Minnesota eases COVID-19 restrictions for visiting elders in assisted living, senior care homes
By Lee Egerstrom With cold weather fast approaching, and after months of isolation for many elders throughout the state, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has issued new guidance for allowing families to visit loved ones in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and others being assisted by home care providers. The new guidance and restrictions […]
Activist wants to prevent Wall of Forgotten Natives
By Eddie Chuculate Outreach worker Jase Roe is determined to prevent a Native American homeless camp from exploding into one similar to 2018 that grew to over 300 people, garnered national attention and was dubbed “The Wall of Forgotten Natives.” Although located on the same state-owned property, this fall’s “Wall” is strictly about getting Natives […]
Minnesota passes COVID-19 milestones; precautions are still best line of defense
By Lee Egerstrom As Minnesota was crossing milestones for both confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths this past week, a federal and state research project looking at how the COVID-19 virus is spread in different communities came to a screeching halt. Screeching is the appropriate description. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) called off […]
COVID-19 is all around us; travel is still a risk
By Lee Egerstrom Health officials are worried that the COVID-19 pandemic is picking up speed as the fall season arrives with 28 states now reporting increased cases of infections. Minnesota is surrounded by “hot” states where cases are on the rise. Just as spring brought the risk of summer travels spreading the virus, fall can […]
COVID has everyone pondering where, and how, to start school
By Lee Egerstrom Most Minnesota public school districts have explained to parents and students how they plan to start the new school year in September but the coronavirus pandemic has some schools going right down to the wire before making a final call. On top of this uncertainty, startup plans may prove only temporary. Under […]
A family death can be fatal blow for Native higher education
By Lee Egerstrom A study conducted at the University of Minnesota finds that students of color, and especially Native American students, are far less likely to finish college educations when they have experienced a death in the family. While some academic institutions are developing programs to reach adult learners who have interrupted their educations, the […]
Often overlooked impacts of COVID-19: mental health stress, anxiety and fear
By Lee Egerstrom Minnesota health officials, the Mayo Clinic, and experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are voicing concern about how the novel coronavirus pandemic may be playing with your mind. Staff at the Mayor Clinic in Rochester put it this way: “The COVID-19 pandemic has likely brought many changes to […]
Minnesota opens long-term care facilities to family, friends declared essential caregivers
By Lee Egerstrom Caring for an elderly or other person in a long-term care facility has just gotten easier for families and friends who can now be declared “essential” caregivers. Governor Walz and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) issued new guidance on July 10 to allow essential people to enter nursing homes, assisted living […]
Dental care: Cautiously returning to a new “normal” for the foreseeable future
By Lee Egerstrom Putting health care on hold as precaution against the coronavirus pandemic was a balancing act for patients and medical specialists who had to weigh pain, obvious emergencies and routine medical checkups against what could be considered urgent or “elective” procedures or services. Dentistry was among them. Full dental services are coming back. […]
Is the Second Wave of the Coronavirus Here?
By Maurita Begay There is prevalent speculation that we are entering a “second wave” of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. But is this accurate? The first case of COVID-19 in the United States was reported on January 22, 2020. As of June 25, there have been nearly 2.4 million confirmed cases with almost […]
Keeping Native Elders occupied at Bii Di Gain during Covid-19 pandemic
By Eddie Chuculate (Photos by Diane Grooms) Before the coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19), residents at Bii Di Gain, an elderly housing complex for Native Americans on Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis, stayed busy with activities like shopping, bingo or having a congregational lunch at the Gatherings Café in the Minneapolis American Indian Center in Minneapolis. But when […]
Demonstrators, property protectors, first responders should get COVID-19 tests
By Lee Egerstrom Anyone who participated in demonstrations following the death of George Floyd, or encountered people who did, should consider getting tested for the COVID-19 virus, say health officials in Minnesota and at the national level. South Minneapolis, where Floyd died on May 25 while in police custody, had large gatherings for nine straight […]