Support and Companionship on the Journey of Aging and Serious Illness

Care Partners of Cook County provides vital support and services to help clients and their families  address the transitions of aging, serious illness and end of life with safety, dignity, and confidence.

Care Partners works in collaboration with the North Shore Health Care Foundation, North Shore Health, Sawtooth Mountain Clinic and other community service organizations.

News & Updates

This year we were blessed with not just one, but TWO quilts made by Carol Harris!  The top bid for the silent auction quilt was made by John Bottger.  The winning raffle ticket belonged to Camille D. of Hamel, MN. Winners were announced on WTIP November 5th. A big thank you to everyone who placed a bid in the silent auction and who purchased a raffle ticket - all together you generously donated $1,400 to help Care Partners support older adults as they navigate through the journey of aging in Cook County! Thanks also to Drury Lane Books in Grand Marais for displaying the quilt and helping with raffle ticket sales, and of course A BIG thank you to Carol for creating and donating two beautiful works of art! 

Click here to see the 2020 Raffle Quilt

Click here to see the 2020 Silent Auction Quilt

Congratulations to Ray White, the winner of our Caring Neighbor Award!  Care Partners invited folks to nominate friends and neighbors who provide important help to a local elder. We received wonderful stories of folks helping with cooking, giving rides, running errands, making check-in phone calls and more. The winner was selected at random from the nominees and received a $50 Buck's gift certificate. Thanks to everyone who submitted a nomination, to the nominees - and to ALL of Cook County's thoughtful, caring neighbors!

A message to Care Partners clients, partners and friends

Care Partners is evolving to help protect our clients, volunteers and staff and respond to the need for seniors to stay safely at home. Care Partners’ office is no longer open to the public. Staff are working remotely, and will return your calls and emails during regular office hours:  M-F, 10 am to 3 pm.  

Telephone Support:  Care Partners staff and volunteers will no longer provide in-person visits, but will focus on using phones, and other means to stay in close contact. Let us know if you would like a volunteer to touch base and provide a friendly phone visit. 

Rides: will be carefully monitored. For now, we will provide rides only to important medical appointments after careful screening questions to make sure all involved are healthy and have limited exposure.

Delivering Supplies:  Care Partners volunteers will assist as possible with delivering supplies to high risk individuals who need to stay safely at home.

Shopping Assistance: A Care Partners volunteer can help you develop and organize your grocery list, place your grocery order, arrange for delivery of your groceries, or assist you in picking them up.  Click here to submit a request for more information.

Outdoor Chores: Although we are not able to help with indoor chores, volunteers can assist with yard clean-up, winter preparation, and occasional snow removal. If you are interested in assistance with outdoor chores, give us a call or click here.

Please call Care Partners at 387-3788 or email us at carepartners@boreal.org if you have any questions, needs or concerns. We appreciate each one of you and are grateful to be part of a strong and caring community.

COVID Information: We've added a "COVID" category to our resources page.  Click on "Resources" at the top of this page (or click here) for a listing of COVID-related information, programs, and services for older adults in Cook County.  Let us know if you see something there that needs to be removed or if you know of a resource that we may want to add.

Care Partners needs volunteers to provide rides in Cook County and to Duluth. We are especially looking for drivers during the pandemic who are 1) not at risk of serious illness from Covid-19, 2) have larger vehicles that would allow better spacing with the passenger in the rear seat for social distancing and 3) willing to practice infection control procedures. Volunteers will receive a short training, complete a background check, and are reimbursed at $.60/mile with a minimum of $25 per trip. Volunteers choose their own assignments and the need is often not more than once or twice a week. Clients are mostly seniors and may or may not be symptomatic of Covid-19. Contact Christie at Care Partners for more information. Phone 387-3788, email chore@boreal.org or click here.

In the face of all the fears and worries brought up by the COVID-19 pandemic, it can actually be reassuring and empowering to plan for what you would chose if you became gravely ill. Completing a Health Care Directive can be a gift to your family, and vital to our local providers as they work to respond to COVID-19 in our community. Care Partners staff is ready to help you think through and document your wishes. Click here to learn more.   

