Shirley has spent her entire life in Frederick County. She was married to her husband, Gerald “Jerry” for more than 50 years and together they raised a son, Gerald Jr. When her husband passed away two years ago, it was clear she was starting to decline cognitively and physically. Her son said that the grief from losing her husband coupled with the onset of dementia was causing her to spiral. And then she started attending Daybreak and they both found relief.
“My mom is a people person, she loves to be around people and she’s very talkative,” Gerald Jr. says. “Daybreak has really helped her. She was going downhill after my father passed away, I could see her getting worse and worse. Now she spends time at Daybreak and the tables have turned, it has helped her so much.”
Christina Forbes has been the executive director at Daybreak since 2012. She said they provide daytime services to seniors including activities, meals, transportation, medical support, structured programming and support groups. Daybreak serves an average of 50-60 clients a day.
“Shirley sometimes just sits and chats. Even if she’s not engaged in an activity it’s still stimulation and better than sitting home alone watching tv,” Christina says. “I can see a physical change when people start coming here, it’s a special energy that each person contributes to in their own special way. It’s a loving community and it’s really special to be a part of it.”
Frederick County’s aging population is growing and because seniors are living longer, the need for services is increasing in breadth and depth. The Community Foundation provided Daybreak with $49,000 to help subsidize fees for individuals receiving services.
“The data speaks for itself. We have a lot of people that make too much to qualify for government services but not enough to pay privately for the services they need,” Christina says. “This grant helps us provide financial aid for a senior to attend, which keeps families afloat as they ensure their loved ones have the support they need.”
Gerald Jr., who worked for Frederick County Public Schools for 40 years, says Shirley continues to live independently in the home she shared with her husband but looks forward to her days at Daybreak.
“I call her every morning and I can tell the days she is going to Daybreak because she’s up and dressed and done breakfast and ready for the bus to pick her up,” Gerald Jr. laughed. “I’m almost in tears talking about it because I’m so relieved that she has found a community for herself there.”
When a senior needs support, there are often ripple effects that impact loved ones and caregivers. Christina says that programs like Daybreak provide relief for caregivers as well.
“I can carry on with my life knowing that those three days a week she is in a safe environment where she is comfortable and doing things she likes,” Gerald Jr. says. “I’m also a senior, so it gives me time to take care of myself and makes it so that when we do spend time together, we can enjoy each other.”
The Community Foundation established three areas of strategic focus based on the Human Needs Assessment: preparing for an aging population, supporting families with children and responding to substance use disorder. This story can also be found in our FY 2024 Annual Report to the Community.