Aging

Minnesotans are living longer and that trend is expected to continue. According to Minnesota State Demographic Center projections, the number of adults 65 years and older is anticipated to double between 2010 and 2030. That means 1 in 5 Minnesotans will be an older adult.

MPR News is looking at this shift and what it means to all of us.

Related: End in Mind delves into how our culture engages with loss, dying and death and offers resources to live more and fear less.

March 31, 2020 5:54 PM

Data: How COVID-19 has affected group care facilities in Minnesota

Nearly 10 percent of the state’s 629 confirmed cases have been in congregate care settings, state health officials say. Of the 12 deaths, 11 have been people in these kinds of facilities.

by Peter Cox

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March 25, 2020 10:31 AM

Twin Cities elder care facility confirms 2 COVID-19 cases

Johanna Shores in Arden Hills says there is also a third resident with respiratory symptoms who is presumed to have the disease but has not been recommended for testing. All are receiving care.

by Peter Cox

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March 24, 2020 4:00 AM

MN nursing home residents and their families deal with restrictions

Across Minnesota, nursing homes have closed their doors to visitors in all but the most dire circumstances — to keep the coronavirus away from those most in danger of dying from the respiratory illness.

by Peter Cox

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March 20, 2020 4:00 AM

Senior meal plans adjust, add deliveries as centers close amid COVID-19

Organizations across the state that provide meals for senior citizens are scrambling as places where people gather for meals are shutting down and there’s more demand for home delivery.

by Dan Gunderson

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March 18, 2020 12:44 PM

The power in aging well

In a culture fascinated by youth, how do we prepare to age well? We spoke with a neuroscientist about how to make the most of our final decades.

by Kerri Miller, Marcheta Fornoff and Breann Schossow

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March 13, 2020 4:00 AM

COVID-19 danger: People with compromised immune systems are at risk

The threat of the novel coronavirus has become real for many Americans over the last few days and weeks. But for those with underlying health issues, it has been even more intense.

by Peter Cox

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January 30, 2020 3:09 PM

The far-reaching effects of loneliness

Loneliness has risen as a top issue for public health officials on a global scale. We consider what loneliness looks like in our lives and its effects on our physical and mental health.

by Chris Farrell and Breann Schossow

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January 27, 2020 12:16 PM

The challenges home care workers face

As the number of aging Americans in need of care grows, so does the home health care industry. We dig into the push for better wages and improved training for workers.

by Chris Farrell and Breann Schossow

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January 27, 2020 4:00 AM

When grandparents step in to fill a parenting gap

Across Minnesota, more than 70,000 grandchildren are being raised by their grandparents. The true numbers are likely higher, given that many grandparents don't go through formal processes to assume responsibility for the kids.

by Peter Cox

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January 21, 2020 10:07 AM

Patients want to die at home, but home hospice care can be tough on families

The for-profit hospice industry has grown, allowing more Americans to die at home. But few family members realize that "hospice care" still means they'll do most of the physical and emotional work.

by Blake Farmer

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