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R Place

R Place

R place is a robust social engagement program based on the Respite for All model that runs on Volunteer-Power! Once a week volunteers, friends living with dementia, and their care partners will have the opportunity to recharge, reconnect and recreate!

Thank you to the Respite for All Foundation and Talegate for the support in creating this video!

Glimpse Into A Day at R Place

1 group holding hands and dancing in a circle
2 Two women laughing over a face building game
3 Two women using a pool noodle as a binoculars
4 A couple dancing
5 Participant and his granddaughter smiling at R Place
6 three women hugging and smiling at R Place
7 An exercise class led by a young woman where everyone is stretching their arms up
8 Image of two woman smiling and working on a building block project
9 Two R Place participants holding up caprese salad
10 A couple smiling with their mandala design that they created
11 A participant pretending to take a picture back at the photographer with a toy camera
12 Participant at R Place smiling with their block design
13 Two women holding up their caprese salad
14 A participant and volunteer dancing together and holding hands
15 Two R Place participants holding up caprese salad
16 A man playing with a toy dog
17 A group of women laughing and talking together
18 R Place participant working on a caprese salad
19 Group exercise where colorful balls and being thrown in the air
20 two women petting a toy cat
21 Two women smiling after creating a building out of blocks
22 Group exercise where everyone is throwing colorful scarves in the air

Social Engagement Programs like R Place involve fun, creative activities that allow people to connect with each other. Volunteers help to create a stigma free environment that understands the social needs of our friends living with dementia, reinforcing cognitive resilience and helping participants feel a sense of purpose and belonging. Our belief at R Place is that everyone's life has meaning, and we all have something to contribute. As a community, we create a joyful space to socialize and engage fully in meaningful activities that build cognitive resilience so we all can thrive together!

Vertical Recharge Reconnect and Recreate Icon

R Place is an innovative program based on the Respite for All model that was started in 2012 by Daphne Johnston at her church in Montgomery, Alabama. The purpose of R Place is threefold: to provide a supportive, creative, and fun space for people living with dementia to come spend time, to provide their caregivers with some well-deserved time for themselves, and to provide volunteers with a meaningful way to share their time and talent.

Activity Examples

1 RPlace friends doing paint roller crafts
2 RPlace friends doing paint roller crafts
3 RPlace friends doing paint roller crafts
4 Group from R Place playing balloon volleyball
5 Garden Box part 2 B copy
6 White Board Activity
7 A woman smiling playing a dart game
8 Picture of Ken, Ann, Kippy with freshly made apple sauce
9 Group of people stretching their arms into the air as a warm up for singing
10 Group pic of creating bird nests at R Place
11 Playing Pool 1 copy
12 Group picture of apple sauce making
13 A group of women laughing and talking as they make caprese salads
14 MC Yellow Table copy
15 picture of apple sauce making of rick and cathie

R Place is a social model of care that promotes new relationships, group service projects, storytelling, shared meals, small group conversations, guided light exercise, as well as art, music and games. There are a wide variety of activities and events that reflect the interests and hobbies of the friends.

Further, this is a non-medical model. No medications given out during R Place, and participants must be able to meet their own bathroom needs. R Place sessions are held Wednesdays from 10-2pm at the Seymour Center in Chapel Hill.

About the Volunteers

R Place is run by volunteers who build relationships with participants and offer the mental stimulation and social engagement that they need. Volunteers receive robust training on what dementia can look like, and how to meet this community’s specific needs in the moment. This ensures our friends living with dementia are treated equitably, and with kindness!

Spotlights!

A volunteer hugging a Friend at the R Place Program

David Balter

"The friends, the other volunteers, and Alison were always so kind to me and so wonderful to be around it was the day of the week I looked forward to most. I developed really nice relationships with many people and I always looked forward to seeing them.You learn a lot about interacting with people living with dementia which is very important and will only become increasingly important in the near future."

Claude Piercy

"R Place was a natural fit for me to honor my parents and give back to the community that has affected so many people. I keep coming back because I saw the positive impact that R Place had on everyone from the caregivers, the friends and the volunteers. I always say it feels like I get more from our friends than they get from me."

Annemarie Frederiksen

"R Place opened up a new world for me where I was able to feel welcomed and meet so many new people. In this program I’ve heard about the life stories of the friends and I’ve realized how capable people with dementia can be. It’s now a huge part of my life and I’m grateful for the community it has created.”

Matthew Owusu

"My involvement in R place and DFC stems from helping my grandmother with her dementia starting in high school. This experience was and continues to be my motivation for studying neuroscience at UNC, and helping at R Place gives me the chance to make a more direct positive impact. Anyone who gives R Place a try will love it!"