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About Our Senior Services

CARE Office and Staff

Mission“We support area neighbors 60 years and older to continue living independently in the home of their choice through community volunteerism”

Our program is part of the Living at Home Block Nurse program. We work in collaboration with existing agencies that provide services to elders. Our goal is to respond to the growing number of seniors requesting services to remain in their homes, and to reach out to new volunteers to serve our aging population.

Our Vision

By working together, the aging neighbors of our community will live longer, happier, and more meaningful lives.

Program History

CARE – Community Action Respecting Elders (CARE) is one of the 32 programs throughout Minnesota that makes up the Live Well at Home Network. All of our programs provide services to keep seniors thriving in their homes. Our programs began 47 years ago when nurses in the metro area provided services to seniors such as foot care, medication set up, and blood pressure checks. They realized they could help prevent premature nursing home placement among our senior population. This concept grew throughout our state and into our rural communities. Services may vary from program to program, but we are united in our vision.

Our local program was founded as Foley Area C.A.R.E. in 2002 by a steering committee of concerned community members. Through the Minnesota Council on Aging, a community coach representing the Elderberry Institute held an initial meeting with this committee. To begin the program, a community services development grant was approved by the State of Minnesota. Also, the program received a generous cash donation. With this first cash infusion of over twenty thousand dollars, the program began serving seniors within a 10-mile radius of the City of Foley. The C.R.O.S.S Center provided office space in Foley. It served as the non-profit fiscal agent until the C.A.R.E. Program obtained its non-profit status. In 2007, the program moved to space provided by the City of Foley.

By 2013, C.A.R.E. had outgrown the space at the city hall and moved to office space provided by Benton County, where we currently reside. The program’s growth had also expanded the area we served. Therefore, a name change was needed to reflect that growth and expansion. CARE-Community Action Respecting Elders now serves seniors throughout Benton County and its surrounding areas.

Our Growth

CARE growth chart

What we do

No one disputes that given a choice, our elders usually prefer staying in their own home as long as possible. More often than not, quality of life is the reason for remaining there, with the benefit of a multi-generational community enjoying the wisdom, experience, and roots of its elders.

With that in mind, the CARE (Community Action Respecting Elders) Program, a Living At Home/Block Nurse Program (SM), has been established.

The CARE Program geographically serves people 60 years of age and older that reside in Benton County & surrounding area.

CARE Service Area

Find out how YOU can be a volunteer with us or how YOU can help us with your financial assistance. Your help will be greatly appreciated!

Governance

Our current community member Board of Directors governs the CARE Program. The Board of Directors currently oversees the Program Director’s activities as well as our Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Fundraising Committee, Communications Committee, Fun Days Committee, and Nominating Committee.

Current Board Members

  • Joyce Rife, Board Chair
  • Brian Lorenz, Vice Chair
  • Joyce Simones, Secretary
  • Karen Kampa, Treasurer
  • Dennis Clark, Board Member
  • Gini Kalton, Board Member
  • Dr. Richard Cash, Board Member
  • Evelyn Kirby, Board Member
  • Ron Miller, Board Member
  • Philip Miller, Board Member
  • Rosalie Musachio, Board Member
  • Rev. John Lassen, Board Member

Staff

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About Our Senior Services

CARE Office and Staff

Mission“We support area neighbors 60 years and older to continue living independently in the home of their choice through community volunteerism”

Our program is part of the Living at Home Block Nurse program. We work in collaboration with existing agencies that provide services to elders. Our goal is to respond to the growing number of seniors requesting services to remain in their homes, and to reach out to new volunteers to serve our aging population.

Our Vision

By working together, the aging neighbors of our community will live longer, happier, and more meaningful lives.

Program History

CARE – Community Action Respecting Elders (CARE) is one of the 32 programs throughout Minnesota that makes up the Live Well at Home Network. All of our programs provide services to keep seniors thriving in their homes. Our programs began 47 years ago when nurses in the metro area provided services to seniors such as foot care, medication set up, and blood pressure checks. They realized they could help prevent premature nursing home placement among our senior population. This concept grew throughout our state and into our rural communities. Services may vary from program to program, but we are united in our vision.

Our local program was founded as Foley Area C.A.R.E. in 2002 by a steering committee of concerned community members. Through the Minnesota Council on Aging, a community coach representing the Elderberry Institute held an initial meeting with this committee. To begin the program, a community services development grant was approved by the State of Minnesota. Also, the program received a generous cash donation. With this first cash infusion of over twenty thousand dollars, the program began serving seniors within a 10-mile radius of the City of Foley. The C.R.O.S.S Center provided office space in Foley. It served as the non-profit fiscal agent until the C.A.R.E. Program obtained its non-profit status. In 2007, the program moved to space provided by the City of Foley.

By 2013, C.A.R.E. had outgrown the space at the city hall and moved to office space provided by Benton County, where we currently reside. The program’s growth had also expanded the area we served. Therefore, a name change was needed to reflect that growth and expansion. CARE-Community Action Respecting Elders now serves seniors throughout Benton County and its surrounding areas.

