RFA Monthly News and Updates

R Wave Launching in Durham, NC

Our executive director, Daphne Johnston, traveled to Durham, NC, this month to help open R Wave at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, which is one of the 24 respite communities in multiple states slated to launch this year. R Wave is being led by Vic Gentry, a care partner whose wife, Cynthia, was among the first participants at R Place when it opened in 2023 in Chapel Hill, NC. Since that time, Vic has been a strong supporter of the RFA model and has now brought it to his home church in Durham. R Wave opens in February.

Teepa Snow, a well-known dementia care specialist, was the featured speaker in Dothan, Alabama, on January 21 as First United Methodist Church celebrated 10 years of its very successful respite ministry. Katie Holland launched the ministry in 2016 as the first church-based replication of the model at FUMC Montgomery, which was being led at that time by Daphne Johnston. The anniversary event also doubled as a retirement party and was a chance to say thank you to Katie for leading so well. Other RFA community directors and volunteers from Fort Walton, Macon, Montgomery and Birmingham also traveled to Dothan to hear Teepa.

Whirlwind Conference Is Filling Up Fast

Registration closes February 6 for Respite for All’s 7^th Annual Training Conference, and we already have a large roster of attendees planning to join us March 1-3 at Asbury United Methodist Church in Birmingham. If you’d like be part of Whirlwind 2026, now’s the time to secure your spot! Visit our webpage for details and registration links.

Save the Date – Oct. 15

The Respite for All team has already begun working on our 5th Annual Brain Science Luncheon, and we’ll be announcing our speaker this spring. In the meantime, mark your calendar for Thursday, October 15 for another great opportunity to learn expert tips on maintaining your brain health.

The mission of the Respite for All Foundation is to inspire, grow, and mentor Volunteer Respite Ministries for communities seeking to minister to persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia disorders through education and shared best practices. Visit RespiteforAll.org to learn more.

P.O. Box 6178

Montgomery, AL 36106

Phone: 334-300-3841

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