As part of our services to our community, Capitol Hill Village is proud to be able to offer respite services to those caring for a loved one with dementia or other health challenges.
Many Care Partners feel they cannot leave their loved one in the care of others. It's important that Care Partners can trust that their loved one is getting high-quality, compassionate care in a safe and supportive environment. By utilizing respite care services, Care Partners can focus on their own well-being—reducing stress, preventing burnout, and maintaining a healthier balance in their lives.
Capitol Hill Village currently offers two programs that can provide different kinds of respite experiences.
Village Connections Program
Village Connections offers in-home respite opportunities using trained volunteers. Volunteers develop a one-on-one relationship directly with members who rely on extra support to remain active community members.
Village Connections volunteers and members (and/or their Care Partners) can identify tasks or services that they connect about regularly including but not limited to, friendly check ins and walks, reading mail, grocery shopping, reducing household clutter, helping with day to day communications. If the member has a Care Partner, that Care Partner can use the time their partner is engaged with the Village Connections volunteer as respite, a break from their caregiving role.In addition to the usual volunteer background check and training, Village Connections volunteers receive training and maintain communication with CHV.
Example: A CHV member would like to participate in Tai Chi class once a week but does not want to leave their spouse, who lives with dementia, alone. A Village Connections volunteer agrees to come to their house at class time and help the spouse living with dementia sort the household mail, creating a social connection for the spouse, taking care of a chore, and freeing the Care Partner to take a break.
Need a Village Connections Volunteer? Or Interested in becoming one? Email Lizzy Kosin at lkosin@capitolhillvillage.org to learn more.
Memory Studio: A Respite Program for Individuals Living with Cognitive Decline and their Care Partners
Memory Studio is the brainchild of CHV member Patrick McClintock, who was diagnosed with fronto-temporal dementia a few years ago. After finding joy and stimulation in an arts workshop for people living with dementia, Patrick was inspired to start the Memory Studio program with Capitol Hill Village and provide more people with memory issues the opportunity to engage with the arts.
Designed and facilitated by teaching artist Nephelie Andonyadis, and with support from the Center for Dementia Respite Innovation, Memory Studio is a once-weekly Art and Music Workshop for Individuals with Memory Loss with Respite Services for Care Partners. The program includes live music, movement and art activities inspired by work from the Phillips Collection. All participants enjoy a creative environment without judgement, where the goal is to be present, have fun, and focus on what folks can do rather than what they can't.
Care Partners are welcome but not required to stay or participate. Special programming for Care Partners includes a rotating set of supports including an optional professionally-facilitated support group, massage and Yoga Nidra. Care Partners are free to use the time however they prefer, knowing their loved one is not just safe but is actively engaged and growing.
No formal dementia diagnosis is required. Anyone who is experiencing memory loss or cognitive challenges, especially if those challenges are changing the way they engage with others and causing concern for care partners, are welcome to participate. Transportation assistance may be available to those within the CHV footprint.
Memory Studio runs from 11am - 3 pm on Saturdays and is free to attend. For more information or to check for eligibility, email info@capitolhillvillage.org or call 202-543-1778.
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Disclaimer: Memory Studio: A Respite Program for Individuals Living with Cognitive Decline and their Care Partners is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $6,607,011 with 75 percent funded by ACL/HHS and $1,620,872 with 25 percent funded by non-government source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
In The News
The Memory Studio Comes To Capitol Hill
"Almost three years ago, long-time Hill resident and massage therapist Patrick McClintock received a dreaded diagnosis. He has frontotemporal dementia. He and his spouse, Marilyn Goldberg, dove deep into research, consultations and possibilities."
Want to learn more? Call our office at 202-543-1778 or email info@capitolhillvillage.org