Care Partners News – Spring/Summer 2023

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Board Volunteer Highlight

Nancy Larson, Volunteer Board Member, Newest Death Doula

My career working on national forests brought me to this area of the Northshore in 2012. Once here, I was drawn to Care Partner’s mission in providing vital support and services to help community members and their families address the transitions of aging, serious illness and end- of-life. With Care Partners, I have been a companion and a chore volunteer, and have been on the Board of Directors for the last four years.  

In recent months, I have become a Death Doula, trained through the International End-of-Life-Association (INELDA), https://inelda.org. This intensive training has prepared me to hold the space and walk with anyone in our community who is ready to consider their own mortality and/or prepare for a good death at end-of-life.  Aging well includes preparing for a good death. With gratitude, I humbly join a compassionate and committed group of Death Doulas who have been working in our community these last several years, Pat Campanaro, Suzanne Sherman, Jean Skeels, and Margy Nelson.

If one wishes to know more, or embark in their readiness for a good death, or seek support at end-of-life, please contact any one of us through Care Partners (218) 387-3788,  info@carepartnersofcookcounty.org, or visit us on the web at https://carepartnersofcookcounty.org/doulas. You can also follow us on Facebook at A Better Death. 

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Light Up a Life, 12/8/22

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Stronger Than You Know—Eco-Mapping Workshop Held

Care Partners provided a Saturday morning workshop on April 15th at Cook County Higher Education, Stronger Than You Know, Using Eco-Mapping to Uncover Your Core Connections presented by Stacy Remke (and a voiceless Julie Wilson!). When it comes to getting the help we need to age well, we have more strengths than we realize – including the network of supportive relationships and individual and community resources that is unique to each of us. Eco-mapping helps us uncover and celebrate the positive connections we already have and identify potential new partners for our continued growth and well-being. This hands-on workshop gave attendees the opportunity to create their own eco-map with the help of professionals who are trained in the process, as well as brainstorm ways to enlarge their supportive circle. You can find the session recorded online at CCHE’s website, www.mycche.org. Contact our Care Coordinators or Caregiver Consultants at Care Partners if you’d like to learn more about creating your own eco-map!

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Connecting the Dots

Betsy Blume, Care Coordinator/Caregiver Consultant

It can be said that all of us need assistance at different times in our lives whether it is finding resources, connecting with community partners or restoring our own vitality. Many of us over the last few years have become more isolated due to Covid 19 restrictions not to mention weather events.

The Care Coordinators here at Care Partners are one of the places where we help to connect the dots for those in need of companionship, intermittent rides and chores, respite and more. We come alongside caregivers and care receivers and those near the end of life to support this journey for families.

We have heard from caregivers that working with us has helped them take time to care for their own health needs, get social support and enjoy leisure time. Care receivers may enjoy making new or maintaining old connections along with the support of our volunteers.  Our end-of-life doulas can also be with the person receiving care to offer comfort in many forms or to allow family to rest and restore.

Each person or family we touch receives unique attention to their particular needs, no requests are the same. To know we are not alone in these types of challenges can be an immense relief. Thank you for trusting us to journey with you.

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Caregiver Coffee

Caregiver Coffees are informal gatherings open to anyone who offers care and support to an older adult. Participants are caring individuals experiencing the same challenges you may be. They encourage one another, share resources and discuss topics related to caregiving.   

Caregiver Coffees are offered at 10:00 a.m. on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month at the Birch Grove Community Center, 9 Good Neighbor Hill in Tofte. Caregivers are welcome to ‘stop by’ for coffee, tea, and conversation whenever their schedules allow! Call Care Partners at 387-3788 to get connected.

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Aging Well Resources is a program of the Cook County Aging Coalition created to provide a single, easy-to-access source for information and connection to aging resources. Our Care Navigator provides information assistance on the phone, manages the website, and assists with agency communication.

Originally funded through the Northland Foundation’s Integrated Rural Community Aging Program that developed the Cook County Aging Coalition. Care Partners has managed the project with much input and support from the Coalition. Find us at www.agingwellresources.org or call our Care Navigator, Christie John at 855-444-3910.

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Grant Funding Partners 2023

Cook County Public Health Fund
Federal Older Americans Act (Title IIIB & IIIE) – Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging
Head of the Lakes United Way
Live Well at Home – MN Department of Human Services
Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation
North Shore Health Care Foundation
Northland Foundation
St. Paul Foundation

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Thank you to all who supported Care Partners in 2022!

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