ShareCare Leelanau

Bridging the space between independence and isolation

By Abby McKiernan | Oct. 4, 2025

Growing older in Leelanau County often means living with both beauty and challenges. The lakes and orchards are close at hand, but so are long stretches of rural roads, limited public transportation, and family members who may live hours away. For some, everyday tasks—getting to a doctor’s appointment, picking up groceries, staying connected—can become more complicated with age.

In a 2024 study by Michigan Medicine and the University of Michigan, one in three older adults reported feeling lonely some or most of the time, and nearly as many said they felt socially isolated. Loneliness isn’t just uncomfortable—it’s tied to higher risks of physical decline, dementia, and more health complications.

That’s the space ShareCare Leelanau has been bridging for 31 years: supporting and enhancing the well-being of seniors through services that are both practical and profoundly human, and ensuring that aging in Leelanau means staying connected, supported, and part of the community.

How It Started

ShareCare Leelanau’s story started in 1994 in Northport, when a small group of locals—nurses, pharmacists, drivers, and caring neighbors—came together around a simple idea: aging in place should never mean aging alone.

They imagined a membership model where older adults could count on one another for wellness checks, errands, rides, and companionship.

“It really began with neighbors working together to help those who couldn’t get out of the house,” says Executive Director Dawn Bousamra, who stepped into the role in June 2023.

That neighbor-to-neighbor vision has grown into a county-wide nonprofit with one full-time staff member, three part-timers, and more than 100 volunteers. The mission remains rooted in the same principle: practical support wrapped in genuine community connection.

Three decades later, the mission hasn’t changed, but the menu of services has expanded to meet the evolving needs of an aging community. For an annual fee of $75 (with sponsorships available for those who can’t afford it), members 60 and older can access support that keeps daily life moving and spirits lifted on several fronts.

1. Transportation. Getting around Leelanau County isn’t easy without a car. Public transportation is limited, medical offices are often in Traverse City, and errands like groceries or pharmacy runs require miles of driving. ShareCare provides up to five rides a month for members, ensuring no one misses a doctor’s appointment or goes without essentials.

2. Respite care. Caregiving for a loved one can be a 24/7 responsibility, and burnout is real. Specially trained volunteers offer up to four hours a month of companionship for members, giving family caregivers time to rest, run errands, or simply recharge.

As Bousamra explains, “Offering respite care visits for caretakers who are doing 24/7 care and feel like they cannot leave their loved ones for even a moment is a huge weight off their shoulders so they can take a moment to themselves and know they are safe and cared for.”

3. Friendly visits and phone calls. Sometimes what’s needed most is company. Volunteers make weekly visits or one-hour reassurance calls, providing conversation, comfort, and a reminder that someone cares.

4. Wellness programs. Once a month, ShareCare gathers members for educational sessions on topics like Medicare, scam awareness, and end-of-life planning. Soon, a new partnership with the Friendship Center in Suttons Bay will add lighter programming—bingo, yoga, and Zumba—bringing as much laughter as learning.

A Place for Connection: The Memory Café

Among ShareCare’s programs, the Memory Café stands out as both unique and deeply needed. Open to anyone who walks through the door, no diagnosis required, the gatherings offer a welcoming space for people experiencing memory loss and their care partners to connect with others who understand.

The idea began in the Netherlands in 1997 and has since spread across the globe, designed to counter the stigma and isolation that often come with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Rather than focusing on what’s slipping away, Memory Cafés celebrate what remains: conversation, laughter, music, and moments of recognition that bring comfort to both the individual and the caregiver.

For Bousamra, the program’s power lies in the freedom it creates.

“The Memory Café is a place to connect without fear of being judged,” she explains. “If someone with dementia says or does something a little unexpected, nobody reacts negatively. It’s a beautiful thing to be in a space where caretakers and their loved ones can just be.”

Powered by People

Even with decades of experience, ShareCare is no stranger to obstacles. Funding, for one, has become increasingly difficult. Federal cuts have reduced support for larger organizations, pushing them into the same pool of state and local grants that smaller nonprofits like ShareCare typically rely on. The result: more competition for fewer dollars.

“When you are a small organization and serving outlying issues like isolation and loneliness, people don’t always think to donate to us,” Bousamra says.

That reality makes community support all the more vital. ShareCare depends on neighbors to wrap around both the organization and the members it serves—whether through giving, volunteering, or simply spreading the word.

At its heart, ShareCare is powered by people. With a small staff, the organization runs on the commitment of their community, the way it has since it began. Volunteers are the ones behind the wheel, on the phone, and knocking on doors.

As volunteer Marlene put it, “I like meeting the various people, getting to know them a little, listening to their stories and providing them with a very necessary service.”

Ted, another volunteer, describes it simply: “It’s such an easy thing to do. I feel I’m helping someone be happier, more confident, and to get away from negative feelings. That makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something.”

Jennie Arguello, a part-time employee who manages ShareCare’s volunteer program, says her connection to this work is deeply personal.

“My parents selflessly dedicated their lives to seniors, encouraging me to do the same. Because of this, my deep Leelanau County roots and the integrity of ShareCare, I’m honored to manage such a generous team of volunteers.” She adds, “Together we all contribute to the well-being of those we serve, and that is so exciting.”

To learn more, get involved, or stay up to date on programs and events, visit sharecareleelanau.org.