There’s Still Hope for You: Peachtree Christian Health’s Story

“The number one fear for anyone over the age of 65 is dementia. They would rather have cancer than dementia.”

This is the startling truth Peachtree Christian Health’s Program Director Christi Heidt has encountered as she’s served seniors, whom the staff calls friends, and their caregivers.

Peachtree Christian Health offers what Christi describes as “an adult daycare model.”

“There’s significantly more burden typically associated with [dementia] because it’s a long-term diagnosis and it’s a progressive disease,” she explained. “Home healthcare and memory care are very expensive, and they’re very isolating as well.

“What we love about the adult day care model is that it doesn’t isolate [seniors] at all. They’re still involved with their community and still living with their family.” 

Stephanie Gloeckner took over as executive director a year ago, following Anne Mancini’s retirement from her leadership role. She had spent several years as both a medical-surgical nurse and a hospice nurse, but was looking for a change. 

When a position opened at Peachtree Christian Health, Stephanie pursued it. Now she’s leading Peachtree Christian Health alongside Christi and other staff as they expand their outreach amid a caregiving crisis.

“We engage our participants throughout the day, keeping them physically, cognitively and socially engaged,” Stephanie explained. “It gives caregivers support. They have somewhere safe and engaging for their loved one to be. They know their loved one is cared for, so they can go to work, have respite or get other things done.”

With caregivers under consistent strain, Peachtree Christian Health’s services are more important than ever.

“If caregivers stopped showing up tomorrow, the impact would feel far greater than anything we experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Caregivers provide more than a billion dollars a year in unpaid care in Gwinnett County alone,” Christi explained. 

But in partnership with Peachtree Christian Health, caregivers can take a needed break.

Before caregivers bring their parent or relative to the adult daycare center, over 75% report that caregiving causes a moderate to severe burden.

For many, “The stress is so bad they need immediate assistance,” Christi said.

After a month of bringing their relative to Peachtree Christian Health, the anxiety and burden caregivers feel significantly drops by 25% or more. 

“They can take a break because they know their loved one is safe and they can depend on us,” she said.

Through programs and exercises at Peachtree Christian Health, Stephanie and Christi are also seeing tangible improvement in the health of the seniors they serve. 

“Studies have shown the activities we do here keep them engaged, keep their bodies and minds active and keep them socially engaged. They help slow down the decline of the disease,” Stephanie shared.

Christi specifically remembers one woman who had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

“I have a little visual that I show people when they’re considering enrollment. I tell them, ‘What if I told you that after a year you could see no change?’” Christi said. “They assume every year, they’re going to get worse and worse.

“This woman, in particular, just cried. She said, ‘You mean there’s still hope for me? I can live a happy, full life with this disease?’”

Christi’s answer? Yes!

In 2026, Peachtree Christian Health is raising funds to share more hope with seniors suffering from memory-related diseases and to expand their outreach beyond the four walls of their building. 

They’re also eager to build more connections through their partnership with the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia. 

“We want to make connections with like-minded organizations, particularly those doing a lot of work with the aging population in the community,” Christi shared. “There are plenty of people concerned about the aging population and the caregiving crisis, but they don’t know we’re here to help.”

In 2026, Stephanie and Christi hope fundholders will come alongside them to sponsor programs and therapeutic services — like horticultural, music or art therapy — that Peachtree Christian Health offers at no additional cost to the seniors they serve. 

When even one donor steps up to make a difference, that donation can have a positive ripple effect.

“In September, we had a donor pay for a bus so we can go on field trips,” Stephanie explained. “We’ve been able to take our friends out in the community, and the bus allows us to be seen by the community, so more people know about us.” 

Christi added, “That was a huge game-changer for us because otherwise, we can’t bring our friends to the Aurora Theatre or to libraries or parks.

“We know we improve health outcomes for caregivers and their loved ones here. We want to help families age in place and stay together in their homes as long as possible. They just need some help.”

Help Peachtree Christian Health make memories matter when you donate to their fund today!