed by an overview of the U of M’s retiree health insurance plans, by Katie Kolodge from the Office of Human Resources. More... |
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