Adult Advocacy – Apparent Plan
This entry is being made on behalf of ApparentPlan but will highlight the work we have done with Normandale Hylands, Richfield UMC, Grace UMC and Portland Avenue UMC.
Normandale Hylands UMC began an older adult Caring Ministry in 2008. From that ministry, the nonprofit organization, ApparentPlan, was born. ApparentPlan’s mission is to provide information and resources enabling communities of faith to provide outreach and supportive ministry programs for older adults.
ApparentPlan’s vision is that over time as we partner with more communities of faith, we will create a network of older adult ministry lay leaders who can share expertise and ministry know-how in order to build the Church’s ability to care for and support older adults and caregivers in local congregations.
Health Promotion Programs including Tai Chi for Health and Nutrition Ignition: These health programs address the top health concerns shared by many older adults – fear of falling/preventing falls and relieving chronic pain. Movement and good nutrition are first steps for managing these concerns. Classes meet weekly. After each session, we work hard to create camaraderie among participants connecting them to each other in friendship and common purpose of supporting each other on the path to improved health. Over 400 students have participated in these classes and over 60% have taken multiple classes.
Benefits/Advocacy for older adults: Providing support to help older adults who are struggling to make ends meet. First, we help determine if they are eligible for benefits and provide hands-on support throughout the application process. Over half of all Medicare beneficiaries are living on incomes less than $23,500. This can mean our seniors are making decisions between food, medication and utilities.
Most of our Tai Chi classes have greater participation from community members than congregation members. In one location, over 200 students have participated in the tai chi classes and the majority have been community members. Our tag line is “come for tai chi: stay for chai tea.” One participant said, “My favorite part of tai chi is tea time.” Older adults are often lonely and we work to connect them to a group of caring instructors and participants. A handful have joined the church as a result.
Nutrition Ignition has been incredibly successful in helping participants find energy and vitality they thought was gone as a result of aging. Health programs have demonstrated that participants can come to this place, the participating Methodist church, and get well. Not just spiritually, but wholly – body, mind and spirit.
Benefits/Advocacy: Through the parish nurse and tai chi programs, word of this ministry has spread. Now through the partnership work of NHUMC, Richfield UMC and Grace UMC, and ApparentPlan, over $600,000 in benefits have been put into the hands of older adults.
First steps:
Health Promotion Programs:
1. Identifying a champion inside the congregation.
2. Understanding risk/liability.
3. Advertising in the church and in the community through free media.
Benefits/Advocacy:
1. Identify a champion inside the congregation. You would think that providing benefit support would require someone with decades of experience in benefits, it actually just takes a person who was willing to learn.
2. Learn the tools and resources.
3. Start at the beginning and follow the process through.
For information contact: Tracy Keibler, 952-215-7052,