New Respite Community Opening in Dunwoody, GA

Our executive director Daphne Johnston traveled to Dunwoody, GA, earlier in March to train new volunteers for Anchor Place Respite which will be opening soon at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church. We’re thankful to welcome this new community to our expanding network of support for families living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. 

Around the RFA Network

• Worship opportunities are often a meaningful part of the Respite for All model, and many of the ministries in our network include these sweet gathering times in their monthly schedule. For example, Anchor Community Respite Ministry at Asbury United Methodist Church in Birmingham held a special Dementia-Friendly Easter Service for participants, care partners and volunteers on March 21. Their service incorporated a brief message, beloved hymns and communion.

• The Respite Care Ministry at First United Methodist Church in Dothan offered a Mini Resource Camp for Caregivers on March 21, where several local aging-related agencies were on hand to provide information about resources in the community that support the journey of aging.

• Founders Place at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church in Birmingham hosted a fabulous Lunch & Learn community event on March 19, featuring Dr. Natali Edmond, a geropsychologist and founder of Dementia Careblazers, who was there to discuss Real World Dementia Care. The event was held at the Vestavia Hills Methodist Church, which will be opening a Respite Ministry of its own this fall. The CARES Respite Program at CJFS in Birmingham also joined the event as a sponsor.

• Congratulations to Joyful Place Community Respite at Shalimar United Methodist Church for celebrating your second anniversary! The best testimony for RFA’s sustainable model is the continuing ministry of our growing network, where RFA-inspired ministries have been operational anywhere from 10 years to one year.

Save the Date - October 22

Plans are underway for Respite for All's 3rd Annual Brain Science Luncheon, so mark your calendar for Tues., October 22. More details to come!

The mission of the Respite for All Foundation is to inspire, grow, and mentor Respite Volunteer 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.