First Church Respite Ministry is dedicated to fostering a compassionate community for individuals living with dementia and providing vital support for their caregivers. Through fellowship, education, and respite services, they aim to promote meaningful connections, ensuring that every individual experiences love, respect, and joy as they navigate life with dementia.
Respite is a weekly program that provides a fun, engaging environment for participants to enjoy social and recreational activities in a joyful, community setting while giving their caregivers much-needed respite.
Through creative arts, music, trivia, physical and intellectual fitness, and fellowship, Respite provides opportunities for social connection and fulfillment for participants. A day at Respite may be spent singing old favorite tunes, playing balloon volleyball, creating artwork, and a hot lunch. At the same time, caregivers get a much-needed break, knowing their loved one is in safe, caring hands. This low-cost, high-engagement program is facilitated by the Respite director and a group of passionate, highly trained volunteers. Because this is a social program, no medical training is required to become a Respite volunteer.
While they understand that Alzheimer’s and dementia diseases are progressive conditions, the participants who would most likely benefit from the program are those who can participate in group settings for a long period and are able to feed themselves and move around independently.
