CARE Cafe Celebrates 15 Years
It all began with a big idea: a place for older adults to socialize and be supported, while giving caregivers a break to take care of themselves.
Fifteen years later, CARE Café remains a place of support and community for older adults in Albemarle.
“I’m just so happy that we found CARE Café,” said Sabrina Pearson, whose mom is part of the program. “It’s been a huge help to me and to our family… We’re really happy with the program.”
Sabrina enrolled her mother Betty Davenport in the program after she’d come to live with her because of health issues. The transition brought a lot of challenges for both of them, but joining CARE Café made all the difference.
“It’s been wonderful,” Sabrina said. “She went for a month three days a week and I said, ‘Look, she really enjoys it.’ This gives her a sense of independence and she sees other people have caregivers too.” In addition to the community Betty found with her peers, the predictable schedule has improved both of their lives.
CARE Café, which stands for Community Adult Respite Experience, is a nonprofit that was originally the idea of Bill Stillerman, the CEO of ThriveMore at the time. He worked with local churches across denominations to get the nonprofit started 15 years ago. The Taylor House campus in Albemarle had a house on the grounds that was not being used, and so ThriveMore provided it as space for CARE Café to meet. The nonprofit advertised for a director in the newspaper, and that’s where Sandra Nance found out about it. She’s been the director for the past 15 years.
Sabrina said Sandra and the volunteers at CARE Café have helped her family tremendously.
CARE Café currently has 11 participants, many with dementia or physical limitations. Nine people attend each day from 11-2. There are daily activities that promote all areas of wellness, from physical exercise to mental and spiritual growth.
One of the biggest benefits to those who attend CARE Café is the socialization, Sandra said.
“It’s really like a big family,” she said. “It’s just that camaraderie to have people round about their age to talk to.” She said they look forward to coming. And the caregivers are grateful for a break, whether to run errands, visit their own doctors or just rest at home without needing to care for another person.
ThriveMore continues to support Care Café by providing the building free of charge, and also provides lunches each day from Taylor House’s kitchen.
“We would not be here 15 years later without the support of Taylor House and ThriveMore,” Sandra said.