"Do not forget the hands of the aged; they have touched much of life and have become sensitive and sympathetic."-- Anonymous.

“The golden years” have often been used to describe the latter years of one’s life, but many of the elderly among us experience something far short of golden due to feelings of loneliness and misunderstood illnesses. My platform, Caregiving MN: Alzheimer’s and Dementia Awareness, focuses on meeting the growing needs of our elders and educating society about illnesses often faced by the elderly to ensure that we are better equipped to care for our aging population.

In 1999, 31.9 million elderly people lived in the United States - that is eleven times the number of people age 65 or older than in 1900. As alarming as that growth trend is, even more alarming is that the number of people under 65 years has tripled since then! By 2030, there will be an estimated 70 million people in the United States who are over 65; this is more than twice the number in 1999! As the baby boomer population ages, the number of elders will skyrocket creating an increased need of people willing to care for our elderly population. This has left us with a dramatic shortfall of volunteers to meet the needs of the existing number of people age 65 and over, which means the problem will only continue to worsen if left unaddressed. This issue is of rising importance because of the number of elders who are being diagnosed with diseases such as Alzheimer’s and forms of Dementia who do not have proper family support, understanding communities, or enough people with knowledge about the disease. That is why it is so important to start advocating about the needs of the elderly now!

Recognizing the need for young people in particular to reach out to the elderly, I began working in and volunteering at nursing homes nearly five years ago. I have witnessed firsthand the immense loneliness that many of our elders face, particularly those who reside in one of our 16,995 nursing homes nationwide, and how that can lead to a depressed state of mind. Desiring to create change and generate smiles in our nursing homes (smiles are contagious!), I began my “nursing home tour” in high school when I committed every Tuesday to visiting the residents at Lake Shore Inn Nursing Home and playing bingo with them. I then began volunteering at Rosewood Estate Assisted Living Home where I visit one on one with residents and lead the crowd favorites of hangman and night stories. The excitement I have been met with is priceless, and I am just one person! Imagine the kind of effect we could have if more people were committed to giving back to those who have already paid their debt to society.

Experiencing how widows with no family respond to a simple visit and how war veterans light up when given the opportunity to share their old war stories, I know the tremendous effect an influx of volunteers can have on this population. Through the job of Miss Mankato, I am committed to implementing programs designed to gather caring people together and place them with the loneliest of the elderly. I will visit students of all ages – from preschoolers to college students, attend public meetings such as local rotaries, and also speak to local businesses about the pressing need for volunteers. The opportunities to volunteer are endless – from one on one meetings, to leading group game nights, to assisting with the day-to-day tasks of grocery shopping, just to name a few. Everyone has the ability to make a difference in the lives of the elderly because their greatest need is simply having someone near - even a young child can do that!

In addition to spreading the word about the need for volunteers, my platform will also focus on providing education about the illnesses that often plague the elderly. Through my studies at the University of Minnesota and working with the Alzheimer's Association, I will educate the public about Alzheimer's and other forms of Dementia and address the stereotypes often associated with each. Further, I will advocate for community involvement through the Alzheimer's Association Advocacy Network. I am committed to raising funds for Alzheimer's research, pressing for more educated caregiving staff at local long term care facilities, and expanding at home care for the elderly.

As Miss Mankato, I will be committed to spreading my platform throughout the community and state to ensure that all Minnesotans recognize the tremendous benefit all of society will enjoy through organized care, an increased volunteer base, and better education about the needs of the elderly.