A big THANK YOU to Cook County Whole Foods Co-op for selecting Care Partners as the recipient of their Round-Up program in March and to all who rounded up to support our mission!!!!!

We were also BOWLED OVER (see what we did there?) by the generosity of all who helped with the annual Pottery Seconds Sale which raised over $2500. A HUGE thanks to local potters Maggie Anderson and Kathy Reeves for organizing and staging the event, to the Hub for hosting, to our friends in the art community for donating their beautiful work, and to all who brought home treasures in exchange for a donation to Care Partners!

We are honored to be featured in the April issue of Northern Wilds Magazine (see page 12!) Thanks so much to the editorial staff for giving us the opportunity to brag about our wonderful community and amazing volunteers, and to Anne Graybeal for writing such a lovely article. Read the online article here.

Care Partners’ Memory Café meets on the third Thursdays of each month, April through October, from 1-2:30pm 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. Each month we also welcome a guest from the community who stops by and visits about their hobby, art, or area of interest or expertise. No pre-registration is required - feel free to just drop in!

The health care industry seems to be more complex by the day - which makes it increasingly important AND challenging to communicate our medical care needs and preferences, not to mention coordinate appointments, tests, and procedures among a multitude of providers. Dr. Jenny Delfs from Sawtooth Mountain Clinic will help us think through these issues and introduce some ideas to help us get the most from our health care visits, partner well with our providers, and effectively advocate for ourselves and others. As always, a light lunch will be provided for those who attend in person.  Register online here.

Aging is everybody’s business! Businesses that target the economic power of older adults will see big gains. Learn how your business can become more Age-Friendly and accessible to ALL. This FREE event is sponsored by the Cook County Chamber of Commerce and supported by Care Partners of Cook County, Cook County Higher Education, and Age Friendly Cook County. To register or for more info call 218-529-7525 or register online here.

Join the Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging (AAAA) and regional partners for a webinar series that explores essential planning strategies that matter at every stage of life. These free, one-hour, online classes will be presented Monday April 14th through Thursday, April 17th from 10-11am. Each session provides practical guidance on creating the legal, medical, and legacy frameworks that protect what matters most.

Life’s unpredictability makes advanced planning crucial for adults of all ages. These webinars equip you with the knowledge to make informed decisions before they’re needed, whether you’re just starting your career or planning for retirement. Expert speakers will help us learn why medical directives, legal planning, and legacy planning aren’t just for later years – they’re vital protections everyone should establish today. View class descriptions or register online for one or more sessions here.

Sunday, April 27, 2025 | 1 pm (check in at 12:30 pm)

Birch Terrace Supper Club - Dining Room

$40 per team - limited to 32 teams

Cash prizes for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place (but let’s face it…this is about cribbage bragging rights!!!) 

Register for the tournament here.

Drop in any time to discuss our book of the month, or simply for lively, thoughtful conversation about aging! Discussion will be led by Care Partners staff members Julie Wilson and Christie John. Our May book selection is “Being Mortal” by Atul Gawande…but you are welcome to participate whether you’ve had a chance to read the book or not. Order or purchase our monthly book selection from our friends at Drury Lane Books and receive a 15% discount – contact Care Partners for details!

See upcoming meeting dates and book selections!

With gratitude for 10 years of strength, resilience, and growth

New office tour, 2025 auction quilt display, refreshments, live music & more!

In this informal session, Julia will talk about powers of attorney and health care directives - how to effectively designate someone to handle your finances and make health care decisions if you are unable to do it yourself. She will cover questions such as: Why should you do this? What is the alternative? How is it done? What do the forms look like? What are some things to consider when choosing the right person?  What are the pros and cons of naming more than one person?  What precautions should you consider? How are the forms signed and what do you do with them? And, of course, Julia will try to answer any other questions you might have about powers of attorney and health care directives.

About our speaker: Julia Rau lives in Grand Marais. Before retiring in 2016, she was a partner at the Dorsey & Whitney law firm in Minneapolis, focusing on estate and disability planning, wills, and trusts. She is no longer a lawyer and does not give legal advice, but she is happy to share general insights with all of us about these important topics.As always, a light lunch will be provided for those who attend in person.  Register online here.

Just a reminder that in inclement weather, Care Partners' physical office may be closed while staff work from home. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology we are able to answer phones during office hours (10am to 3pm, Monday through Friday) no matter where we are, so feel free to give us a call. However, if you are planning to stop by the office and the weather is iffy, you may want to phone first to make sure someone will be there to greet you! Thanks so much for helping us keep one another safe as we enjoy life in our beautiful (but sometimes challenging) corner of the world!

Get involved and make a difference!  Our volunteers assist Cook County older adults with light housekeeping and outdoor chores, transportation, companionship and more! Choose the activities, time, level of commitment and circumstances that meet your needs. For more information, call us 218-387-3788 or use this link.