Meggan Monday: Home Under the Dome
This week on Meggan Monday, Meggan is introducing us to a ministry that lends a hand to those who are helping others.
This week, we are introducing you to a wonderful program that’s been going on for about 18 months, hosted by United First Methodist Church in Gulfport.
Home Under the Dome is a respite care program that allows care givers of dementia patients an opportunity to leave their loved ones in a loving, caring vibrant environment while they take care of themselves.
Andy and Pam Gunkel tell us more about the Home Under the Dome. “We are a respite ministry for people with memory loss and dementia and we fall under the umbrella of Respite for All ministry foundation, which started this ministry. It is a social model, not a medical model, and to me, it’s this beautiful balance between our participants, whom we call our friends, who get to come here and have fun and laugh and play games, have a great hot meal … and our volunteers who come and shower love and attention on to our friends. And also, it gives the caregiver an opportunity to take some time and they may go run errands or they may just go home and take a well-deserved break. It’s just a beautiful balance of those components.”
“And most of our volunteers have had a family member with dementia or memory loss so they understand the need of someone stepping up and willing to lend a hand.”
“And one of things we love to do is sing the old hymns. Cause it just triggers those memories and we have one of our friends she always comments, ‘I sang that when I was a little girl.’”
“It’s amazing to see our friends when they smile and they have those moments of joy and it just touches your heart when it happens.”
“There’s a reason why we call it Home Under the Dome because it’s really like family. We just feel like we’re a big family when we come together.”
Andy and Pam tell us that the non-denominational program, which averages about 12 people a session, is open Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is open to all. To learn more about Home Under the Dome, contact First United Methodist Church.
