First Baptist Church Respite Service
By Joshua Rivera
A Kern County association is fighting a disease that many residents of Kern County suffer from.
The Alzheimer’s Disease Association of Kern County (ADAKC) meets 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Thursday at First Baptist Church, 220 North St, Taft, to hold a Respite Service.
The services are for both the person suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia, and the caregiver. Being a caregiver for an Alzheimer’s or dementia patient is hard work, and the service gives the patient a safe environment with social interaction and exercise that also helps with mental stimulation, according to the ADAKC.
The association says the service also helps the caregiver not feel so overwhelmed.
The ADAKC promises that the service “provides guilt free time for yourself while enhancing the quality of life for your family and loved one.”
Yvonne Ludwig, who has been involved with the ADAKC for two years, oversees the respite service at the Baptist Church. She is a respite coordinator, support leader, and councilor for the ADAKC that sees a few patients every meeting.
Ludwig is originally from Germany, and moved to the United States 17 years ago. When Ludwig decided she wanted to go back to school at Bakersfield College, she knew she wanted to help people, and decided to get a job in human services.
She started as an intern for ADAKC before she was hired at the main center in Bakersfield, located at 5500 Olive Drive, where she works full time.
The ADAKC’s main center in Bakersfield holds Respite Services as well, but also holds support groups for: early stage patients suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia, caregivers, and people who used to be caregivers.
The ADAKC center also provides community education about Alzheimer’s and dementia, family caregiver assistance, crisis counseling, and countless other services. Ludwig said she personally sees over 40 patients at ADAKC’s main center.
The ADAKC has been providing services to Kern County since 1982. Its vision is “All in Kern County on the Alzheimer’s journey have the help and support they need.”