New Ocean Shores program provides activities for those living with dementia, respite for caregivers
September 16, 2025
Ocean Shores Friends is a weekly program that offers engaging activities and lunch for those living with dementia, while giving their caregivers a break and some time for themselves. The program began on Aug. 12 and currently operates every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church.
“It was great to see the program launch,” said Bri Buchanan, Dementia Outreach Development Coordinator at the Olympic Area Agency on Aging, which is helping to fund the launch of the program. “Our four-county region has a much older population than the state as a whole, and we have several areas like Ocean Shores where the majority of residents are over 60. The need for dementia support services is higher here and expected to keep growing, so we’re working to create more services for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers and families.”
The respite program is organized by the United Methodist Church in collaboration with Respite for All, a nationwide program based in Alabama. While the program is based at the United Methodist Church, attendees do not need to be church members or affiliated with any religious group. Ocean Shores Friends is not a religious program.
Source: The Daily World