Meet Jill Eelkema of Western Care Partners in Denver-Metro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill Eelkema.

Jill, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
The other day, I noticed that my third-grade teacher wrote on my report card: “Jill is a good student and she would do even better if she didn’t need to know what was going on with everyone in the classroom.” Now, almost 35 years later, I have to laugh that I’m trained as a social worker who problem-solves and counsels families when a loved one is facing an aging issue or a disability — it’s my job to pay attention to what’s going on with everyone in the room.

I started in this field at a little rural hospital in Washington State. A phenomenal boss mentored me on developing programs, writing grants, coordinating outreach and being a source of information to the community. If the hospital needed to test a new piece of equipment or figure out a system, I was often the guinea pig. Then it was part of my job to figure out how to translate medical industry jargon into something the general public could understand and was interested in. I think this was the beginning of me realizing that I could be useful as a guide through the complicated maze of emotions and benefits that come up when a family member realizes someone they love needs more help. I went on to work for the public health department and the area agency on aging, always with an interest in how to make things easier for people dealing with complicated situations.

In 2012, I moved to Colorado and completed my master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Denver. From there, I worked at the Denver Regional Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging, managing their Aging & Disability Resource Center programs. I realized that I wanted to work directly with families and be able to have both counseling as well as advocacy roles, so I started Western Care Partners. It’s an honor to be able to help individuals and families navigate complicated medical and personal situations when faced with a new diagnosis or disability.

Has it been a smooth road?
Maybe I’m coming to see challenges as part of the journey. In 2008, I was laid off and spent a summer working for the county spraying invasive weeds to make ends meet. It was the farthest thing from social work ever, and I was terrified of what was going to happen to me. As it turns out, I didn’t die — but it’s not too far from the feelings many of us have today with the pandemic or what happens when you quit your job and start a business. I used to think something was wrong with me when I would get overwhelmed or scared but then I realized that flooding was my brain’s way of dealing with uncertainty. A piece of this was that who I had to be on the outside to survive didn’t match who I thought I was on the inside… and we know identity discrepancies — where the outside doesn’t match the inside — can cause depression. It was rough to have to rebuild my identity and learn to be comfortable in my own skin again but I’m so thankful this is something I can now pass on to clients; that what their feeling is normal when bad things are happening.

Please tell us about Western Care Partners.
Western Care Partners is unique in that families and individuals can receive guidance and intensive advocacy to get the services they are entitled to as well as counseling. For families who need help navigating aging issues ora new disability, I am an advocate, a counselor and a problem-solver. My clientele ranges from people in their 20’s with life-limiting illnesses to those in their 90’s with long-term mental health issues, from couples dealing with Parkinson’s disease to adult children in their 20s caring for a parent with early-onset dementia. While some clients want ongoing support, a lot of people want guidance for a specific situation — which we can do. When you suddenly have to start making decisions because a loved one needs more help, the last thing you want to do is waste time going down a path that isn’t going to work. I’m proud that families can count on Western Care Partners to get the advocacy and problem-solving help they need in crucial moments during a loved one’s journey.

What was your proudest moment for your business?
Not long after I started my business, I worked with a client whose mom had dementia and she was frozen about what to do next. She didn’t want to make the wrong decision for her mom but if they continued on the path they were on where she provided all the care, she knew she would wear out. We met her regularly to talk about options but also how hard it is when someone you love is slowly disappearing. She was able to do what we call “finding the notes” instead of “expecting the whole symphony” in their relationship. After we had her on a path that she could feel confident in, she told me that I saved her life.

As far as Denver being a good place for businesses like mine, yes — Denver has a shortage of private care managers who can help families navigate both the services and emotions that come with caring for someone who is older or who has a disability. We are the third fastest aging state in the nation and Denver is in a prime position for establishing intergenerational programs to help the entire family. We have the enthusiasm, creativity and expertise to be a place where people can thrive as they get older. This will take the collaboration of private, non-profit and government agencies, and right now, it’s a very exciting field to be in.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.westerncarepartners.com
• Phone: 720-675-9902
• Email: jille@westerncarepartners.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westerncarepartners/
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westerncarepartners

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