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Northwoods Partners Services

Our Services Include:

Please call or email our office with any questions regarding our services. 
218-365-8019 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  • Friendly Visits:

    Staying active and socially engaged is a key element in staying healthy and aging well.  A simple walk in the park with a companion, stories, and a laugh with a new friend, or sharing a hobby that you haven't done in years is a wonderful way to spend a day.  We coordinate volunteer visits for area older adults who are homebound or alone and want or need contact with the greater community.

  • Transportation:

    Transportation is a large obstacle for older adults wishing to be independent.  Without groceries, rides to medical appointments, or the ability to attend a local event, older adults are less likely to thrive and remain in their homes.  

    • Our Local Transportation program is a volunteer-supported program that provides rides to and from local services, including running errands such as shopping, banking, haircuts, and local medical appointments.  Volunteers can also provide transportation to meetings, social events, and religious services.
    • Long-Distance Rides are specifically provided for Medical Appointments.  Using our network of volunteer drivers, we are able to help area older adults get to out of town medical appointments that are essential to maintaining their health and independence.  This service is especially important in northern Minnesota, where residents must travel long distances to receive the specialty care they require. Volunteer drivers ensure that the older adult is safely escorted from their home to the appointment and back home again.  Volunteer long-distance drivers are reimbursed by NP and clients are asked to make a donation to NP to help us to sustain our programs.
    • Grocery Delivery is available for those who find it difficult or unsafe to navigate our local grocery stores.  Simply set up a store charge account with Zup’s and our friendly volunteers will deliver your groceries right to your home.  Groceries are delivered on Wednesdays between noon and 4 pm.
  • Exercise Buddy Program:

    Let's face it, it's much more fun exercising with a workout buddy.  A trained volunteer will meet with you weekly in your home to help increase your strength, flexibility, and balance.  You and your buddy will build a new friendship, laugh together, and encourage each other along the way. 

  • Coffee Connections Women's Group:

    We engage in stimulating coversation, sharing memories, life experiences and making connections. Refreshments provided. Meets every Monday from 10 - 11 AM at the Ely Area Community HUB.

  • Men's Memories & Movement Group:

    We share our memories, our stories, and our life experiences over coffee & snacks and conclude each session with movement, light exercises to keep you active and help increase balance, range of motion, and strength.  Meets every Wednesday from 10:00-11:30 at the Ely Area Community HUB.

  • Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance:

    This is a research-based balance training regimen designed for older adults and people with balance disorders.  TJQMBB is a 12-week progressive learning course where participants learn an adapted 8 form Tai Chi routine that is intended to address common and potentially debilitating movement and balance issues.  Call 218-365-8016 for more information on class dates & times.

  • Coffee and Card making with Evelyn:

    Have fun creating greeting cards for the current season and enjoying coffee and conversation.  All supplies provided.  Meets the last Saturday of each month from 9-11:30 AM at Northwoods Partners.

  • Chair Yoga:
    A gentle way for older adults to experience the benefits of yoga without sitting on the floor. Improve your flexibility, balance, strength and overall health with mindful movement and breath. Class is every Tuesday from 9-10 AM at the Ely Area Community HUB.
  • Light Weight Training:
    A gentle approach to strength training, which is key to maintaining mobility, balance and range of motion as you age. Class meets every Wednesday, starting June 3rd, from 9-9:45 AM at the Ely Area Community HUB.
  • Tasty Tuesday:

    Join us to learn about healthy recipes, food preparation, and more!  Availability is limited. Class is typically the 3rd Tuesday of the month from 2 - 3:30 pm at the Ely Area Community HUB. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information and to register.

  • Dance for Better Health & Joy:
    No previous dance experience required or expected in these classes. Every class begins with participants seated in chairs. Approximately 60% of all class sessions continue with chair sequences that build rhythmic ability, core strenghth and flexibility. The latter part of the class introduces a wide variety of more developed movement sequences, either free standing or in chairs, according to participants' needs and capabilities. All classes are accompanied by divers musical selections and end with a cosing ritual that recognizes the contributions of each participant to the dancing experience. Class is every Friday (starting June 26th through August 13th) from 9:30-10:45 AM, at the Ely Area Community HUB.
  • SAIL:

    Stay Active and Independent for Life! The SAIL exercise class is a strength, balance, and fitness program for community dwelling older adults that meets two to three times per work for one hour. Performing exercises that improve strength, balance, and fitness is the single most important activity adults can do to stay active and reduce their chances of falling. The entire curriculum of activities in the SAIL program can help improve strength and balance, if done regularly.

  • Caregiver Support Groups:

    Caregiving is a tough and isolating experience.  Caregiver support groups provide an opportunity to connect with others that are in similar situations.  Support group members validate each other’s experiences.  These groups are a great place to ask for advice, find out about useful resources, and safely vent your frustrations.  Nobody will judge you, because everyone there is going through many of the same struggles.  It’s a safe place to share your feelings and get the support you need.  You are not alone!  Caregiver Support Group meets: 3rd Tuesday of the Month, 10-11:00 am at the Ely Area Community HUB.

  • Caregiver Consulting:

    Our professionally trained Caregiver Consultant can provide family caregivers with useful information, skills, and tools, as well as help with problem-solving.  The consultant's role includes developing strategies for the caregiver to achieve a balanced lifestyle that allows for both providing care and maintaining their own health.  The consultant will help identify the caregiver's strengths and needs, develop a personalized caregiving plan with goals.  Along the way, they offer problem-solving, coaching, and ongoing support to help the caregiver reach their goals.

  • Community Care Coordinator:

    Partners with individuals & local resources to improve health and wellbeing by identifying and addressing personal needs and goals, reducing barriers and establishing support services.  

  • Northwoods Memory Care Program:

    We help guide you and your family through the stages of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia by providing resources and consultation to help reduce stress and increase family support.

  • ACT on Alzheimer’s:

    Working together to make Ely a Dementia Friendly Community.  The Ely ACT Team has recognized that Community Education needs to be a high priority.  We continue to bring Dementia Education to Ely in the form of newspaper articles, books, handouts, speakers, and a community conversation series.  Check our calendar for upcoming educational opportunities.

  • Caregiver Relief:

    We coordinate volunteer help for the person who cares for a chronically ill home-bound loved one.  This allows the caregiver time to rest, relax, and attend to other tasks.  The home-bound person is given an opportunity to socialize with others and this can reduce feelings of helplessness and guilt of being a burden to their family or spouse. This volunteer service is limited to a few hours per week.

  • Volunteer Training:

    Volunteers are the heart of our organization.  All new volunteers receive a one-hour face-to-face orientation that explains our history, services, programs, policies, and procedures.  Additional training may be provided to carry out specific services.  Every quarter, we offer a themed Volunteer In-Service Social that provides an opportunity for socializing with other volunteers and continuing education on volunteering.

  • Healthy Aging Expo:

    Our Annual Healthy Aging Expo is an event dedicated to Older Adults’ Healthy Lifestyles, Education, and Caregiver Support.  The expo is a way for businesses and organizations to promote their resources and services which support seniors’ healthy living.  The Expo features expert speakers on a wide range of topics of interest to anyone who is aging or offering support for them.  This event will be held on 5/14/26 from 9 AM - 3 PM at the Ely Area Community HUB.  A light lunch is included.

  • Walking Club:
    We meet at the Ely Area Community HUB and walk at your level of comfort on the Miner's Lake Trail, walk out for 30 minutes and then walk back 30 minutes. Every Tuesday & Thursday (starting May 19th) from 1-2 PM.