For advanced care planning information related to COVID 19 from Honoring Choices Minnesota, CLICK HERE.  

Here's a video message about the importance of health care planning from Sawtooth Mountain Clinic Dr. Jenny Delfs:

Upcoming Events

In this FREE class we will explore our culture's views of aging as well as our own definitions of aging well, and we'll learn about a life-changing approach to making the most of longevity through learning and practice. Each class participant will receive materials designed to create a unique path for aging well, and will have the opportunity to receive continued training and support through an upcoming 10-session online class called Aging Mastery.

Aging Well is presented by Care Partners in collaboration with Cook County Higher Education. This virtual class will be held Thursday, November 19 from 11:30am - 1pm. To register, go to https://mycche.org/event/aging-well-presentation. 

Can't make the class but interested in learning more about the upcoming Aging Mastery Program? Click here to let us know!

Celebrate the life of loved ones and support end of life care.
Help light Care Partners’ tree in front of the Johnson Heritage Post! 
Each $5 donation lights one bulb in memory of one person.

A Virtual Candle-Lighting Ceremony of celebration and reflection will be held on Thursday, December 10, at 5:00 pm. 

Click here to download a printable donation form that can be mailed to Care Partners. 

Click here to donate online

Ongoing Events

A Death Cafe isn't a place, but an event in which people are invited to express their thoughts, dreams, questions and concerns about death and dying. Paradoxically, sharing about death often inspires participants to embrace a more meaningful life.

Cook County's End of Life Doulas host Death Cafes about once a month via Zoom.   The next Death Cafe will be held Thursday, November 19 at 6 pm. These confidential meetings are open to everyone!

Click here to join the Zoom meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81744740124 

NEW! For more information about Cook County's End of Life Doulas, go to: https://carepartnersofcookcounty.org/doulas/

NEW! Link to article about Cook County's End of Life Doulas in the November 2020 issue of Northern Wilds Magazine

Death Doulas' email address: pcampanaro@abetterdeath.info

For more information about the world-wide Death Cafe movement, click here.

Even under the best of circumstances, caregiving can be a challenge. For many caregivers, COVID-19 adds yet another layer of stress as they deal with disruption to daily routines, and new worries for protecting the health of the person in their care. Social distancing makes self-care and connection more difficult. Caregivers are invited to give and receive support from others who understand the journey first hand by visiting our new monthly Virtual Caregiver Coffee. The group meets on the 2nd Friday of the month from 10:00 - 11:30am. To get a link to the meeting or more info, please email group facilitator Nancy Koloski at nancykoloski@gmail.com or call Care Partners at (218) 387-3788. All are welcome!

The Caregiver Coffee group meets to share resources and discuss topics related to care-giving. Until further notice, the group will meet either by computer or phone. When it is possible to meet face to face again, we will resume at Birch Grove in Tofte on the 2nd Fridays of the month at 10 am. If you are interested in connecting with this group, please contact Care Partners. All are welcome!

Until further notice, the Memory Cafe will be postponed or meet virtually by computer or phone. When it is possible to meet face to face again, we will resume on the second Thursday of each month from 1:00 – 2:30pm at the Hub/Senior Center in Grand Marais. Pre-registration is requested, but not required.

The challenge of living with memory loss can make social connections more difficult just when they may be most helpful. A Memory Café is a free, casual gathering where people with memory loss and the family or friends who care for them can come together in a safe, supportive, relaxed environment. Guests share conversations over a cup of coffee and games, crafts, music or other simple activities. Memory Cafés are not a form of respite care. Instead, they offer a place where both caregiver and care recipient can enjoy one another’s company and interact with others who share similar experiences. Click here for more info about Memory Cafes.

Interested in volunteering at a Memory Cafe? Click here to tell us who you are and how you might like to help.  Thanks!

Those with dementia and their caregivers are a vital part of our community. Care Partners of Cook County is active in promoting ways to help them feel welcome, comfortable and successful when encountering Cook County services, agencies, and businesses. Opportunities include classes in becoming a Dementia Friend, study programs for churches and schools, and trainings for retail businesses and agency staff.

Care Partners' staff and volunteers respect your privacy and will not share any information about you without your consent.