2 churches offer respite care
to Alzheimer’s patients

By Claudia M. Williams
Staff Writer
Two Southwest Texas congregations near Lake Buchanan are now providing a break for people caring for relatives with Alzheimer’s disease.
Highland Lakes UMC, Buchanan Dam, launched the respite-care program in partnership with First UMC, Burnet, Nov. 15. Diane Caruthers, Wesley nurse at Highland Lakes UMC, developed the initiative.
“We have a lot of retired folks,” she said. “Working in the community, I come across a lot of situations where people said they wished they had a little time for themselves, to help them cope.”
The respite-care program offers a place where families can take relatives in the early stages of Alz-heimer’s—those still functioning but with short-term memory loss—to visit once a week.
“They love it,” Caruthers said of her weekly guests. “They’re very eager to come every week. They know the routine. We do things like arts and crafts. The caregivers really enjoy it, too. They like to be away for four hours once a week.”
The program is modeled after one called Sanctuary Respite that has been in place at Faith UMC, Austin, for more than a year, Caruthers said.
Linda Chambers, Faith UMC Wes-ley nurse, said Sanctuary Respite developed after a task force of south Austin churches recognized the need for a respite-care program in that community. She worked with the Capital Area Alzheimer’s Association to put it together.
“There’s a book that says it’s a 36-hour day to deal with a person with Alzheimer’s,” Chambers said. “Care-givers tell us we give them time to be away, to do anything. They feel comfortable that they have left their loved one in a safe and loving environment.”
Four people with Alzheimer’s currently go to the Highland Lakes/Burnet program regularly. Caruthers said she hopes to have 10.
Chambers has 12 participants in Sanctuary Respite.
Both programs draw participants from all over their communities. Care is available to anyone regardless of faith.
“We don’t, we won’t, make someone come to Christianity,” Chambers said. “But we do have a worship service during this time, a Bible reading, message from the pastor, religious songs. We do believe we’re showing the love of Christ by bringing this program to families in the community.”
Caruthers said, “This is a faith-based program. This is a ministry Christ would want us to do.”