FAIRHOPE, Ala. — There’s somebody in the family with Alzheimer’s or another mental impairment. You are taking care of him or her at home, and you really don’t mind, except … you can’t get out to get a haircut, go shopping, take care of this or that.

But what do do about that family member? Taking that person along may not be appropriate. But you have to get out of the house for just a few hours.

The solution might be at Fairhope United Methodist Church on Section Street. The church runs “Shepherd’s Place,” one of a handful of church-run programs in the county that provide a safe and secure environment for individuals with memory and physical challenges.

The program is offered 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday and Thursdays. Next month, says Ann Pearson, the church’s director of caring ministries, the program will expand to three days a week, adding Wednesdays to the mix. The cost is $40 per session.

“I am confident that we have experienced staff in place,” said Pearson.

There are currently, “eight to 10 participants, and room for more” says Leisa Richardson R. N., the director of Shepherd’s Place. The program began March 17, 2009.

The facility is housed on the second floor of the church’s Christian Life Center. There are plenty of activities, ranging from art, music, crafts, games and a variety of seasonal activities.

Participants often go to the gym down the hall to shoot hoops, and they are taken for walks when conditions are safe for them to do so.

For Shelly, a participant in the program, the time at Shepherd’s Place has been a blessing.

“The people here are always smiling,” she said.

A former police officer and recording artist, Shelly had a stroke while preparing to sing in the Orange Bowl Parade.

“This place has been a buffer,” said Shelly, explaining that coming to Shepherd’s Place has given her and her caregiver some time apart.

“What did you say God said to you?” asked Richardson of Shelly

“He said “Get up. I’m not done with you yet,” replied Shelly.

Richardson says it took a year and a half of planning before the facility could open.

“I was doing research (on such a program) and I was talking to Ann,” said Richardson. It turned out she had been praying for such an idea.”

Richardson says she can see the need for such programs as baby boomers age.

“I can see one spouse dropping the kids off at school, and the other spouse dropping off a parent (at an adult day care),” she said.

The point of the program, Richardson said, is “stimulation for the participant and respite for the caregiver.” She added that the program has been growing slowly, one step at a time.

Shepherd’s Place accepts those with Alzheimer’s, other forms of dementia and traumatic brain injury. Richardson says that the staff does an initial assessment, but participants need to be able to take care of their own personal needs or tell someone about their needs.

Some use a wheelchair and some use walkers.

The benefit of the program besides giving caregivers a chance to do shopping, get a haircut or just do things by themselves, is the participants get stimulation they would not normally get at home.

The program is volunteer-intensive.

“We have been blessed with enough volunteers,” said Pearson. She described the volunteers’ duties as fairly routine, but Richardson said later that men are particularly welcome.

Potential volunteers and families wishing to place a loved one can call 251-928-1148 for more information. A training class is help once a month.