July 16, 2026
By ANASTASIA PENCHI
VIROQUA, Wis. – Nancy Welch of Viroqua gets excited whenever she sees Immanuel Lutheran Church on West Broadway Street.
“Whenever we drive by the church, (Nancy) says, ‘That’s where my friends are – that’s where my friends are,’ ” said her husband, Ron, who takes care of her as she lives with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Nancy participates in a weekly program called, “A Time for Joy,” which is a respite program designed to support locals with dementia and their primary caregivers. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays there are activities provided, along with lunch, chair exercise and music – all staffed and inside the church at 1004 W. Broadway St.
Tanja Birke, a board member and program volunteer, said the respite program offers a high participant to volunteer ratio (usually 1:1 or 2:1) and lots of socialization. Organizers ask for a donation of $10 per hour but never turn anyone away. The first visit is free, and the program is not religious.
Birke, who has worked as a respite provider for the past 13 years in Vernon County, said caregivers often suffer a slow progression of fatigue and burnout because those with dementia don’t want to be separated from them.
“Usually that care falls to a family member whether it’s a spouse or child,” she said. “Separating from the person with dementia is really difficult.”
The program volunteers do what they can to help with that separation, she said, and that flexibility has proven successful. One caregiver is now able to leave her husband there for the full four hours after experimenting with short times away.
Participants must be able to use the bathroom and feed themselves, Birke said, and there is no medical care provided. Still, the program is very flexible as one participant has a caregiver stay with to administer medicine as needed.
“We want to work with people where they are at,” Birke said. “We want folks to know everyone is welcome.”
For Ron Welch, that four hours of respite gives him time to do chores around the house or run errands without having to worry about Nancy. Sometimes he even goes out to lunch with friends.
“It’s a good program,” he added. “I use it for my own well-being as well.”
If you are interested in or want more information about “A Time for Joy,” call (608) 637-3983.
Anastasia Penchi is veteran writer who spent 13 years as a newspaper journalist and now works as a freelance writer. You may have seen her work in Coulee Region Women’s magazine, the Great Rivers Road blog and Explore La Crosse. Her passions are helping people in poverty and trying to save traditional journalism. She resides in Genoa and is a board member with Couleecap Inc. She can be reached at callmeloislane@hotmail.com.
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