Respite Care Charleston

Executive Director

A graduate of Winthrop University (Marketing Communications) and the College of Charleston (Master of Public Administration), Sara has more than 18 years of experience in the non-profit/public sector. In 2016, she was named one of one of the Charleston Regional Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40”. Sara’s passion for supporting those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia began with experiences with two grandparents and is fueled by the amazing RCC community! A proud mother of two active teenagers, Sara mentors several older youth in foster care and is an avid sailor.

Program Coordinator

A graduate of Meredith College and Auburn University, Jennifer spent eleven years in the retirement home industry before joining Respite Care Charleston in 2012. As Director, she is passionate about keeping participants active and helping Charleston become a dementia-friendly community. Jennifer graduated from Francis Marion University’s Non-Profit Leadership Institute in 2015 and serves on the boards of Racers for Pacers and Charleston HEART.

Program Coordinator

Laurie Snedeker is a graduate of Converse College with a degree in Sociology and a graduate of The Medical University of South Carolina with a degree in Occupational Therapy. She is a certified licensed Occupational Therapist who has over 25 years of experience with the long term care population assisting individuals with their ability to perform, relearn, and adapt tasks in their daily living environments. Both of Laurie’s grandmothers had dementia and moved into her childhood home to be cared for by the family. Caring for the elderly has always been a part of Laurie’s life.

Program Coordinator

Christine Vinciguerra attended Bishop England High School and later continued her education at the College of Charleston. As she watched her grandfather cope with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease, she decided to take a class on Gerontology. She began volunteering at RCC for one of her college classes and formed a passion for caring for people dealing with dementia. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 2017.

Support Group Facilitator

Ginger Deignan has worked for more than 30 years in the field of Aging and Alzheimer’s. She began her career as Activities/Social Services Director in a nursing facility in Georgia. After moving to Charleston, Ginger continued working with the elderly as Outreach Coordinator for Older Adult Services at Catholic Charities, where she established the first group respite program in the Lowcountry/Charleston area in 1992. In January 2005, she began as Program Director for Respite Care Ministries and Program Coordinator for the East Cooper Program in Mount Pleasant. She currently facilitates the Mount Pleasant support group held twice monthly at All Saints Lutheran Church.