Connecting older adults and caregivers to services that support healthy aging and independence |
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Director's Update
Partners & Funders
Fall & Looking Ahead
Making a Voting Plan
Volunteer Spotlight
What Makes Age Well Work?
Masks Available
Fall Recipe: Medieval Chicken Pie
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Update
Mary Bovee
Executive Director
Due to the rapid response and generosity of funders, financial supporters, and volunteers, Age Well Arrowhead has provided uninterrupted services to many older adults during the COVID pandemic. Securing grants to support and expand operations is always crucial but has been especially critical during COVID-19. The funds have supported our ability to meet the need for services and getting essential supplies to homebound seniors. Over the past two months we have provided in home and transportation services, and hope to continue to support those services and build capacity to meet the growing need. Additional funding has allowed us to purchase PPE equipment and supplies to ensure the safety of our clients and their service providers, expand staff hours to support the need for service coordination and expansion, and purchase and upgrade internal systems that support the efficient management of operations and client tracking. The generous support from local and federal funders, has made it possible for us to provide services to all that request them. Without their financial support we would have to turn clients away.
In addition to tremendous financial support from our community, we have also benefited from an amazing response of generous and kind individuals and businesses providing volunteer hours allowing us to serve an expanding pool of new clients. They are on the front lines every day delivering groceries and other supplies, assisting with housecleaning, and providing companionship, lawn mowing, meal preparation, gardening, and transportation to weekly medical appointments that are critical to our clients’ health and well-being. These appointments include wound care, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, infusion therapy, and physical therapy. With their support we continue to meet the demand for critical services and feel confident we can continue to do so going into the fall and winter months. Age Well Arrowhead is humbled by the kindness and generosity of our volunteers and financial supporters.
If you or your business would like to support Age Well Arrowhead’s efforts to provide vital services to homebound older adults, a donation of any amount would be appreciated as well as a donation of your time.
Thank you to our funders and partners for providing grants or donations to support service delivery during COVID-19.
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A Huge Thanks to the Following Partners and Funders!
These partners and funders have gone the extra mile to provide grants and donations to support service delivery during the Covid-19 pandemic. We couldn't do what we do without you!
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The Scott
Krenzen Family
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If you or your business would like to support Age Well Arrowhead’s efforts to provide vital services to homebound older adults, a donation of any amount would be appreciated as well as a donation of your time. Call us at 218-623-7800! |
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Fall & Looking Ahead
As summer winds down and autumn settles on the Northland, it’s a good idea to start preparing for the winter temperatures ahead. Taking a few timely steps in the fall can help ensure that you’ll be at your coziest when that colder weather comes.
Pre-Winter Heating Checks
Filters. Check HVAC filters to see if they need to be changed out - dirty filters restrict airflow and they’ll only get dirtier as the heating system works to move air through the house. As the system works harder to push air through the house energy gets wasted, components get stressed, and rooms may heat unevenly.
Fireplaces. Planning on using the fireplace? It might be a good idea to have the chimney inspected and cleaned to head off the possibility of flue fires or to remove any unwanted critters who might be camping out there. Service providers can book up quickly, so avoid the last minute rush and book an appointment early.
Windows. In an apartment or managed residence? You can still get a jump on the cold weather by checking windows for drafts. Landlords and building managers are usually more than happy to heat wrap or insulate windows – it's a move that will save them money on heating and keep you warm during the really cold months.
Who's Going to Shovel?
We’re not there yet, but it’s a good idea to start thinking about who will be shoveling the driveway and steps when the snow comes down. The Mayo Clinic has noted that there’s a greater likelihood of older adults falling and experiencing injuries during the winter, so having the steps and driveway shoveled and salted is a must. Keep in mind that shoveling services, volunteer or otherwise, book up fast and it can be nearly impossible to find someone at the last minute. Doing a little research now and locking in a helper can help ensure that you won’t be stranded later on.
Getting the Groceries
The roads are fine now, but once that snow hits it's a whole different story. If you'd rather not be making the weekly drive to the grocery store come winter, we can do it for you. There are service packages which guarantee you regular grocery deliveries at a savings or you can call on an as needed basis. As with all things, though, it pays to plan ahead. Our Groceries-To-Go program follows a fixed weekly schedule, so call us early to make sure you get the groceries you need when you need them. Just give us a call at 218-623-7800!
Getting to Appointments
If you're not keen on driving to the grocery store, you might not want to be driving to the doctor's office either. If that's the case, our transportation program can get you where you need to go without the stress of winter driving. Let us know 5-7 days before the actual day you need a ride, and we'll get to work on finding someone who can take you where you need to go! To inquire about rides, you can call our main line at 218-623-7800.
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Making a Voting Plan
November 3rd
Questions? St. Louis County Election Office: 218-726-2385
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REGISTER
If you’ve changed your address, changed your name, or if you haven’t voted in the last four years, Minnesota requires you to re-register. In Minnesota, you can register to vote in three ways: online, on paper, or at your polling place.
REGISTER ONLINE
Deadline: 11:59 pm, Tuesday, October 13th
REGISTER BY MAIL
Deadline: 11:59 pm, Tuesday, October 13th
Secretary of State
60 Empire Dr.
Suite 100
Saint Paul, MN 55103
REGISTER IN PERSON ON ELECTION DAY
Deadline: 7:00 am to 8:00 pm, Tuesday, November 3rd
Bring a valid Minnesota photo ID (a driver’s license, learner’s permit, or tribal ID) with your current address to your polling place on November 3rd. If your ID is expired, also bring a bill dated within the last 30 days that shows your address or your lease agreement.
