Alabama News Center — Alabama respite ministries create joyful communities for those living with dementia

By: Minnie Lamberth / Alabama Living

It’s just before 10 a.m., and you can already feel the energy building in the room as people make their way into a large gathering area at Montgomery’s First United Methodist Church. Friends share hugs delivered with lots of smiles and, often, a hot cup of coffee. As attendees settle into their spots at a table, the activities begin. For the next four hours, they will enjoy a fast-paced time of fellowship and enrichment.

This is the essence of volunteer-run respite ministry that helps people living with the challenges of memory loss enjoy friendship and social time, while their caregivers get a break for their own errands and activities. More than a dozen churches across the state have drawn from the model launched in Montgomery in 2012 and brought it to their own communities.

Katie Holland was directed to the Montgomery program when she began looking for a way to support families in the Wiregrass affected by Alzheimer’s disease. “I went to visit, and I could not believe what I saw when I got there,” Holland says. The activities — from group games and art projects to balloon volleyball — were engaging, the room was upbeat and active, and there was a lot of laughter.

The Alabama Weather Blog is pleased to present an excerpt from a featured article in partnership with the Alabama News Center. For the full post including images, videos, and related links, please visit the article HERE.

Category: ALL POSTS, Partner News Stories