Respite Care Ministries strives to enhance the quality of life for individuals suffering from Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, and their caregivers, through a high quality program of socialization and stimulating activities for participants; and support, relief, education and training for the caregivers.

Description:
Time For You, located in Mt. Pleasant, is one of the four programs operating under Respite Care Ministries. These programs provide half-day care in Charleston area churches for persons with dementia who are cared for at home. The program runs from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm and offers therapeutic activities to meet the needs of the participants - exercise, music, socialization, arts and crafts, interaction with children and pets, as well as cognitively stimulating activities - all this, plus vital support for the family caregiver. Along with staff, the program operates with dedicated volunteers who are trained to care for persons with dementia. Time For You has tripled the number of persons served over the last year. The program is always interested in enhancing services and activities offered to both the participant and the family caregiver.

History:
Time For You began in 1994 at All Saints Lutheran Church in Mt. Pleasant. It has operated successfully since that time. In 1995, Quality Time at St. Matthews Lutheran Church opened, and within six months, was at full capacity. In 2001, the second Quality Time program was opened at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in West Ashley. In the same year, Our Island Home at the Episcopal Church of Our Savior opened. In 2005, all four programs merged to create Respite Care Ministries, offering services for an even wider geographical range, assisting with over 16,000 hours of respite care per year. The programs continue to grow as the needs in Charleston County increase.

Contact people:

Ginger Deignan, Program Director, (phone), (email) Laura Stefanelli, Program Director, (phone), (email) Allison Menick, Program Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (843) 723-8050

Address:

2107 Hwy. 17 North Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 (See a map)

Web Site: http://smlccharleston.org

Directions:

Take Hwy. 17 North towards Georgetown (from 526 or from downtown Charleston on Johnnie Dodds/Hwy. 17), pass Town Center shopping area and Isle of Palms connecter. Go just past the Crab House and sweetgrass basket stands. Turn into. . . (more)