From Care Partners of Cook County - June 7, 2025

What a day!

A HUGE thank you to everyone who helped make our 10th Anniversary Celebration & Open House such a special day! As always, our World's Best Volunteers lived up to their name by being flexible when strong winds changed our plans from a (mostly) outside celebration to a (mostly) indoor event! And to the many friends and neighbors who stopped by to share a story or offer congratulations...we cannot tell you how blessed we feel to be supported by this amazing, generous community.

JUNE EVENTS

Reframe Aging Monthly Roundtable

First Thursday of the month | Next discussion: June 5, 2025

4:30-6pm | Cook County Higher Education (CCHE)

Drop in any time 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 June book selection is “This Chair Rocks” by Ashton Applewhite…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!

Monthly Memory Café

Thursday, June 19 | 1:00-2:30pm | The Hub

The 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. In June, our thoughts often turn to the joy of gardening - or at least, the joy of FINALLY seeing some green, growing things around here! Our June community guest will be our friend, Master Gardener Gine Meissner, who will bring her usual gifts of expertise, kindness, and potting soil! No pre-registration is required for the Memory Café - feel free to just drop in!

June Lunch & Learn: Six Pillars of Brain Health 

Wednesday, June 25 | noon-1pm | CCHE or Zoom

It’s never too late to focus on your brain health. Bette Braem from AARP will join us for this interactive session to help us explore the six pillars of brain health, discover activities that support brain health, and hopefully, be inspired by others. This session is a good overview for anyone interested in learning more about brain health and will share information on the latest research on brain health, lifestyle suggestions, and resources to learn more. As always, a light lunch will be provided for those who attend in person.  Register online here.

Live Concert to Benefit Care Partners with...THE SPLINTS!!!

Thursday, June 26 | 6:30-9:00pm | Up Yonder, 1615 West Hwy 61, Grand Marais

Tickets sold in advance – suggested donation, $10 per ticket

Purchase at Care Partners office, 615 East Hwy 61, Grand Marais (10am to 3pm, Monday through Friday) -  OR order tickets online here.

Seating is limited…get your tickets soon!

Many thanks to Carl Solander for offering to host this benefit, and to Up Yonder and The Splints!!!

HomeFit Presentation

Thursday, June 26 | 8am – noon | Cook County Higher Education or online over Zoom

Care Partners is proud to be a community partner for this important learning opportunity from our friends at Cook County! Explore design solutions for turning where you live into your life-long home at this free presentation led by award-winning architect and Certified Aging-in-Place-Specialist Gene Nicolelli. More information or register online here.

AGE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS

Author Talk with Andrea Gilats

"Radical Endurance" 

Saturday, June 7 | 6pm | Drury Lane Books

Andrea Gilats will discuss and read from her latest work, Radical Endurance: Growing Old in an Age of Longevity, a personal guide to the transformations, hard truths, profound pleasures, and infinite possibilities of aging. The talk will begin at 6 pm, the floor will open for discussion and questions after the reading and presentation, and afterwards Gilats will be available to sign books. This event is free, open to the community, and accessible via ramp. View event details here.

Medicare 101 | June 20, 2025 | 12:30-1:30pm | The Hub, 10 N Broadway in Grand Marais

Medicare can be complicated but the Senior LinkAge Line is here to help. Whether you've been on Medicare for a few years and just need a refresher, or you're brand new to Medicare, Medicare 101 will help you understand the basics so you can manage your health care options. Registration is not required. Call the Senior LinkAge Line at 800-333-2433 with questions.  

Quieter Hour at The Co-op Starts May 27

Beginning May 27 Cook County Whole Foods Co-op will observe a daily hour with no music from 8-9am to create a more welcoming space for folks who are sensitive to loud environments. Many people experience noise sensitivity, and it can be especially problematic for those who are:

– our elders
– neurodivergent and/or experiencing anxiety
– living with autism spectrum disorders, sensory processing disorders, or PTSD
– experiencing Cook County summer season overload and wanting to shop in a quiet zone 

Co-op shoppers are being asked to help by keeping their phones on silent, using their library voices, and avoiding loud conversations or phone calls during Quieter Hour. Thanks!!!!

Thanks to our friends at the Cook County Whole Foods Co-op for being age-friendly and mindful of those with noise sensitivities!

You Are Here!

Grand Marais Art Colony visiting instructor Moheb Soliman is seeking community input for a public art project, and he wants to be sure that people of ALL AGES are included! What words define this corner of the Great Lakes region to you? What 3-4 words do you associate with "here"?

Learn more about Moheb here.

Submit your words here.

SAVE THE DATE FOR THESE UPCOMING EVENTS

NEW!! | Connecting Caregivers | July 2 | 1:00pm | The Hub

Meet with others who share the caregiving journey for a cup of coffee, a moment of rest, and the gift of connection. Led by Care Partners volunteers Kathy Reeves and Kay Costello, this group will gather at 1pm on the first Wednesday of each month at The Hub. Come when you can and be encouraged by those who understand the joys and challenges of caring for older friends or family members near or far. No preregistration is needed - just stop by! 

Care Partners Brain Health Fair

Saturday, July 19 | 10am-noon | East end of Wisconsin Street next to Drury Lane Books

Tips & tricks for loving your brain from local businesses and organizations!

Free interactive fun for all ages!

More details

July Lunch & Learn: What to Expect When You’re Expecting (to get older) 

Wednesday, July 23 | noon-1pm | CCHE or Zoom

It seems that there is a deluge of detailed information that comes our way about the physiological changes we can expect as we develop in the womb, in infancy, childhood, the teen years, young adulthood and midlife. But when we hit old age…that stream pretty much becomes a trickle. This presentation will provide a brief overview of the bodily changes that are common as we reach our retirement years and beyond. Our guest speaker is the decidedly non-medically-expert (but hopefully informative and engaging) Christie John, Programs Administrator from Care Partners. As always, a light lunch will be provided for those who attend in person.  Register online here.

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Volunteers are the heart of Care Partners!

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.