Care Partners of Cook County is pleased to announce that Lori (Delores) Thompson of Grand Marais (on right) is the winner of the organization’s quilt raffle. Presenting the quilt to Lori is Care Partners volunteer Carol Harris, who made the beautiful queen-size quilt. Care Partner Director Kay Grindland expressed appreciation to Drury Lane Books for displaying the quilt and to Buck’s Hardware, Crystal’s Quilt Shop, Odds & Endz, Lake Superior Trading Post, Java Moose, Joynes Ben Franklin and Care Partners volunteers for helping to sell tickets. Care Partners raised over $1,600 to support their work with those on the journey of aging and serious illness.
Services that help older adults in Minnesota stay in their homes as they age are receiving more than $7 million in funds appropriated by the Minnesota Legislature and Gov. Mark Dayton, and awarded by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
Locally, Care Partners of Cook County was awarded $75,374 to help sustain some of its core community services that help seniors stay in their homes, said Director Kay Grindland.
Grindland said, “What is great about this grant for a small, volunteer based agency like Care Partners, is that it recognizes and supports what we already do to support at-risk seniors in remaining in their homes. Some of those services include volunteer companionship and respite; care coordination, planning and chronic disease coaching; caregiver consultation, mentoring and education; and volunteer assisted transportation.
“The grant will also allow us to increase programming on the West End and to begin exploring the needs for emergency chore assistance,” said Grinland, adding that it is hoped a pilot program of chore service will begin in 2016.
The 62 projects being funded through the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ Live Well at Home grants provide a variety of services and supports that allow older Minnesotans to remain in their homes rather than move to nursing homes or other more expensive settings.
Grindland said Care Partners service is centered on the RN care coordinator/ caregiver consultant who, following a Live Well at Home risk assessment, focuses on the individual needs of both client and caregiver and responds with coaching, resource referral, and arranges mentors or volunteers as needed.
“Minnesota is a national leader in long-term services and supports for older adults in part because we provide this seed money to community organizations and providers to be creative in helping people remain in their homes as they age,” said Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson. “In addition to helping meet daily needs such as nutrition and housekeeping, these grants promote new technology and other innovations that benefit both older Minnesotans and their caregivers.”
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