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DENTON – There was plenty of merriment as about 20 clients enjoyed entertainment, refreshments and gift-giving during a holiday open house Friday, Dec. 20, at the Caroline County Medical Adult Day Care in the Health and Public Services Building in Denton.
The event from 10 a.m. to noon was hosted by the Caroline County Adult Day Care Foundation, the fund-raising arm of the program.
Caroline County Health Department staff seemed to have as much fun as clients, with everyone singing along to favorite holiday tunes.
A crowd favorite was Caroline County Sheriff’s Deputy DFC Chuck Bealefeld, who belted out the Grinch theme song, as well as “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas,” while teasing participants. They dished it right back.
“He is amazing,” Health Officer Robin Cahall said. “Chuck just provides a good sense of peace to all of us. He joins in and is such a good sport.” Bealefeld is assigned to the HAPS Building security.
Participants received gifts like word search books and whimsical trinkets as they chair-danced, toe-tapped, laughed and clapped their hands.
The Adopt-a-Senior program provided gifts, and was largely supported by patrons purchasing tickets hanging on a Christmas tree set up by Brenda Walls, owner of Ridgely Pharmacy.
The fundraising arm of the program, the Caroline County Adult Day Care Foundation, has an all-new board of directors. “We have a mission to raise funds to support a match for the purchase of a passenger vehicle to transport folks who attend the program,” Board President Debbie Bowden said. “We also want to raise funds to support meaningful activities that positively impact participants’ lives.” (Ms. Bowden is the Publisher/Editor of Caroline Review and carolinereview.com).
According to the Health Department website, “Program fees do not cover all of the special events and activities our program participants love. We are lucky to have the support of a charitable foundation created specifically to support the Medical Adult Day Care program.”
The Foundation accepts donations, which are tax-deductible.
The Day Care program has the capacity for 34 individuals in “a safe, supportive environment for those who need extra support and care during the day,” according to the program brochure. Program hours are 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, and transportation is available.
For more information about the Foundation, and services and enrollment in Caroline County Medical Adult Day Care, please call 410-479-8065 between 8 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., email CarolineMedical.AdultDayCare@maryland.gov, or visit www.carolinehd.org/MADC.
