Ingrid Gevers shows the newly updated Respite Center at the St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church. (Staff photo: Jonathan House)

Three days a week, Ingrid Gevers will line a room in St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church with tables of crafts and activities. There, seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia will be able to crochet or play board games with a view of trees outside large windows, while also receiving the care they need.

This is what Gevers offers with Joyful Respite, a new respite center that opened last week in Wilsonville. It will operate as an adult day center for seniors in the early to moderate stages of Alzheimer’s or dementia, with service available between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays in the church. With the center being the only one in town, Gevers hopes to provide a new space for Wilsonville caregivers to bring loved ones.

“I really want to be able to reach the caregivers — the people that are taking care of their loved ones at home, trying to keep them home as long as they possibly can — and provide that sense of relief for (the caregivers), knowing that this is a safe environment they can bring their loved ones to,” Gevers said, adding that it can be difficult for people to ask for help and she wants to provide a service allowing caregivers to have a break.

Gevers is a retired psychiatric nurse and prior to starting Joyful Respite she ran an adult foster care program called Oswego Hills Care Home for a decade before it closed. She is passionate about working with the elderly, having done so all her life, and has even helped friends with providing care for loved ones. Based on her experiences, she said there is a need for respite care.

“Going around, speaking to people, everyone that I’ve spoken to said it’s a much-needed service. Not just in this area, but across the board,” Gevers said.

Along with a room full of activities, the respite center will have another space offering a quieter setting with comfortable recliners for those who need it. Caregivers can leave loved ones at the center for a couple of hours, or the full day — which Gevers said is more affordable than using an in-home care agency. The center will tailor to a person’s specific needs based on an assessment done when enrolling in the program, which differentiates it from the Wilsonville Community Center.

“Most of (those that use the senior center) are able bodied. They drive there or get dropped off, and they can just go and participate, do whatever they want, and they don’t need any, you know, hands-on (assistance),” Gevers said.

Gevers said the respite center will serve a dual role in taking care of the enrolled seniors but also supporting caregivers by allowing them a break knowing their loved ones are safe. She believes it’s important for people to know that caregivers can have a bad day, and need time off.

“It’s okay to want to have a day off and not feel guilty about having a day off for yourself,” Gevers said. “Because caregivers give so much and get so little in return. So we want them to know that we are here for them.”

Gevers will run the respite center with help from her son and husband for now, but hopes to hire more professional staff as the service grows. Joyful Respite charges a $140 daily rate or an hourly rate of $37 per hour with a two-hour minimum. The website, www.joyfulrespite.org, is currently under construction but those who are interested in the service can call 503-776-5068 for more information.