Helping seniors remain independent in their homes longer.

Spring 2023 Newsletter

      Connie Carmichael–Executive Director, Jill Grimes–Caregiver Support Coach, Susan Kalm– Eldercare Services Coordinator

Living at Home group photo of volunteers
Living at Home volunteers

April is National Volunteer month in the United States. The month is dedicated to honoring all the volunteers in our communities as well as encouraging volunteerism throughout the month. Thank you to EVERYONE in our community who choose to  volunteer. How can you honor a volunteer? First, by saying thank you! Secondly, volunteer! Honor a volunteer by becoming a volunteer! You may ask, “What do I have? What can I give?” I came across a quote by Arthur Ashe that sums up what I think volunteering should be, it can be as simple as this:                                         

Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.

Start where you are. In your own neighborhood, your own town, your own church, even your own house.

Use what you have.  What do YOU enjoy? What are YOUR talents? Who do YOU like being around? Volunteering will be enjoyable to                you if you get to do something you love!

Do what you can. Think about how often you’re willing to give your time. Don’t overextend yourself. Think about physical limitations.

Living at Home is in need of volunteers, especially during the winter months when so many of our volunteers take a much needed break to enjoy warm weather states. We offer a wide variety of volunteer opportunities to area elders. Friendly telephone calls from your own home, a handyman repair or a ride to appointments in town just to name a few.

Giving as little as 2 hours a month can feel like a million dollars to the person you serve.

Consider honoring a volunteer by becoming a volunteer.

THANK YOU to our AMAZING volunteers.

Your generosity is unmeasurable and Living at Home couldn’t do this important work without you!! 

 

“You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream.”   -CS

 

Board Members:  Kristin Gilmore  –  Sarah Luther  –  Linda Leckner  –  Kim Donahue –  Ray Carlson


Living at Home’s Caregiver Closet

As we age, we sometimes have a need to be cared for. Sometimes this need is temporary while we heal from an injury or illness. Other times it is long term due to an ongoing injury or illness including memory loss. It has been our experience here at Living at Home that a care receiver’s and caregiver’s journey is made so much easier by adding a shower chair or bedside commode to their environment. There are those in our community who may be needing personal care equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, bath benches, crutches, canes, commodes, and smaller pieces for an aging parent or spouse or who may be short on cash and not able to purchase needed medical equipment or supplies. Whatever your need, we want to help if we can. 

To meet this need, we have developed Living at Home’s Caregiver Closet to lend common items and durable medical equipment to caregivers and care receivers in our community at no charge. Equipment currently ready to lend include wheelchairs, hospital beds, walkers, canes, crutches, pillow wedges, hospital gowns, unopened packages of wound care items, nutritional supplies, IV poles, commodes, shower chairs, personal hygiene products

and much more. We also have many cases of men and women’s incontinence products, all sizes, to give away. These items are often very expensive and not covered by insurance.  Our goal is to fill this gap and provided seniors and caregivers of seniors with the equipment and products to help them be successful on this journey.

We accept requests on a case-by-case and first come first served basis depending on the need of the particular item(s), and availability. There is no charge to “shop” our Caregiver Closet. Borrowers are only asked to fill out an agreement with their information and agree to return the item when they are no longer using it, providing it is clean and in good working order. 

The Caregiver Closet is solely supplied from  generous donations of products and equipment  from the community.  We accept donations of gently used and fully functioning medical equipment and unopened packages of consumables, (incontinence products, chux and personal hygiene products). Within the next few weeks we will establish regular hours  for accepting donations and for shopping the Caregiver Closet. But for now, for more information or to set up an appointment to drop off your donation or “shop” the  Caregiver Closet, please contact us at 218-732-3137.

 

Please  join us at the Caregiver Closet for an OPEN HOUSE

May 5th, 2023

11:00-1:00.

The Caregiver Closet is located in Unit B of the new Climate Storage at the PR Furniture Center

1104 Park Ave S. Park Rapids.


Honoring Choices MinnesotaAdvance care planning (ACP) is the process of planning “in advance” for health care decisions that may need to be made by others if someday you are unable to make them for yourself.  Honoring Choices MN of Park Rapids, Walker and surrounding communities provides help to individuals and groups, free of charge.

To learn more about the process PLEASE join us for a free lunch and to learn. You will leave with a better understanding about planning for health care choices in your future.  Information about Health Care Directives (also called Living Wills) will be provided by local professionals working with Honoring Choices MN of Park Rapids, Walker, and surrounding communities. To reserve your spot at the  table please call Living at Home at 218-732-3137 to register. Remember, it is free but limited to the first 50 that call. If this one fills up we will offer a second one in the future. Details are as follows:

What: Free Lunch and Learn (limited to 50 attendees)

When: May 16, 2023

Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm

Where: St. John’s Lutheran Church, Park Rapids

Call to RSVP: Living at Home 218-732-3137

 

Caregiver Discussion Group

Meets the

1st Wednesday each month from 1:30-3:00.

Call Living at Home for more information.

 

 

Leave a comment