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Good Times Club Social Respite Program
 

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These community-based social respite programs work to provide reliable, scheduled respite to those caring for a friend or family member living with dementia. Dementia Support Northwest is proud to expand that service network further, bringing the Bellingham Club to 4 days a week.

Monday - Thursday 9:30 am - 2:30 am

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Clubs are designed to give care partners worry-free time to...

  • be at home

  • run errands

  • catch up with a friend

  • relax and recharge in order to protect and maintain their own physical and mental health.

A typical five-hour program includes:

  • Low-impact social time to encourage group engagement and support

  • Light physical activities

  • Art and other creative projects

  • Group-oriented games and other forms of cognitive stimulation

  • Lunch, snacks, and light refreshments throughout the day

 

Other events may also appear in our programming, including guest performers from around our area, including musicians, presenters, and more, as well as some activities facilitated by those groups.

 

Programming is constantly reviewed and updated to make sure it is aligned with the interests and passions of the members.

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Who are these programs for?

While the need for respite endures throughout the progression of a diagnosis, Clubs do not provide medical services, health monitoring, or medication assistance and are designed around socialization settings.

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Members need to be able to:

  • self-administer medications

  • require minimal assistance with eating

  • participate in a small-group setting

  • not have difficulties with incontinence.

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Program Basics
  • The program is four days a week, for 5 hours per day.

  • Our social respite programs are built on the same small-group dynamics that underpin support group systems, and cap membership for each program at 12 members.

  • To ensure that scheduled respite is not prevented by an already-full program for the day, program membership is maintained on a monthly-basis, ensuring that your loved one's spot is always saved.

  • Program fees are based on an all-inclusive rate of $18/hour, and billed at the average of 4.35 program weeks per month ($792/month), so program fees are steady month-to-month.

    • Program fees are prorated for partial months for new members.

    • Flat rate membership fees include funds for program supplies/activity costs as well as a daily lunch and snacks.

    • If you carry Long Term Care Insurance, check with the provider to see if day program services are a covered benefit

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Current Club Location

Bellingham Program

9:30 - 2:30, Monday - Thursday

Christ the King - Bellingham

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How to Join

Limited membership results in the need for an application process that begins with filling out the Initial Inquiry Form, and submitting it along with your contact information to reserve your spot on a program waitlist.

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  1. Call us at 360-671-3316

  2. DSNW's program staff will contact you to continue the application process.

Eva Schulte

Good Times Club has been an incredible gift! There are many things my mom cannot remember, but she does remember how she loves Heather and Sean, how kind all the other members are, how much laughter there is, and how much she enjoys being there. There are also many things my mom can no longer do, and this loss of autonomy and of feeling productive has been frustrating for her. At club, she can do it all! It has been wonderful to see her engaged and, also important, to see how much she is valued and cared for. I know she is safe there. She is happy. The break that it gives me is so appreciated and very needed. I am confident that club is buying us time for her to remain at home. My wish is that the model you're implementing would become widespread because the benefits are truly amazing. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Heather and Sean have my unending respect and gratitude - they are so very good at what they do, and they are such good human beings

Have other questions about our social respite programs? Give us a call!

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