LEARN Idaho

Planning for caregiving finance challenges. It is possible to ease the journey.💙

Discover how financial guardrails can help create clarity, support independence, and make important decisions easier to navigate. Janice Pierce, Founder and CEO of Achieve Financial Partners, shares practical strategies for reducing stress, improving communication, and putting flexible supports in place as caregiving situations evolve.

Watch the full video and learn how thoughtful planning can empower families to move forward with confidence:

https://learnidaho.org/wealth

🌿 New on the LEARN End of Life Channel: 5 New Videos in the Rest Assured Series 🌿

Planning for the end of life is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves and the people we love. Our latest Rest Assured videos, presented in partnership with Alsip & Persons Funeral Chapel, Ancora Health Services, and Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, offer compassionate guidance and practical information to help you make informed decisions and create peace of mind for the future.

🎥 New episodes include:
• An introduction to Pre-Planning with Jeremy Dowland, Pre-Planning Specialist from Alsip & Persons Funeral Chapel
• An Unexpected Gift: The relief and peace found in planning ahead
• Practical and Financial Considerations with Pre-Planning
• Creating a Farewell That Reflects Your Final Wishes
• A Gentle Goodbye: Death, planning, and the gift of preparation

These conversations help demystify funeral pre-planning, reduce stress for loved ones, and empower individuals to ensure their wishes are known and honored.

Watch the complete Rest Assured series and explore other free end-of-life resources at:
https://www.learnidaho.org/end-of-life

For every caregiver, day and night,
There’s strength in care and shared insight. 💙
Guidance grows with help along the way,
Bringing support to each new day.

A heartfelt thank-you to Idaho Commission on Aging, SW Idaho Area Agency on Aging, and Idaho Community Care Program for helping power the Caregiving Channel—we’re grateful for the opportunity to partner with you in service to Idaho Caregivers!

www.learnidaho.org/caregiving/

Channel - Caregiving Mailing List Donate Now Facebook Linkedin Youtube Content is provided for general informational purposes only and is not to be considered legal, financial or health advice. Consult with your legal, financial, healthcare, or other service providers before taking action based on this information. http...

Navigate FTD with community support

Facing frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) can feel like navigating uncharted waters. 🌿 But you don't have to do it alone. Joanne Linerud, AFTD Ambassador for Washington and Idaho, shares invaluable insights and resources to support individuals and families on this journey.

Discover reliable information, community support, and tools to stay informed and connected. Watch the full video to learn more:
https://learnidaho.org/community-resources

Tonight at the Encore Book Club, we gathered to discuss "Remarkably Bright Creatures" by Shelby Van Pelt, and what began as a conversation about an octopus quickly became a much deeper reflection on what it means to be human.

Together, we explored the many forms of loneliness woven throughout the story—from Tova's grief over the loss of her son, to Cameron's search for belonging, to Marcellus's own captivity and longing for freedom. One insight that emerged again and again was that while loneliness may be part of the human experience, connection often begins when we are willing to reach beyond our isolation and toward one another.

We talked about Marcellus, the remarkably observant octopus who seemed to understand the human characters better than they understood themselves. His perspective reminded us how often we rush through life without truly noticing what is right in front of us—the people, opportunities, and relationships waiting to be seen.

The conversation also touched on grief and the reality that life rarely provides complete closure. Sometimes healing comes not from having all the answers, but from finding peace with the unanswered questions. As one participant observed, the book doesn't wrap everything up with a neat bow—and neither does life.

Perhaps my favorite part of the evening was our discussion about reinvention. We shared stories about trying new things, making unexpected friendships, and remaining open to possibilities later in life. The consensus around the virtual table was clear: growth doesn't stop because we age. In many ways, it becomes even more important.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us from Idaho, Washington, Pennsylvania, and beyond. Your insights, stories, and reflections made the conversation richer.

Next month we'll be reading "The Shell Seekers" by Rosamunde Pilcher, and I can't wait to see where that conversation takes us.

Sometimes the most meaningful discussions begin with an octopus and end with a deeper understanding of ourselves. Because sometimes the most meaningful stories are the ones we share together.

-Laureen Quick

Explore, connect, and empower at the LEARN Health and Resource Fair!

📅 Join us on July 7, 2026, at Heatherwood Senior Living for an inspiring community event! Get valuable aging and caregiving tools, meet local experts, and take proactive steps toward better health and wellness.

Together, we thrive!

Planning ahead can ease the load,
And bring more peace along the road. 💰
Step by step, with guidance clear,
Confidence grows from year to year.

Shoutout to Winning Strategies for Family Caregiving for supporting the LEARN Wealth Channel—helping older adults and families turn planning into peace of mind.

www.learnidaho.org/wealth

With just a tap, new tools appear,
Bringing connection close and near. 🤖
Simple solutions can light the way,
Making life easier day by day.

Special thanks to GrandApp AI from Western Seniormatics for sponsoring the Technology Channel and helping us explore tech that truly connects.

https://learnidaho.org/technology/

Discover the quiet power of 'Remarkably Bright Creatures' by
Shelby Van Pelt

Join the Encore Book Club on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, from 6:30–7:30 MT for an online discussion of a tender, quietly magical novel about Tova Sullivan, a widow working the night shift at a small-town aquarium, who forms an unlikely bond with Marcellus, a remarkably perceptive giant Pacific octopus. As Marcellus pieces together clues about Tova’s long-lost son, their connection gently nudges both of them toward long-buried truths. It’s a story about grief, second chances, and the unexpected relationships that illuminate the darkest seasons of life.

You can find more information about this Facebook Event at:
https://www.facebook.com/events/845668771856594

The Encore Book Club is a welcoming space for older adults to connect, engage, and explore books that inspire lifelong learning, personal growth, and new possibilities. Connect with fellow readers, share your thoughts, and explore themes of memory, mystery, and resilience. Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your horizons and make new friends!