NRCNAA Celebrates 30 Years

The National Resource Center on Native American Aging (NRCNAA) was established in September 1994, within the Center for Rural Health at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences. We are excited to spend the next 12 months celebrating the work that has been accomplished and looking forward to the future of the program. Thank you to everyone who has made a difference in the lives of our Elders. We realized we could not be doing this work today if it wasn't for all those who came before us. We are standing on your shoulders and will work to make you proud of our work.

History

NRCNAA first began at the University of North Dakota (UND) Center for Rural Health 30 years ago, in 1994, through a cooperative agreement with the Administration on Aging – now known as the Administration on Community Living (ACL). The first project to be tackled by NRCNAA was their needs assessment survey, Identifying Our Needs: A Survey of Elders.

Since 1994, NRCNAA has expanded its scope. Taking advantage of partners on the UND campus, NRCNAA collaborated with the UND Wellness Center to create WELL Balanced (Wise Elders Living Longer), a program designed to aid Native American Elders in remaining active and independent in their own homes as long as possible.

Another core component of NRCNAA's services is the Native Aging in Place Project (NAPP). NAPP, which is funded by Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies, works with the Spirit Lake Nation to build local capacity to care for Elders while they remain in their homes. NAPP is closely connected with another project housed by NRCNAA – the Native Elder Caregiver Curriculum. Created through a collaboration with Cankdeska Cikana Community College, this curriculum provides tools to assist family and community members who have the honor and responsibility of caring for their Elders.

In 2018, the Native Urban Elder Needs Assessment Survey was developed to survey Native Elders living in urban centers. Sponsored by AARP, this needs assessment was a joint effort among ACL, the National Council of Urban Indian Health, the National Indian Council on Aging, and NRCNAA. The most recent addition to the NRCNAA umbrella is the Resource Center on Native Aging and Disability (RCNAD), a five-year grant, funded by ACL, that began in August 2023. RCNAD is a national hub, aiding tribal communities and organizations in building self-sustaining supportive programs for Elders and adults with disabilities.