Lutheran Services in America Expands Rural Aging Action Network into New Communities

WASHINGTON—Lutheran Services in America announces the expansion of its Rural Aging Action Network to four additional communities that will reach more underserved older adults and family caregivers. This expansion is made possible through a partnership with Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies.

Lutheran Services in America leads the Rural Aging Action Networks, a national collaborative dedicated to expanding sustainable services and supports, for older adults who are underserved in rural communities. The Rural Aging Action Network is rooted in Lutheran Services in America’s collaborative learning model, which aims to strengthen the capacity of rural leaders through facilitated peer exchange, training, new partnerships, leveraging of shared resources and learning and evaluation. Through the Rural Aging Action Network collaborative, Lutheran Services in America brings investment and visibility to older adults and to the unique joys and challenges of aging in rural America.

The Rural Aging Action Network mobilizes local partners to address social isolation and barriers to care in rural communities. In the expansion, the Rural Aging Action Network will introduce a targeted focus on meeting the needs of family caregivers, employing a “whole family” approach to care coordination and service delivery.

“By expanding to new communities and deepening our focus on family caregivers, we are ensuring that more older adults living in truly rural communities—and those who support them—have access to essential services that enhance wellbeing, independence and choice,” said Alesia Frerichs, president and CEO of Lutheran Services in America.

Through the work of participating organizations—Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota, Missouri Slope in North Dakota and St. John’s United and Immanuel Lutheran Communities in Montana—the expansion includes Otter Tail County in Minnesota, Oliver County in North Dakota and Hutchinson and Bon Homme Counties in South Dakota. The Rural Aging Action Network is currently active in Clay, Traverse and Wilkin Counties in Minnesota; Flathead, Missoula and Ravalli Counties in Montana; Burleigh, Cass, McLean, Morton and Ransom Counties in North Dakota; and Charles Mix and Douglas Counties in South Dakota.

The announcement coincides with the release of a new evaluation report about the Rural Aging Action Network, which was created in partnership with the LeadingAge LTSS Center at UMass Boston. The report highlights the effectiveness of the Rural Aging Action Network model in improving access to care and fostering community-based solutions.

In addition to the report, Lutheran Services in America recently released new entries into its “Coming Together: Aging in Rural America” video series, which chronicles the stories of older adults, family caregivers and community partners in the rural Midwest. Produced in partnership with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota and Dash Media, these firsthand accounts show the challenges and opportunities of aging in rural America.