Aging Well

Age Friendly Communities

Prairie Five’s Age Friendly Communities Project embraces the positive possibilities that an aging population creates for our communities. Through a community-based approach, we address the local needs and gaps in home and community-based services. Our goal is to connect and provide older adults and their caregivers with services in their community to allow them to live long, healthy, independent lives in their own homes.

This service is funded by a grant award from the Southwest Initiative Foundation and Productive Aging.

Please contact Laura at 320-226-8861 or 320-269-6578 for more information.

Live Well Age Wisely On-the-Go

Prairie Five believes all older adult should have the opportunity to age where they choose. The new P5 Mobile Community Center will bring services and socialization to your door or community. Our vehicle is equipped with high speed internet, flat screen TV, applications for programs, and meeting space for coffee and conversation. Coming to an area near you!

Groups meet monthly for conversation and socializing over coffee and treats:

Canby Community Center – First Tuesday of the month from 9:30-11:00

Information on various topics related to aging wisely such as:

  • Creating a legacy
  • Detaching from things and decluttering
  • Creating a Seasonal Blues Busting kit
  • Celebrating age
  • And more!
Southwest Initiative Foundation logo

 

This service is funded by a grant award from the Southwest Initiative Foundation and Productive Aging.

Prairie Five Meals

The Prairie Five Meals Program serves 24 communities with Congregate Dining and Home Delivered and Frozen Meals. Frozen Meals are available for weekend, holiday, emergency and rural delivery. The Program promotes health and independent living in the senior population through improved nutrition and reduction of social isolation.

Learn about Prairie Five Meals

Support for Aging Well

Food Shelves
Provides a temporary, emergency food supply (three days
of food) to anyone who is in need. Prairie Five operates
food shelves located in Big Stone, Chippewa, Swift, and
Yellow Medicine counties.

Nutritional Assistance Program for Seniors (NAPS)
Second Harvest Heartland provides a box of free nutritious
food each month to low-income seniors 60 years and over.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Prairie Five has staff trained to help you access information
regarding SNAP, eligibility, recertification, and application
assistance.

Prairie Five Meals
Our hot/cold food truck ensures all older adults have
access to quality nutrition and a safety check, no matter
how rural or remote they live. Prairie Five’s dining sites
combine great food, socialization and entertainment. The
frozen meal option allows people to stock the freezer with
delicious options of their choice. There is no income or
age limits for PS Meals, all are invited to enjoy!

Tablet Lending Library
Do you have a tablet but feel stuck or have a question
about using it? Are your friends using tablets but you
aren’t sure where to get started? Prairie Five has Wi-Fi embedded
tablets available for checkout to those 60+ in
our service area.

Medicare Counseling
Whether you are new to Medicare and need to enroll, have
questions about your current coverage or are interested in
saving money during the annual Open Enrollment Period
(Oct 15 – Dec 7), you can trust Prairie Five to provide free,
comprehensive and unbiased information and assistance
about all options available.

Age Friendly Communities I Live Well at Home Initiatives

Connecting older adults, their caregivers, and their
communities with resources and programming that allow
them to live independent lives in our rural area. Offering
services aboard the Mobile Community Center, Live Well
Age Wisely groups, problem-solving, and application
assistance.

Educational Programming
Prairie Five has an Alzheimer’s Association educator
and an AARP Community Speaker’s team member on
staff for a. wide range of presentations such as Scam
Prevention, End-Of-Life Planning, Disrupt Aging,
Emergency Preparedness and HomeFit.

Prairie Five RIDES
Provides local and regional transportation services to
the following counties: Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui
Parle, Swift and Yellow Medicine. Local buses also run in
Appleton, Benson, Canby, Dawson, Granite Falls, Madison,
Montevideo and Ortonville. Money-saving punch cards
are available!

Energy Assistance Program
No one should have to choose between buying groceries
and covering energy bills. The Energy Assistance Program
offers financial assistance to pay a portion of a household’s
energy and heating bills. It may also provide emergency
heating system repair or replacement for homeowners
under the Energy Related Repair Program.

Food Assistance

Prairie Five Meals

The Prairie Five Meals Program serves 24 communities with Congregate Dining and Home Delivered and Frozen Meals. Frozen Meals are available for weekend, holiday, emergency and rural delivery. The Program promotes health and independent living in the senior population through improved nutrition and reduction of social isolation.

Learn about Prairie Five Meals

SNAP – The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a county-run, state-supervised Federal program that helps Minnesotans with low incomes get the food they need for sound nutrition and well-balanced meals. The program issues electronic food support benefits that can help stretch your household food budget.

Learn about SNAP

NAPS – Nutrition Assistance Program for Seniors

Nutrition Assistance Program for Seniors (NAPS) is the Minnesota name for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). This program is designed to provide healthy and nutritious food products each month at no cost to eligible individuals over the age of 60.

Learn about NAPS
Big Stone
Chippewa
Lac qui Parle
Swift
Yellow Medicine

Grant Information
Leadership & Oversight