(Winona, MN- April 3, 2018) On behalf of Catholic Charities of Southern MN, we welcome Diana Madsen, the new Associate Director of Active Aging Programs.  Diana joins our team to provide leadership that will help drive the development, expansion and implementation of the Active Aging Programs that are designed to help people live their lives to the fullest potential.  She will also oversee the Common Good RSVP program, which matches volunteers with community organizations making a life better for our southern MN neighbors.

Associate Director, Active Aging Programs

Diana Madsen

Catholic Charities Active Aging Programs that are offered throughout Southern MN communities and include self-management workshops, exercise programs and caregiver supports. The self-management workshops provide tools to manage symptoms that affect those with chronic disease and pain, while the exercise programs help build strength, endurance and flexibility for participants and help to reduce fears and risks of falling, which is the leading cause of injuries and fatalities among older adults.  Caregiver programs provide tools and strategies to better handle the unique caregiver challenges each person faces, with focuses on self-care behaviors, managing emotions, using community resources and increasing confidence in coping with caregiver demands.

Diana brings experience from the past nine years in program development. She has worked to expand and promote many of the programs offered through Catholic Charities’ Active Aging Programs in her work with the Statewide Health Improvement Program, and most recently in working with the Area Agency on Aging, where her focus was to encourage communities to consider programs and services that are needed to ensure residents can age in place in their own communities.   Her passion for these programs, which are evidence based, meaning that they have been studied by researchers and scientist and have proven results and positive outcomes for participants to live to their greatest potential, prevent hospitalization and re-admissions, while increasing participants’ confidence in managing their own health condition.  “These programs are so rewarding to teach, especially when people learn tools that help them manage their condition and they develop new energy or a renewed commitment to live fuller lives,” said Madsen.  She continued to say, “People realize that they aren’t the only ones dealing with health issues and the workshops help them connect with others for support, they learn new strategies to problem solve, and find new ways to manage the symptoms that affect their lives.”

With the growing number of aging adults, more people will be needed to support their neighbors, family members or spouse. Those who help others, whether they provide meals, pick up their mail, shop for groceries or supplies, do chores or shovel the sidewalk, or help them with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing or eating, are considered caregivers.  The role of the caregiver can be stressful as people often have to figure out how to balance having a job with their caregiver responsibilities, or they may be caring for both their own children and older adults.  These dual roles are often stressful and financial challenging.  Taking a preventative approach to learn more about care giving and finding a personal balance can help people through difficult periods or situation.

Diana is Master Trained in the Living Well with Chronic Conditions and seeking certification for Living Well with Chronic Pain self-management programs and will be instrumental in training new volunteer leaders to provide workshops in communities.   She will focus on becoming trained in other programs to help serve the needs of adults and caregivers.

Diana received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of St. Thomas. She resides in Heron Lake with her husband, Michael, and three teenage children.  They live on their family farm and are actively engaged in a variety of sports and community activities.

For more information about the Active Aging Programs, please contact Catholic Charities of Southern MN at 507-454-2270.