The Alzheimer’s caregiver is often called the hidden, or second, victim of this disease. The Alzheimer’s Respite Program offers caregivers of individuals with AD or related dementia time away from the responsibilities of caregiving and relief from the physical and emotional stress of being a caregiver. In addition, individuals with AD look forward to the visits with a new friend.
The focus of this program is to develop and train volunteers to provide this much needed support. Volunteers will be paired with families with a loved one affected by mild to moderate AD. A volunteer will spend time with the individual with dementia, while the family caregiver gets out.
This may be in the form of companionship, transportation, or just a few hours away. Since volunteers are not medically trained, they are not able to perform “hands-on” or medical services. Respite visits are a free service and typically take place on a weekly basis, usually lasting anywhere from 2-4 hours per visit, depending upon the needs of the family