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Anyone caring for a loved one who needs 24-hour care knows the importance of taking a break once in a while, for themselves and their loved one.

Family Pathways has introduced a growing program that gives a needed respite to those caring for loved ones with early to mid-stage memory loss.

Caring Hearts, held at United Methodist Church on Viking Blvd. in Wyoming, and The Gathering, held at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Pine City, are social respite programs designed to give caregivers a place to drop off their loved one and know they are safe.

Family Pathways Senior Services Coordinator Anne Reinsch runs the Caring Hearts group in Wyoming on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, from 10 a.m to 2 p.m.

She said many of their clients are receiving constant care, but it is typical that the burden of that care is on just one person, generally their spouse or child.

The respite program brings those clients into the church to play games, eat lunch, and enjoy conversation. Volunteers who have been trained and passed a background check are with the clients during their stay.

Caregivers are welcome to stay for all or part of the time, which some choose to do. Others use the time to run errands or simply visit with friends, enjoying activities that may be challenging with their loved one.

Mignon Johnson of Lindstrom is one of the caregivers who spends part of her time attending the program with her husband, Edsel, who has experienced memory loss for about five years.

On the first Tuesday of the month, she leaves Edsel so she can enjoy participating in a card club. On the third Tuesday, she stays to talk and share stories with other caregivers at a support group meeting.

"It's really nice to talk with other people to see what's going on," she said. "I really enjoy myself here, these people are wonderful," she said of the volunteers and Reinsch.

Family Pathways is extending the program to include sessions on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at Chisago Lake Lutheran Church in Center City.

Participation at any of the social respite programs is free. Reinsch conducts home assessments of each client and volunteer before beginning with the program.

They are always looking for more clients and caregivers to join the group, as well as volunteers.

Training will be this month for volunteers who wish to help at the new group meetings in Center City. Reinsch hopes to start with the first regular session there on June 10.

For more information, call Reinsch at (651) 257-7905.

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