The seniors at DayBreak Senior Care recently visited the Nature Center at the Gulf State Park where participants and volunteers were treated to a great picnic lunch while overlooking the park. After lunch they enjoyed a guided tour of the Center conducted by Kelly Reetz, Park Naturalist. Everybody had a great time as they learned about our region’s wildlife. Pictured here, Kelly is introducing everyone to the Center’s resident Screech owl. Seated on the front row, from the left, are Sharon Mercke, Jean Cocker, Velma Tuttle, Blan Blankenship, Carol Hines and Marianne Hawkins. In the back row are Terry Fowinkle, founder of DayBreak and our BRATS van driver Kathy.

DayBreak Senior Care provides a secure, loving environment where individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia are encouraged to participate in playing games, art and craft projects, music, mild exercising and social interaction. The senior daycare provides participants’ fulltime caregiver with short term relief from the unrelenting demands of caregiving duties while knowing that their loved ones will be active in a caring environment.

DayBreak is a community outreach mission, serving lower Baldwin County and is taking applications at this time. Participants must be pre-registered. The program is not designed to provide medical or counseling services but to provide support for the caregivers and their loved ones. It is offered every Monday and Wednesday from 10 am to 2 pm and is located in Room 109 at the South Campus of Gulf Shores United Methodist Church. Cost is $20 per visit and includes a hot lunch. For information on DayBreak Senior Care please contact Marianne Hawkins at 251-752-1849 (jhhmsh@gulftel.com) or Amelia Fletcher at 251-968-2549 (amelia@gulfshoresumc.org).