July 2018 Newsletter
Mission Statement
Connecting older adults and caregivers to services that support healthy aging and independence
Age Well Receives Service Enterprise Certification Process

Meet Susan, Office Assistant

Save the Date

Prevent Overheating of Loved Ones

Meet a Board Member

Volunteers Make a Difference

Recipe of the Month

Mary Bovee, Executive Director

Kim Hileman, Program Director

Karina Krosbakken, Aging Service Specialist

Shelbi Benson, Volunteer & Fundraising Coordinator

Peter Hafften, Training Coordinator

Susan Schwanekamp, Office Assistant

Kevin Pillsbury, President

Joe Sandbulte, Secretary

Barb Casky, Treasurer

Ric Schaefer, Board Member

Mary Alice Carlson, Board Member

Beth Hohenstein, Board Member

Jennifer Smith, Board Member
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Age Well Arrowhead Receives Letter for Service Enterprise Certification
Dear Age Well Arrowhead,
 
Congratulations! Your organization has successfully been certified as a Service Enterprise by Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service.

With this certification, your organization joins a prestigious group of nonprofits committed to effectively delivering on their missions by strategically engaging volunteer time and talent.

Without organizations like yours – dedicated to engaging volunteers to drive change – so many local needs would go unmet. With dedication like yours, so many lives are improved and your community is stronger.

Twenty-five years ago, our founder, President George H. W. Bush, called on “the only resource we have that in times of need always grows: the goodness and courage of the American people.” He described what he saw at work in the country as “a thousand points of light…a new engagement in the lives of others, a new activism, hands-on and involved, that gets the job done.”

Thank you for being a point of light, for building our nation’s tradition of service and for getting the job done. On behalf of Points of Light, I am honored to welcome you to the Service Enterprise community.


Natalye Paquin
President, CEO
Points of Light 
Join us in welcoming our new volunteers!

Hannah A.
Claire B.
Madeline C.
Carol J.
John M.
Age Well would like to thank Rick H. and Mary H. for their dedication over the last 2 years! Happy Anniversary!
Age Well Arrowhead would like to recognize the following volunteers as they reach high milestones for number of hours they have volunteered in the past year.
Thank you for your contribution!

50 or more hours
Laura H.
Keshav S.
Julie Z.
Current needs at Age Well Arrowhead:

Help in the Home
Rice Lake
West Duluth

Lawn/Garden
East Duluth

Groceries to Go Shoppers
Wednesday or Thursday morning as available

Companionship to Grocery Store
West Duluth

Transportation
URGENT NEED
Save the Date

Aging Together Resource Fair

Sept 14, 2018
10:00-2:00 pm
Proctor, MN
Increase your customer service with Dementia Friendly at Work training.

For more information contact, contact Peter Haften directly at 218-623-7801
Corn Dogs

1 cup yellow cornmeal

1 cup all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1/4 cup sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 egg

1 cup milk

1 quart vegetable oil for frying

2 packages of hotdogs

16 wooden skewers


Directions:

In a medium bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, salt, pepper, sugar and baking powder. Stir in eggs and milk.

Preheat oil in a deep saucepan over medium heat. Insert wooden skewers into frankfurters. Roll frankfurters in batter until well coated.

Fry 2 or 3 corn dogs at a time until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
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Simply log in at https://smile.amazon.com
Age Well Welcomes New Staff Member
Susan Schwanekamp
Hello Everyone!

I have joined the Age Well staff, in effect, through a one-year assignment through the City of Duluth’s Senior Intern program, part of which is federally funded through Title V, the Older Americans Act. I think it is quite appropriate that Age Well primarily serves the 60 years old and up population and that I, also in that category, am part of providing that service!

I retired after working as an Executive Assistant for 12 years for another area non-profit, St. Louis County Historical Society, whose home is in the Historic Union Depot, two blocks down the street. 

Their service area was “arts, culture, and humanities”, collecting, preserving and presenting to the public the history of St. Louis County. Age Well’s mission area, of course, is a wide array of services to the aging population, dementia education, and caretaker support. While each of these organizations is distinct, along with every other non-profit, with its own procedures and emphases, requiring the learning of new skills or adaptation of skills already in place, there are some similarities. 

