The ARK's mission is to provide hope and relief to families living with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia through support services such as respite care, support groups, education, caregiver consultation, and resource referrals and community development. The ARK offers group social respite in a safe, therapeutic, and loving environment of acceptance. Family members receive a temporary break from the responsibilities of full-time caregiving, while the care receiver participates in social activities.

Description:
As a non-sectarian, broad-based outreach ministry of St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Summerville, South Carolina, The ARK recognizes that Alzheimer's disease is a complex illness that affects individuals, families, and communities. As we celebrate our first twelve years of providing respite care to families, we’re looking forward to the future also. We’ve expanded our services to provide a more comprehensive support system for families with Alzheimer’s Disease and other memory disorders:

Adult Respite Care- Programs are offered in Summerville (Monday-Thursday) and in St. George (Tuesdays) to give family caregivers a needed break from the stress of around-the-clock caregiving. Respite programs also keep loved ones with memory problems connected to their community through fellowship and fun.

Support Groups- Directed self-help groups in a therapeutic environment. Caregivers learn coping skills through sharing with each other. Groups now operate in Summerville, Goose Creek , St. George and will soon expand into rural areas.

Caregiver Consultation- THE ARK’s Dementia Care Advocate partners with families to set care priorities, share caregiving techniques, and connect with resources to allow the person with memory problems to live a quality life at home as independently as possible.

Corporate Caregiver Program- Since many caregivers face juggling family responsibilities with work, THE ARK partners with area businesses and industries to assist employees who also serve as caregivers.
The NOAH Project- THE ARK is assisting rural towns in developing Alzheimer’s support services tailored to meet the unique needs of communities in our target area. THE ARK’s Neighborhood Outreach Alzheimer’s Help (NOAH) Project provides grant writing assistance, staff training, and technical expertise to encourage the growth of social respite programs and/or other supportive services that reach people where they live.

The ARK's services to community-dwelling Alzheimer's families give them the coping tools they need to continue caring for their loved ones at home.

History:
Community demand has spurred The ARK's programs to grow from serving thirteen families in 1996 with a one day program to a four-day Summerville operation with ten participants per day serving tri-county, Orangeburg and Colleton County. A satellite respite day is offered in rural St. George serving eight families in Dorchester, Colleton and Orangeburg counties. Both respite centers have waiting lists. To date over 350 families have been served with countless others receiving information and referral to other services. The number of families and the number of respite hours have steadily increased each year. To meet the transportation need, a bus was acquired through grant funds in 2004, to help families attend.

The ARK's efforts and expertise have been recognized by the SAGE Institute (in collaboration with the South Carolina Hospital Association and the Duke Endowment) with a 2004 Geriatric Best Practices Award. The ARK's presentation was one of sixteen programs chosen (out of two hundred sites interviewed) to be honored. In addition, government agencies such as the Lt. Governor's Office on Aging and the local Area Agency on Aging have selected The ARK as a model respite program for replication across South Carolina.

Contact people:

Peg Lahmeyer, Director, (phone), (email) Nancy Tissot, Program Director, (phone), (email) Don Bagwell, Community Outreach Coord, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (843) 873-2610

Address:

206 Central Ave Summerville, SC 29483 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.sllc.org

Directions:

Exit 199 A off interstate. Follow Main St. into town. At Town Square and Town Hall turn RIGHT on Richardson Ave. Go through next light. Turn LEFT on Pine St. Second block on left you. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: Town Hall, 5 minute walk