Our Growth

CARE growth chart

What we do

No one disputes that given a choice, our elders usually prefer staying in their own home as long as possible. More often than not, quality of life is the reason for remaining there, with the benefit of a multi-generational community enjoying the wisdom, experience, and roots of its elders.

With that in mind, the CARE (Community Action Respecting Elders) Program, a Living At Home/Block Nurse Program (SM), has been established.

The CARE Program geographically serves people 60 years of age and older that reside in Benton County & surrounding area.

CARE Service Area

Find out how YOU can be a volunteer with us or how YOU can help us with your financial assistance. Your help will be greatly appreciated!

Governance

Our current community member Board of Directors governs the CARE Program. The Board of Directors currently oversees the Program Director’s activities as well as our Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Fundraising Committee, Communications Committee, Fun Days Committee, and Nominating Committee.

Current Board Members

  • Joyce Rife, Board Chair
  • Brian Lorenz, Vice Chair
  • Joyce Simones, Secretary
  • Karen Kampa, Treasurer
  • Dennis Clark, Board Member
  • Gini Kalton, Board Member
  • Dr. Richard Cash, Board Member
  • Evelyn Kirby, Board Member
  • Ron Miller, Board Member
  • Philip Miller, Board Member
  • Rosalie Musachio, Board Member
  • Rev. John Lassen, Board Member

Staff

Lynn S., client

Paige LaDueHenry

I’m thinking all you folks at CARE need to give yourselves a great big… ATTA-People!!! atta-girls, atta-boys… You’re all doing so much good in the world. Bright Blessings!

Violet Moeller

Thank you to everyone who helps to keep CARE going for us seniors.

Evelyn Scheper

Until you know you can’t do things for yourself you don’t appreciate all the thing you girls do. All you are super people.

Carol Pou

Thank you so much for getting a driver for me. I would have been lost without your aid.

Carol Brunn

When I started volunteering for seniors my goals was to help seniors stay in their homes as long as they wanted to & were able to do so. I thought if we could help them with a few services they no longer could perform they could stay at home & be healthier & happier! I soon found out I was getting more than I was giving. When I visit & talk with seniors they are always thankful for the services I do for them & are appreciative of me just listening & talking to them. They teach me compassion, acceptance & love for others. Seeing Christ’s love in their eyes makes my life much fuller. I go away with a lighter heart & a love for them I can’t describe!

Arlene DeZeller

Why do I volunteer? It seems like such as easy question until you have to put it into words. Sometimes there are no words to describe the sense of fulfillment you get when you realize you have just helped someone or just given them the feeling they matter. It’s a great feeling to help put a smile on someone’s face, that maybe hasn’t had anything to smile about for a while. Also I’m not getting any younger; I hope there will be someone there to do the same for me. Volunteering is a great way to energize your spirit!

Sharon Kipka

Thank you for your wonderful work at the Pork Chop Dinner. It was a marvelous way to bring our community together to support the continued dignity of the elderly. Good food, good company, and good cause. Thank you for making a positive difference.

CARE Client

I appreciate rides to appointments. If my kids can’t take me to the doctor or to St. Cloud, volunteer drivers are always available.

CARE Volunteer

It’s heartwarming to give back to the people who gave so much. We ought to give back for all that people have done. Volunteering is one way to do it without costing an arm and a leg.

CARE Volunteer

A benefit of volunteering is the satisfaction that you’ve helped someone. It makes me feel good that I’m able to do that.

CARE Volunteer

CARE Fun & Fitness is fun! What better way to spend a half-hour!

CARE Fun & Fitness

I joined the exercise group because I was feeling sluggish and wasn’t getting anywhere. It has enlightened my life drastically. There are wonderful ladies, some I knew, some I befriended. We even take our instructor out to eat with us!

CARE Client

I’m more social and active because if volunteers didn’t care about me I wouldn’t get anywhere.

CARE Volunteer

More people need to get involved. If you can’t be a driver, get involved with other fundraisers or activities. It takes all kinds of people.

CARE Fun & Fitness

I feel a lot different. I have more energy and I’m not so sore or stiff. It even did my head good, I think!

CARE Fun & Fitness

I can’t do exercise any other place or at home, so I like it in the community room. It’s more fun in a group.

Jen Lamont, Outreach Specialist, Tri-CAP

My experience partnering with CARE has been a positive one. CARE was easy to work with and helpful while working together to reach the energy assistance needs of mutual clients. I look forward to continuing the partnership in reaching those who could use our assistance.

Dennis Clark

I just want to thank CARE and Catholic Charities for offering the living with chronic pain seminar. It really helped me in two days. First, it gave me an understanding of how to live with chronic pain, and secondly, it showed me that I am really lucky compared to others in the seminar. Thank you for working together to help our community.