One of these is that there is no typical day, except for Tuesdays, which is when “Groceries to Go” orders are taken and readied for volunteers to shop for them and deliver them to clients on Wednesdays. This is a very affordable delivery service and one of the organization’s most popular offerings. If you call our office to place a grocery order, you may reach me, or one of our volunteers. 

Last week, I also helped shop and deliver to our clients.  I enjoy talking to our clients and really do want to help make sure they get what they order and are happy all the way through the whole interaction.

Everyone in the office has let me know about their dogs; I also have a dog, Gucci, who is a big part of my life, and who helps keep me healthy walking him, as he very much enjoys the outside, but only with a person, and especially me! I also have two cats, whose presence in my life is like living and breathing. I can’t even imagine life without them.
Other things important to me beyond family (five children, eight grandchildren) are dance-based exercise classes, currently Zumba, reading, and contributing to environmental protection efforts. I also enjoy thrift store shopping.

I look forward to meeting many of you during my service assignment here at Age Well Arrowhead. I also look forward to becoming more knowledgeable so that I can better contribute to how this organization carries out its mission.

Sincerely,
Susan

Mark Your Calendar!
Protect Yourself and Loved Ones from the Summer Heat
Duluth weather can change in an instant including high heat with little lake breeze. The heat can be a deadly problem and knowing how to remain safe is key especially for elderly adults who may not realize they are overheating and in danger.

One issue for older adults is they cannot handle the heat as well as younger generations due to low circulation. Other conditions increase the risk of overheating including heart disease, dementia, diabetes, chronic medical conditions, medications, and the physical inability to care for themselves.

To protect our loved ones, a few steps can be taken to keep them cool. Simply steps such as air conditioning, dressing lightly, and hydration is sometimes easier said than done however.

Other tips to keep them cool include:

  1. Proper dress- Poor circulation may cause the aging adult to feel cold causing them to add clothing despite it being too hot for a sweater. If they complain of it being too cold, change the temperature of the A/C without turning it off.
  2. Close blinds or curtains to keep the house shaded.
  3. If an A/C unit is not accessible, bring the aging adult to a cooler place such as a restaurant, mall, or theater to get out of the heat for a few hours.
  4. Keep them hydrated with low sugar or sugar free drinks or fruit.
  5. When outside, be sure to encourage ventilated hats, umbrellas, or shaded spaces to avoid the sun.
  6. Most importantly: check on them regularly. Elderly neighbors, friends, and family need help during these hot months. Keep in contact with them.

Signs of overheating or heatstroke may include dizziness, confusion, or feeling weak. If your loved one shows signs of heatstroke, contact their doctor immediately. If the adult should collapse, contact 911.
Meet a Board Member

Ric Schaefer,
Board Member
Ric Schaefer is the Director for Arrowhead Health Alliance (AHA)  a multi-county Health and Human Services Agency. Ric joined AHA in the fall of 2007 as its business model was still being developed. As Director for AHA, Ric is responsible for the ongoing development of AHA’s unique business structure which focuses on leveraging the strengths of 5 counties in northern Minnesota.

Ric holds a bachelor’s degree in Health Services Administration and prior to his current position held administrative positions for a regional case management company and a national long-term care organization.

Ric says, " I started out my career as a licensed nursing home administrator and have a great appreciation for elders in our communities. I have seen first hand how hard it is for people to transition from living independently and want to be part of an organization that helps people maintain their independence."

Thank you Ric for being a part of Age Well Arrowhead!
Volunteers Make a Difference
I love being a part of an organization that is flexible with my busy schedule. I volunteer as much as I can, but I have come to realize that only an hour makes a huge difference. The clients are amazing to work with. Shoveling someone's sidewalk so they can get a walker through, driving them to a medical appointment, or delivering their groceries means the world to them, and they will let you know it!

My favorite part is listening to clients talk about the history of Duluth or things they have seen in their life! From the war to civil rights to the first man on the moon, these clients have seen so many changes and are incredible to talk to. Thanks for letting me be a part of Age Well!

-Greg B. Volunteer since 2017
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.