The Day-Break Club of The Villages provides a supervised location where caregivers can leave loved ones who have special needs for a few hours each week, giving them a break from the constant 24-hour care required.
Members of the club receiving services are Day-Breakers.
The mission of the club is to ensure that residents of The Villages with special needs, and their caregivers, have equal opportunities to participate in supervised recreation activities and live The Villages Lifestyle. All Day-Breakers are Villages residents.
This week’s meeting was very special as it was their annual prom.
The Day-Breakers and their caregivers, totaling around 65, began arriving around 1 p.m., some ladies wearing poodle skirts, and men dressed like they were back in the 1950’s, at the Odell Recreation Center for the 4th Annual Senior Prom of The Day-Break Club of The Villages. The theme this year was Swinging Fifties. The musical entertainment was the group called “Forever Young” who donated their time to the club.
Club President Don Broughton, and Club Activities Director Sandra Ricciardi, greeted everyone at the door.
It was all smiles at the opening, with a photo opportunity for each Day-Breaker and caregiver. After photos, they all went to their assigned tables.
Then the time came for crowning this year’s Prom King and Queen. Ricciardi went to the microphone and announced she had the names of this year’s winners. You could hear a pin drop as the Day-Breakers waited for the announcement.
“The Prom Queen for 2016 is Jessica Fitzpatrick,” Ricciardi announced.
Jessica went to the middle of the dance floor and was all smiles as the crown was placed on her head.
“The Prom King for 2016 is Leo Larouchelle,” Ricciardo told the excited crowd.
Jessica and Leo then marched around the dance floor showing off their honors.
Linda Johnston was the 2015 prom queen.
“I have my crown proudly displayed on my shelf. I look at it all the time. I was so excited when I got it. My prom King was Tony Fazio,” she said.
For the rest of the afternoon the band played, and many of the Day-Breakers, and their caretakers, took this time to dance and socialize.
When Ricciardi moved to The Villages she realized there was no place in The Villages for caretakers to take their loved ones so they could get a break from the constant 24-hour care.
In 2013, Ricciardi, and others, formed the current Day-Break Club of The Villages. The club meets every Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the Odell Recreation Center.
One volunteer, Linda Swafford, has a special place in her heart for the club.
“I probably enjoy this as much as all the participants,” she said. Her husband was a Day-Breaker for two years.
“My husband had Alzheimer’s for eight years, and passed away last year. I really feel like I belong here,” she said.
Richard Stack’s wife was also a Day-Breaker before she recently passed away.
Within two months Stack was back volunteering.
The club really needs volunteers during the summer months when many of their regulars head north.
If you are looking for a place to volunteer some of your time this may be the place.