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State Representative Paul Thissen
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-5375
For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877
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LEGISLATION ENCOURAGES COMMUNITIES TO PREPARE FOR AGE-WAVE
The Minnesota House of Representatives passed the Communities for a Lifetime Act today (HF 936) with strong bipartisan support. The bill, authored by State Rep. Paul Thissen, is an important step toward making sure communities all across Minnesota are prepared for the coming age wave.
"Minnesota is facing a fundamental shift, our population is becoming older and it is happening fast," said Thissen. “That has implications for all aspects of our society from health care and housing to transportation to worklife and recreation.
The Communities for a Lifetime legislation is designed to encourage the evolution of communities as places that welcome and support senior residents, recognizing them as assets to our state."
The Communities for a Lifetime program is voluntary, similar to the Minnesota Star City program. Partnerships of small cities, towns and counties who meet certain "senior-friendly" criteria would be designated a community for a lifetime.
Criteria include opportunities to contribute time and talents through volunteer community service; to participate in the paid workforce, with flexibility of hours and scheduling; to "age in place" and choose among a variety of affordable, accessible housing options, to access quality long-term care in the setting of the senior's own choice; and community-wide mobility and access public transportation.
"The essence of the Communities for a Lifetime program is that it is flexible, local and designed to engage all citizens in thinking about the future of their community,” said Thissen. “There is a real urgency to moving forward in this direction."
News Items
- DFL Leaders Eager to Confront Minnesota’s Challenges with Focus on Economy and Middle Class - (Posted: Jan 9 2013 2:21PM)
- State Representative John Persell appointed Majority Whip - (Posted: Dec 21 2012 1:11PM)
- Speaker-designate Thissen to Establish Select Committee on Living Wage Jobs - (Posted: 2012-12-19 00:00:00)
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