Lakes and Pines CAC Inc. received a grant from the Older Americans Act funds of the Central Minnesota Council on Aging to provide adult group respite services in 2021 to older residents in need of constant care in the counties of Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs and Pine.

Adult Virtual Group Respite provides caregivers the opportunity to take on other responsibilities or take a break while the care recipient is in contact with staff, volunteers and other care recipients online .

The funds will be used immediately and on an ongoing basis to provide virtual adult group respite services for two to three one-and-a-half-hour sessions each week. Care recipients can participate in one or more sessions each week depending on the space available. A typical virtual respite session includes gentle exercises, brain-stimulating activities and crafts, conversations, and occasional sessions with local artists. Activity kits and supplies needed for the art sessions will be provided. Some tablets and jetpacks are available on loan for participants who do not have Internet access.

Lakes and Pines welcomes and coordinates volunteers and artists to help provide this service and accepts contributions from participants and the public. A sliding scale based on the cost of services and self-declared income is available. Fees and participant contributions are not required to benefit from group respite services for adults.

Please contact Lakes and Pines by email, [email protected] or call toll free at 1-800-832-6082, ext. 1902 for more information