St. Thomas the Apostle is honored to be the first Episcopal church in the Diocese of Texas to offer Apollo Respite for All, a program designed for neighbors experiencing dementia.
Apollo is built on the Respite for All (RFA) model, a thoughtfully created program that began in 2012 at First United Methodist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Co-founder Daphne Johnston envisioned a “social model of care” that would nurture the whole person. More than twelve years later, RFA has inspired programs in at least ten states, and now this life-giving model has come to Texas.
At Apollo, the focus is on seven aspects of well-being: identity, connection, security, autonomy, meaning, growth, and joy. Each of these gifts is seen as a reflection of God’s desire for all people to flourish.
The impact of RFA has been widely recognized. In 2016 and 2019, the U.S. Administration on Aging named it an innovative initiative for dementia. In 2021, it received the Anne and Irving Brodsky Innovation Grant from the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. It was highlighted again in the 2022 Innovations in Alzheimer’s Carehandbook, and most recently in AARP’s January 2024 article, Respite Services: A Critical Support for Family Caregivers.
Through Apollo, Friends living with dementia find a community of purpose, connection, and joy, while caregivers are given a much-needed break. This is not just respite. It is a community, rooted in dignity, belonging, and the love of Christ.
If you would like to be part of Apollo, read more here: https://sttaec.org/respite/
