Dear Seniors,
As we welcome November and enter this season of gratitude, I find myself reflecting on just how much we have to be thankful for. Above all, I want to thank our incredible DC seniors for making this another wonderful year.
From exciting programs and memorable celebrations to the friendships and fellowship shared across all eight wards, this year has given us so many reasons to be grateful. Your energy, wisdom, and enthusiasm continue to inspire the work we do every day at the Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL).
This season also reminds us to cherish the people and moments that matter most. We give thanks for the loved ones still with us and honor the memories of those we have loved and lost. We are grateful for another day and the opportunity to make memories together. Sometimes, our greatest gifts are not the things we receive, but the love and time we share.
November is also National Family Caregivers Month, a time to recognize the extraordinary individuals who dedicate their lives to caring for others. This year’s theme, “Care Connects Us,” reflects our mission at DACL. Care connects families, strengthens communities, and reminds us that no one should have to navigate life’s challenges alone.
The truth is, whether we realize it or not, many of us are caregivers in some capacity. Whether caring for a spouse, raising a child, supporting an aging parent, or checking in on a neighbor, caregiving comes in many forms.
I know this personally. As a mother to a young son and someone who helps care for my father, a disabled Gulf War veteran, and my 99-year-old grandmother here in the District, I understand both the joy and responsibility that come with caregiving. It is an act of love that my family and I share, but it also requires patience, sacrifice, and support.
That is why supporting caregivers remains central to our mission at DACL. Through our grantee Home Care Partners, we offer residents access to the DC Caregivers’ Institute, which connects caregivers with essential resources, including case management, respite care, assistance with caregiving expenses, support groups, and more. If you are caring for a loved one and need additional support, please call 202-464-1513 to learn more about available services.
We also recognize that caregiving extends to those supporting loved ones in nursing homes or rehabilitation facilities who wish to return home. Through DACL’s Community Transition Program, we provide guidance, assessments, and coordination of home and community-based services, working with facilities across DC, Maryland, and Virginia to help individuals transition safely back into their communities. The program also connects families with resources and information to help them navigate long-term care options and plan for the future. For more information on DACL’s Community Transition Program, please contact us at 202-724-5626.
To every caregiver across our city, thank you. Thank you for showing up, even on the difficult days. Thank you for the sacrifices that often go unseen and the love you give without expecting anything in return. I salute you, and I celebrate you.
I also want to congratulate our Ms. District of Columbia Senior America 2026, Queen Betty Entzminger, on bringing home the Best Talent Award at this year’s Ms. Senior America Pageant! You have made our city proud and continue to show us what it means to live boldly at every age.
As Thanksgiving approaches, I hope you find moments to reflect, reconnect, and celebrate the blessings around you. On behalf of the entire DACL team, thank you for allowing us to be part of your lives.
Wishing you and your loved ones a warm, peaceful, and Happy Thanksgiving!
With gratitude,
Charon P.W. Hines
Director
DC Department of Aging and Community Living
