Everett caregivers of people with dementia will have a new local option starting Tuesday, Sept. 1, when Volunteers of America Western Washington (VOAWW) opens its Old Friends Club at the Carl Gipson Center.

The program serves people with early-to-mid-stage dementia, the Everett Post reported. Members spend five hours twice a week doing light exercise, playing games, making art and sharing lunch together.

The Everett location, at 3025 Lombard Ave., will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and can accommodate up to 12 participants. It costs $800 per month.

The expansion follows VOAWW's launch of Snohomish County's first Old Friends Club in late June at the Lynnwood Neighborhood Center, The Daily Herald reported. That location meets Mondays and Wednesdays on the same schedule.

Program coordinator Elias Coblentz told The Daily Herald on Aug. 14 that members often lose their sense of community after a diagnosis because they can no longer drive or do the activities they once enjoyed. He said the club helps them reclaim some independence.

A typical session starts with a physical activity like chair yoga or water-bottle weightlifting, moves into games such as ring toss or balloon volleyball, then lunch, followed by trivia and arts and crafts, according to The Daily Herald's reporting.

VOAWW Interim CEO Kristi Myers, whose mother lived with Alzheimer's, said the program gives caregivers breathing room. "Having a program like Old Friends Club for her to have fun, stay active and engaged while giving us some time reset and recharge would have been a godsend," Myers said in a statement reported by the Everett Post.

More than 13,000 people in Snohomish County are estimated to be living with dementia and its effects, according to VOAWW. Nationally, about 1 in 9 Americans age 65 and older has Alzheimer's, according to the Alzheimer's Association.

The Carl Gipson Center, named for Everett's first Black elected official, has served seniors for more than 40 years. VOAWW has operated the center under a 14-year contract with the city since September 2021.

Families interested in the Old Friends Club can call (425) 232-6002 or email [email protected].