Serving Seniors
Melanie J. Davis is executive director of Holly Place.
At Holly Place, local seniors bridge the gap between independent living and fulltime care
By Laura Forrest Hopfauf
The senior population of Hagerstown has grown by more than 20 percent during the last two decades, a shift that is placing new demands on the city’s social fabric. As this demographic continues to expand, there is an increasing need for a more robust network of financially accessible assisted living options for seniors not yet in need of a nursing home but increasingly unable to live on their own.
Since 1988, Holly Place has served as a vital safety net for seniors who might otherwise be overlooked by traditional support systems. Managed by Senior Living Alternatives, this non-profit sanctuary offers an affordable bridge for low-income residents in the delicate transition between independent living and full-time institutional care. By tailoring fees to individual income, Holly Place provides more than just a roof; it offers a dignified, comfortable lifestyle and a secure home in the heart of downtown for those with few or perhaps no other options.
“The mission of Senior Living Alternatives, Inc. (SLA) and Holly Place is to provide affordable housing and supportive services in an environment that promotes independence and dignity,” says Melanie J. Davis, executive director of SLA and Holly Place.
A true non-profit, Holly Place, licensed by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, was facilitated by the State of Maryland, the Washington County commissioners, the Homeowners Foundation Fund, and private citizens and is led by a private board of directors. Donations fund Holly Place along with several fundraisers and a matching grant campaign that happens several times a year. Every dollar that is given helps keep Holly Place open and thriving.
“Holly Place was one of two pilot programs in the State of Maryland. Today Holly Place is the only facility that takes everyone for what they can afford to pay based on their income,” says Davis. “It hasn’t been easy. Over the years funding has been cut and changed…so we rely heavily on donations to keep our doors open.”
Holly Place is a warm environment on South Potomac Street that strives to be as home-like as possible for its residents. Home cooked meals are provided daily and served in a common dining area. Activities such as bingo, music, word games, and spiritual get-togethers are regular occurrences. Several local churches invite residents to luncheons and provide meals. In-house services are provided as is transportation to medical appointments in Washington County.
With 15 residents, everyone is seen and taken care of daily. Relationships are formed among the small group and a sense of family is created at a time when such interaction is desperately needed for many of the residents.
“Holly Place has become home to many people over the years, and we try to keep it as home-like as possible,” Davis says. “We provide our residents with a clean, well-kept home-like haven. We provide them with three nutritious meals every day; assist with their bathing needs, transport them to doctor appointments, do their laundry and most importantly, provide them with love and support in their late years. We give them comfort when they cry to go home and there is no home to go to. We try to give them a sense of family and belonging; a sense of self-worth.”
“The mission of Senior Living Alternatives, Inc. (SLA) and Holly Place is to provide affordable housing and supportive services in an environment that promotes independence and dignity.” —Melanie J. Davis
In our community, Holly Place stands as a beacon for what can be accomplished and who can be cared for when we work together to take care of each other. Over the years, Holly Place has cared for more than 200 people who have suffered from everything from broken hips to strokes to Alzheimer’s to diabetes that would have nowhere to go without its open doors and welcoming hearts.
“We always have a waiting list due to the fact that we take people based on their income. Without Holly Place people with low-income cannot afford to go to the higher cost assisted living homes. They cannot afford to have someone stay with them, yet they do not qualify for nursing home care, which puts these people in quite a dangerous position,” Davis says.
Holly Place provides a sanctuary for these residents that extends beyond just a safe place to stay. They strive to provide love, grace, and community at a time of extreme vulnerability for their residents. A simple smile, a touch, or a gentle helping hand builds bridges that let their residents feel welcome during what may be the most difficult time in their lives. Holly Place actively works to make the world a more beautiful place through the work its staff does day-in and day-out for nothing more than the smiles that their residents give them.
Davis says, “Holly Place is one of the most home-like facilities in the state and although we struggle financially to keep our doors open, we treat all of our residents like family. We serve good home-cooked meals, and most of all we treat everyone with respect and dignity.”