Mini-Grant Program
2007 Governor’s Conference on Aging
MINI-GRANT APPLICATION WINNERS.
Mini-Grant information and application HERE
The scoring was based on six criteria that last year’s judges recommended. These are:
- Is this a serious unmet need/problem?
- Is this a creative solution to the need/problem?
- Is this a wise expenditure of funds?
- What will happen to the project after the funding is ended?
- Is it a collaborative proposal?
- Can it be replicated in other communities?
2007 Awardees
1. Tobacco Valley Senior Center, Eureka $1000 Photo
Duane Lutke, Director, Area VI
The senior center will purchase durable medical equipment and medical supplies to establish a preventative health screening program. The program would be operated by volunteers, including volunteer registered nurses. The program would provide blood pressure checks, blood sugar monitoring, pulse and oxygen saturation testing, on-site basic first aid for minor cuts and minor issues such as temperature readings, and foot and nail care.
2. McCone County Community Senior Center, Circle $1000 Photo
Edith Pawlowski, McCone Co Senior Center
The senior center will work with its local caregiver support group to purchase 2-3 life alert systems to provide to caregivers. The equipment can summon help if the caregiver or their care recipient is having a medical emergency or other crisis. The equipment could also be used by persons who live alone, though caregivers would be the priority group.
The senior center will be working with Mid Rivers Communications to implement the program.
3. Fergus County Council on Aging, Lewistown $1000 Photo
Donna Thornton, Fergus County Council on Aging
Develop a “Wise Guys” program aimed at maintaining and improving the mental fitness of seniors by targeting cognitive activities and cultivating relationships. The Council will purchase several hand held video game units the corresponding games designed specifically for improving mental functioning in older adults. These games include “Brain Age”, which employs a series of tests to determine current brain age, followed by daily exercise and follow up testing, and the “Big Brain Academy”, which includes 15 activities that test brain powers in areas like logic, memory math and analysis. The Council will incorporate local youth programs in the program to cultivate intergenerational relationships and take advantage of computer gaming skills of the younger generation.
4. Area VI Information and Assistance Program, Polson $1000 Photo
Jane Nicolaus, I&A Coordinator, Area VI
Pilot an outreach program to reach people in two rural counties to inform them about the availability of services through the Area Agency on Aging. The AAA would develop a flyer on their services and distribute them through local grocery stores. The flyers would be placed in all grocery bags. Local I&A technicians would work directly with grocery stores to implement the program.
