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.

Upcoming Events

The Aging Mastery Program (AMP) is a 10-week class created by the National Council on Aging to help people develop positive habits that enable them to age well. AMP incorporates evidence-informed materials, expert speakers, group discussion, peer support, and small rewards to give participants the skills and tools to achieve measurable improvements.

Care Partners is excited to offer this course via Zoom beginning Wednesday, January 13th from 1:30 - 3:15 pm. A $50 suggested donation includes all course materials. The class is offered through the assistance of Juniper, a Minnesota nonprofit dedicated to healthy communities, and with financial support from the Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging. 

It is not too late to sign up! Registration will remain open until the next class session on January 27th.  

NOTE: The January 20th session of Aging Mastery has been cancelled. Classes will resume on January 27th at 1:30 pm.

Click here to receive more information about the upcoming Aging Mastery class.

Click here to register for the Aging Mastery class online. (all participants register through Juniper)

Click here to visit the National Council on Aging's "Aging Mastery Program" page. 

The 11th Annual Light Up a Life Ceremony was held virtually on December 10th. Thank you to all who attended and to those who helped make it a meaningful evening - Fred Anderson for music, Dorothy Broomall (aka "The Zoom Maven") for technical support, Jennifer Trowbridge for technical support, readings and leading us in "This Little Light of Mine", and Grey Jordan, Jack McHugh and Nancy Larson for getting - and Jack for keeping - the Memory Tree up and shining!

Click here to view the 2020 Memory Book

Click here to see event details, including readings, the tree lighting, link to music and more. 

News & Updates

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:

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 a Death Cafe on the fourth Thursday of every month 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.