Education Spotlight

July 2026 Newsletter

Building Relationships Across Generations

July is a season of sunshine, celebrations, and time spent with family and friends. It's also a wonderful reminder that some of life's greatest treasures are the relationships we build across generations. As we celebrate summer, we encourage everyone to make time to connect with an older adult—whether it's sharing a meal, listening to their stories, or simply enjoying an afternoon together. These moments strengthen families, reduce social isolation, and remind us that every generation has wisdom worth sharing.

This month, LEARN continues our mission of helping people navigate the joys and challenges of aging and caregiving by bringing you trusted resources, educational opportunities, and community connections. We hope you'll find something in this month's newsletter that inspires you to learn something new, lend a helping hand, or deepen your connection with the older adults in your life. Wishing you a safe, joyful, and meaningful July!

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Selections from our Video Library

We continue to expand our video library with new additions designed to inform, inspire, and support you on your aging and caregiving journey.

Are We Overmedicated: Addressing the Risks of Polypharmacy	Idaho Legal Aid
Screentime Without The Showdown	Scam Savvy Family: Scams That Target The Whole Household

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End-of-Life Channel

End of Life Channel Update

This month we are happy to expand our "Rest Assured Video Series" with new installments from our sponsors at Alsip & Persons Funeral Chapel.

Meet 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

Special thanks to our End of Life Channel Sponsors, Alsip & Persons Funeral Chapel, Ancora Health Services, and Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, for making it possible to create and share this important content with you. And thanks to our End-of-Life Channel facilitators, Karen Midlo and Christine Soza, for managing and maintaining the content on this valuable channel.

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Technology Education

Technology Education

Stay Connected: Location Sharing for Peace of Mind

If you help care for an aging parent, a spouse, or a neighbor, your smartphone offers a quiet way to stay reassured—like a porch light that says "here I am," shared only with people you choose. You can confirm Mom made it home from her appointment, see that Dad arrived at the senior center, or know a loved one's whereabouts if they tend to wander or get turned around. It also works both ways: the person you care for can check that you're on your way, easing the wait for a ride or a visit.

Setting it up takes only a minute. On an iPhone, open the free Find My app, tap People, then Share My Location, enter a name, and choose how long. On an Android, open Google Maps, tap your profile picture, choose Location Sharing, then Share Location, and pick a contact and duration. Both phones ask the other person to accept—nothing is shared without their okay—and either of you can turn it off anytime. A small step that can replace many "Where are you?" calls with real peace of mind.

Click here for more info about LEARN Tech Ed

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Health and Resource Fair Program

2026 Health and Resource Fair Program

The LEARN Health and Resource Fair Program provides opportunities to meet local professionals, explore valuable services, and gather practical information to help you make confident decisions about aging, caregiving, and what comes next. Whether you're planning or responding to immediate needs, you'll find resources and relationships that can support you every step of the way.

Heatherwood Senior Living July 7 (Tuesday) • 10:00 AM to 12:45 PM 5277 W Kootenai St, Boise, ID 83705 Overland Court August 12 (Wednesday) • 10:00 AM to 12:45 PM 10250 W Smoke Ranch Dr, Boise, ID 83709 Caldwell Senior Center September 15 (Tuesday) • 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM 1009 Everett Street, Caldwell, ID 83605 The Pointe at Meridian October 14 (Wednesday) • 10:00 AM to 12:45 PM 3123 S Titanium Ave, Meridian, ID 83642

Join us to discover more about the resources available to you in the community at our upcoming events around the Treasure Valley.

You can find more information about future 2026 LEARN Health and Resource Fair events as well as Community Events where LEARN will be participating on our website.

Click Here to Go to the LEARN Events Page

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Encore Book Club

Encore Book Club

The "Encore Book Club" is a welcoming space for senior adults to connect, engage, and explore books that inspire lifelong learning, personal growth, and new possibilities. LEARN Member Lauren Quick hosts a monthly discussion about a book related to aging, caregiving, personal reinvention, or community! The Book Club meets the second Tuesday of each month from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. over ZOOM.

The book selection for July is The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher. This selection is a multigenerational story about family, love, sacrifice, and the complicated bonds between mothers, daughters, and children across three generations. As Penelope Keeling reflects on her life and the treasured painting left by her father, she must decide what truly matters amid family expectations, old wounds, and the enduring pull of the heart.

You Can Find a Link to the Meeting on the LEARN Facebook Event Page

Click Here For Event Info

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Member Networking Event and MVP Awards

Q2 Member Networking Event

More than 35 LEARN members and guests gathered at the beautiful Pavilion at Touchmark at Meadow Lake Village for our Q2 Member Networking Event. The afternoon provided an opportunity for professionals to learn more about one another's services, build meaningful connections, and discover new ways to collaborate in support of older adults and family caregivers throughout our community.

A special thank you to Touchmark at Meadow Lake Village for generously sponsoring the event and providing such a welcoming venue. Congratulations also to our raffle winners, who took home a variety of LEARN swag and educational resources as a fun reminder of our shared commitment to lifelong learning and community connection.

Q2 2026 LEARN Community MVP Awards

We also celebrated two outstanding individuals by presenting the Q2 2026 LEARN Community MVP Awards in recognition of their exceptional service and commitment to our mission and our community.

Sherrie Gibson

Sherrie Gibson received a Community MVP Award in recognition of the time, expertise, and beautiful collection of tea party treasures she generously shared to make our Ladies' Tea fundraiser a memorable success. We raised nearly $1,200 to support LEARN and the Meridian Senior Center while cultivating community connections and increasing awareness of LEARN's mission. Thank you, Sherrie, for helping create such a meaningful event.

Kathy Lacina

We are also honored to recognize Kathy Lacina for her six years of dedicated service on the LEARN Board of Directors and her lasting contributions to older adults throughout the Treasure Valley. Through her leadership with the Idaho Guardians and Fiduciary Association, HAPPEN, the Idaho Health Continuum of Care Alliance, and LEARN, Kathy has been a tireless advocate for collaboration, education, and quality senior care. We are grateful for her service and the positive impact she continues to make in our community.

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Thank you to our Channel & Organization Sponsors

Thank you to our Sponsors!

It would not be possible to bring the LEARN content to you without the generous support of our Sponsors! Thank you to our additional Winter 2026 Sponsors for supporting our mission to help people navigate the joys and challenges of aging and caregiving! 

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Help Us Spread The Word

Help Us Spread The Word!

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LEARN: Lifelong Education and Aging Resource Network is an Idaho non-profit organization providing FREE education for mature adults, family caregivers, and the professionals serving them. Our mission is to help people navigate the joys and challenges of aging and caregiving.

Our vision is to serve as a trusted source of information and resources – for the community by the community – in the topic areas of health, wealth, lifestyle, and caregiving. All of our volunteer educators are professionals who are members or partners of LEARN. We are supported entirely by the generosity of community businesses, aging and caregiving professionals, and community members.

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We thank you for your support.

LEARN provides access to a broad range of resources and information on aging and caregiving topics. LEARN does not take a position on any of our educational topics. LEARN content is provided for general informational purposes only and is not to be considered legal, financial, or health advice. Please consult with your legal, financial, healthcare, or other service providers before taking action based on this information.

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