First, thanks to everyone who supported our first annual Grand Marais Community Walk to End Alzheimer’s on September 23rd. The wind and rain didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of our walkers and those who supported them! Click here to see pics and a wonderful writeup from Boreal Community Media!

Cook County Public Health and Care Partners are thrilled to introduce a community-driven effort aimed at enhancing the quality of life for all ages within our beloved Cook County! Age Friendly Cook County is an initiative which unites local leaders and community partners to shape a future where every resident is valued, supported, and engaged in every life stage. Your valuable insights are crucial to the success of this effort. Please share your thoughts through the Age Friendly on-line survey and at one of the upcoming community listening sessions which will be held throughout the county. Click here for more info and survey link!

Powerful Tools for Caregivers – six weeks, beginning October 11

It is said that all of us will be caregivers at some point in our lives—some of us, many times over. This powerful, free class is for you, whether you were a caregiver in the past, and need some help finding your way forward; are currently caregiving and need some respite and tools to take care of you in the process; or anticipate being a caregiver in the future. Learn skills to take care of yourself while caring for someone else, so that by tending to your own health and well-being you can become a better caregiver. Class participants are given The Caregiver Helpbook to accompany the class and provide additional caregiver resources. On-site respite care is also available for those who need it to attend the class. Our Fall 2023 Powerful Tools for Caregivers classes will be led by trained facilitators Julie Wilson and Kathy Reeves and we’ll meet in person on Wednesdays from 10-11:30am, October 11 – November 15 at the Surfside Resort ballroom in Tofte. Call Care Partners or click here to request more information or to register.  

Grief Recovery Group – ten weeks, beginning October 11

Sawtooth Mountain Clinic and Care Partners of Cook County are pleased to offer a 10-week Grief Recovery Group that will meet in Grand Marais starting Wednesday, October 11 from 6-7:30pm. The group will explore different forms of grief, focusing on psycho-education and emotional regulation skills. Participants will receive valuable guidance and discover tips to help navigate through the grief process in a supportive environment – a safe place to talk about struggles, learn new ways to cope, and support one another on the journey. Group members should be at least 6 months removed from their loss. Group size is limited, and no new participants will be added during the ten-week session. Facilitators are Melissa Beseres, MSW, LICSW and Anna Ross. To see if this group might be a good fit for you, please contact the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic at 218-387-2330.

Memory Café – Thursday, October 19, 1:00-2:30pm at The Hub

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. In October our Master Gardeners will join us again – and this time we’ll learn about beautiful, surprising succulents. We’ll even get a potentially prickly friend to take home!  Instructors will be Candace Gislason and Gine Meissner, both Master Gardeners! The Cook County Memory Café meets at The Hub the third Thursday of each month from 1:00pm-2:30pm

Lunch & Learn: Preparing Your Estate Plan - Wednesday, October 25, noon-1pm at Cook County Higher Education

This seminar will help familiarize us with the basic steps of estate planning, including the function of a will and the different types of trusts. The goal is to help attendees feel more confident knowing how to begin or modify a process to gift their assets according to their wishes. Our presenter will be Claire Smith from Edward Jones who will be joined by an estate attorney. The class is free and can be attended in person, or online via Zoom.  The first 25 people who sign up for the in-person class can also enjoy a free meal provided Edward Jones.  Click here to register!

Also…we hope you’ll visit our table at the 2nd Annual Dessert to the Max on Wednesday, November 15 from 4-6pm at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts! More info to come…

Thanks so much!

Christie John
Program & Volunteer Coordinator
Care Partners of Cook County
(218) 387-3788