VOTE
Questions? St. Louis County Election Office: 218-726-2385
VOTE IN PERSON ON ELECTION DAY
VOTE EARLY IN PERSON
First day to vote early in person: Friday, September 18
Last day to vote early in person: Monday, November 2
To vote early in person, you will need an absentee ballot. Request an absentee ballot online or download an application at
VOTE BY MAIL
Deadline 1: Postmarked on or before Tuesday, November 3rd
Deadline 2: Received by county on or before Tuesday, November 10th
To vote by mail, you will need an absentee ballot. Request an absentee ballot online or download an application at
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Brittany Oberaigner has been an Order Taker each week with us since March and has also been a homemaker volunteer with us since that time. She volunteers with 2 different homemaker clients and typically brings her 12 yr daughter along to help. Brittany consistently has some of the highest volunteer hours each month and often receives compliments from our clients about her kindness. She has been a huge addition to our Age Well volunteer team since joining. |
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“We’re here to help” Let us know what you need. Call 623-7800 today!
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WHAT MAKES AGE WELL WORK?
COMMUNITY!
Since we opened our doors in 2014, Age Well Arrowhead has focused on offering one-stop access to volunteer-based services, caregiver support, and care coordination support. By building a structured network of experienced team members, local organizations, and community volunteers, we’ve been able to provide over 44,450 hours volunteer-based services to 725 clients in Duluth and its surrounding communities. Our Groceries-to-Go program, which was started in 2016, has processed and delivered more than 8,000 grocery orders for clients who are home bound and unable to shop for themselves.
What makes it all work? Age Well is something of a unique organization in the aging industry. Whereas most service providers are large conglomerates, Age Well follows a small community-based grassroots organizational model. With just four full-time staff members, we’re able to coordinate 147 volunteers into making a real difference for older adults in our community. It’s because we believe in the people we share our community with and we believe that working together is the best way to address community issues. And the issue that we’re focused on is healthy and independent aging for the older adults .
The problem is that many older adults who want to stay independent and age in their own homes lack the resources to do so. They may not be able to get to the grocery store or drive to needed medical appointments and this has a real effect on their health outcomes. Without assistance, health declines, family support is overwhelmed, emergency room visits increase, and costs skyrocket. Many older adults find themselves having to give up their independence and move into expensive 24-hour care facilities before they want to or really need to.
By harnessing the good will of our volunteers, we’re able to ensure that older adults and their families get the help they need to continue living independently. And all it takes to make it happen is a small group of committed employees, a large group of caring volunteers, and the support of partners and funders who want to see our community at its best.
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Current needs at Age Well Arrowhead:
Transportation Services
URGENT NEED
Remote Groceries to Go Order Takers
Groceries to Go Shoppers
Subs For ALL Positions Needed
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Join us in welcoming our new volunteers!
Jinell Abernethy
Sanjana Arji
Hannah Brashaw
Teresa Devencia
Keeli Gustafson
Bruce Hauger
Jerry Johnson
Sandy Karnowski
Joan Krause
Sarah Lehrke
Lisa McKhann
Miranda Overland
Sandy Sand
Jordan Simpson
Nathaniel Stevenson
Jane Thimke
Susan Waldie
Emilie Ward
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We need your help as a volunteer at Age Well Arrowhead. We are in need of companions, grocery order takers, homemaker, and transportation volunteers. Join our team and help seniors in your community!
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Need a mask? We'll send you a mask. It pays to be cautious these days, so if you need a mask or two or three just let us know!
If you prefer not to pick your masks up in person, we'll mail them out. Give us a call at 218-623-7800!
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Get a FREE Smoke Alarm!
The American Red Cross and their partners will install free smoke alarms for those who cannot afford their own or are physically unable to install an alarm. A limited number of specialized bedside alarms are also available for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Keep your family safe by installing smoke alarms or updating the ones in your home.
For more info, visit
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TRY A RECIPE FROM A MEDIEVAL KITCHEN!
Chicken Pie
This recipe comes from the Libellus de Arte Coquinaria, one of the oldest known collections of European recipes. There are 35 recipes in the book, dating from the end of the 13th Century and going as far back as the 12th Century. Give it a try and you'll be eating a dish our ancestors were eating in the 1100's.
The original recipe read like this:
One should take a shell of dough and put into it a hen, cut into pieces; and add bacon diced the size of peas; pepper, cumin; and egg yolks beaten with saffron. Then, take the shell and bake it in an oven.
Ingredients:
1/4 pound bacon, chopped in small pieces
1 1/2 pounds chopped chicken breasts, boneless
3 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp black pepper, ground
1 cup chicken stock
6 egg yolks
1 tsp saffron
Directions:
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Step 1. Get some pre-made pie sheets or make your own if you feel up for it.
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Step 2. line a pie tin with a bottom layer of crust.
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Step 3. Mix the chopped chicken, the chopped bacon, the stock, the egg yolks, and the spices in a mixing bowl.
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Step 4. Pour your mixed ingredients into your pie crust.
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Step 5. Cover the pie with the remaining pie crust sheet, put it in the oven at 350 degrees, and let it cook 35-40 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
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Age Well Arrowhead connects older adults and caregivers to services that support healthy aging and independence.
We are passionate about serving the older adults and caregivers of our community. For this reason, Age Well Arrowhead was founded in 2014 as a local non-profit. We are funded by a Live Well at Home grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Title III funding administered by the Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging, a grant from the Minnesota Board on Aging, contributions, and service fees. These grants allow us to provide services that are easily accessible and affordable.
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Beth Kaiser , Service Coordinator
Wendy Bergfalk , Groceries to Go Coordinator
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Joe Sandbulte, Chair
Jennifer Smith, Treasurer
Travis Hill, Secretary
Stacy Foster, Director
Susan Waldie, Director
Nicolle Olness, Director
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Follow Us on Facebook and stay up to date on the latest news and events
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