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651-455-1560
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1645 Marthaler Lane, West St. Paul, MN 55118
The Breathing Space: Group Respite
DARTS group respite provides supervision and social engagement for care receivers while caregivers receive up to a four-hour break.
DARTS group respite, The Breathing Space, provides companionship, social engagement, and supervision during 4 hours of brain-stimulating activities. The program is led by a DARTS staff member with support from a team of volunteers. This program is designed for those with early- to mid-stage memory loss.
Participation in The Breathing Space program is free! Pre-Registration Required to participate. Call DARTS at the number below to register.
There are two locations available:
Eagan
Easter Lutheran Church
4545 Pilot Knob Rd, Eagan
2nd and 4th Fridays of the month
10:00AM – 2:00PM
West St. Paul
Augustana Lutheran Church
1400 S Robert St, West St Paul
1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month
10:00AM – 2:00PM
Call DARTS to learn more and register: (651) 455-1560
This program is funded in part by a Minnesota Department of Human Services Live Well at Home Grant and Allina.
A Story from The Breathing Space:
DARTS Extends Caregiver Ability to Provide Care
In 2023, Carol contacted DARTS. Carol was caring for her partner, Barb, whose dementia was getting worse and it was becoming harder to leave Barb alone for very long. Carol was struggling with balancing the stress of caregiving. She needed some time to herself and the chance to easily complete errands.
Carol heard about The Breathing Space, DARTS weekly group respite program. Barb wanted a social setting where she could engage with others and participate in activities, and Carol knew Barb needed a space where she would be safe and supervised. The Breathing Space was the perfect solution for them.
Barb started attending The Breathing Space in October and hasn’t looked back. Barb engages in and enjoys the activities and social interactions. Her favorite activities are the walks in the garden and the music. In return, Carol receives a needed break.
Recently, Barb was officially diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The diagnosis has hit Carol hard and she needed extra support. She now attends DARTS caregiver support groups and connects individually with DARTS staff for an opportunity to talk in a safe space and process her feelings. Carol also worked with DARTS to schedule and facilitate a family meeting to talk about next steps. Now, Carol is feeling more relaxed and starting to plan for the future.
