Memory Matters expands adult social day program to Okatie
Memory Matters, the Lowcountry’s only South Carolina-licensed provider of comprehensive dementia care programs, is expanding its COMPASS Adult Social Day and Caregiver Respite Program to Okatie beginning July 20. The new programming will be held every Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 3080 Okatie Highway, just off Highway 170 near Sun City.
The expansion adds a third day of service in the Bluffton-Okatie area, providing families with access to up to three days per week of programming for individuals with mild to moderate memory loss and cognitive decline.
“This is about meeting families where they are,” said Michelle Frink, program director at Memory Matters. “We know caregivers in the Sun City and Okatie corridor have been looking for closer options. This third day of service means more flexibility, more support and more breathing room for the families who need it most.”
The COMPASS Program provides a safe, engaging environment for individuals experiencing mild to moderate memory loss and cognitive decline. Each session includes purposeful activities, music and art therapy, brain-stimulating games, exercise, socialization and a healthy lunch, all supported by Memory Matters’ trained staff and dedicated volunteers.
The program is designed as much for caregivers as it is for participants. While their loved one is engaged and supported, caregivers are free to work, attend appointments, run errands or simply rest, something many say they haven’t done in years.
“We hear it over and over,” Frink said. “’I didn’t know how much I needed this until I had it.’ That’s what COMPASS does for families.”
Memory Matters subsidizes program fees through donations and community partnerships, according to the organization.
Monthly rates begin at $340. According to Memory Matters, families attending three days a week at its Bluffton-Okatie locations pay as little as $78 per day, which the organization says is less than the cost of one hour of many in-home care services.
Fee assistance ranging from 10% to 90% is available based on financial need. Additional funding sources may include benefits through the Medicare GUIDE Model, South Carolina Respite Coalition vouchers, Veterans Administration benefits, and health savings accounts or flexible spending accounts.
“We want every family to know that cost should never be the reason someone goes without support,” Frink said. “We’ll help you figure out what’s available to you.”
The Okatie program is limited to 15 participants. Memory Matters officials said interest has been strong ahead of the July 20 launch and encouraged families to join the interest list.
New COMPASS families also receive free access to the SAVVY Caregiver Program, a five-week course designed to provide practical skills and resources for family caregivers.
Memory Matters serves families in Hilton Head Island, Bluffton and Beaufort and holds a Platinum Candid/GuideStar rating and 4M Age-Friendly Health System certification.
For more information or to join the interest list, call (843) 842-6688, email info@mymemorymatters.org or visit www.mymemorymatters.org.
