It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Clara Barton National Historic Site gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Glen Echo, MD is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“ABC was so helpful, professional and easy to work with when I needed help caring”
“Always Best Care is a wonderful place to work. The staff are kind, thoughtful and”
“Always Best Care has provided my mother and our family with wonderful care and support”
“I highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Services in assisting with your search for quality”
“My 97 year old husband on Hospice was cared for by his namesake, another Benjamin”
“This is a follow up about my Mom who is 87 years old recovering”
“We have been using this service for over a year for 24/7 care for my”
“I've had such great experience working with everyone at Always Best Care. They're all amazing”
“I can't say enough about the professionalism and the general overall caring from the top”
“Needed a caregiver for my dad during my son's wedding and we were put in”
“My grandmother needed to go to a skilled nursing facility from the hospital. She was”
“Expert and professional care provided for my loved one.”
“We were very pleased with Always Best Care (ABC). We used ABC following a major”
“We used ABCSS for my Dad. When Mom needed similar care, they were the first”
“At a time when you need help the most. When you don't know what to”
“competent csring staff. always reliable.in Over six months of daily care, there was only one”
“My mother received services from ABC for about 2 years. I reached out to Robin”
“Awesome staff and care givers!!”
“Always Best Care is what their name says -- always the best. We used them for a”
“Great company, great staff, great care.”
“Always Best Care of Mid-Montgomery County lives up to its name! For over 2 years,”
“I am a past client of this provider Always Best Care is what their namesays --”
“I am a current client of this provider Our current caregiver is great. Whenever there has been”
“Always Best Care of Mid-Montgomery County lives up to its name! For over 2 years,”
“I moved my parents, who have dementia, from a large retirement community to a group”
“ABC was so helpful, professional and easy to work with when I needed help caring for my mom. I highly recommend”
“Always Best Care is a wonderful place to work. The staff are kind, thoughtful and the quality of service is above and beyond the norm. I am grateful to have joined such a prestigious organization of women that care about the people and employees they serve. It is extremely rare to find the level of expertise and professionalism that ABC possesses, anywhere else in this industry.”
“Always Best Care has provided my mother and our family with wonderful care and support from her stay in sub acute rehab to assisted living over several years. We have been fortunate to have the same caregiver for the last year and she has been beyond stellar! All other caregivers were always above average. Just an outstanding group of very compassionate and kind people from the office to the caregivers. Our family HIGHLY recommends Always Best Care!”
“I highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Services in assisting with your search for quality care for your loved one. I worked with Dena to find a suitable facility that could care for my mother in her condition. They are very knowledgeable as it pertains to the senior care industry, which is overwhelming to those with no experience with this industry. The overall process was very thorough and I felt that worked diligently to find the best type of facility that would suit my mother's needs.”
“My 97 year old husband on Hospice was cared for by his namesake, another Benjamin who was with him daily from 8AM to 8PM. Not only did Benjamin help me survive (I am almost 97 too), but he was so kind, gentle and careful about all that he did. When my husband saw him in the morning, he actually managed a tiny smile. In addition to direct care for his patient, he washed dishes, dusted and vacuumed!! There were also two night shift aides, Emanuel and Bismarck. Each came only once but they were equally competent. Without Robin Henoch and ABC? I don't even want to think about it.”
“This is a follow up about my Mom who is 87 years old recovering from a hip fracture and numerous complications related to being under medicated and over medicated at various inpatient facilities. The 24 hour care team at Always Best Care Rockville has kept us going and cared for my Mom as if they would their own Mom over the past 9 weeks. This team includes outstanding and heroic Day shift care by Suzanne, Roseline and Dorothy and Night shift care by Afua, Ellen, Hawa. An extra 10 star commendation goes to Roseline and Dorothy who spoke up about concerns they had to their nurse managers that resulted in a discovery that my Mom was being overmedicated during day time hours and undermedicated at night. 10 star commendation also go to Ndey Care Coordinator in the office who is always calm, caring and helpful no matter what craziness is going on! Thank you all! This is the highest calling to provide personalized, deeply compassionate care to those who are sick and vulnerable!”
“We have been using this service for over a year for 24/7 care for my 87 year old mother with dementia. A few of the caregivers have been with her over a year. Raheema her weekend, daytime caregiver treats her like family. She is so kind & an advocate for her care. Mom loves Fridays when Vera comes because not only does she take good care of her above & beyond such as putting curlers in her hair & taking her around the block, but she also has lots of energy & jokes around with her which she loves. Ami takes care of Mom a few overnights each week & she is kind, gentle, compassionate & professional. In the office, Ashley spent an extraordinary amount of time with me at the beginning & was friendly & professional & caring. Esther really listens to my concerns & addresses them. I would highly recommend their service.”
“I've had such great experience working with everyone at Always Best Care. They're all amazing and hard working people.”
“I can't say enough about the professionalism and the general overall caring from the top down to my 92 year old mother's care giver Diana. Not only does my mother adore her, her friends say how great Diana is and lastly the facility called me yesterday to say how great Diana is working with my mother. 5 Stars is not enough....”
“Needed a caregiver for my dad during my son's wedding and we were put in touch with Always Best. They did a tremendous job through the whole process including scheduling and making sure our needs were met. The event day caregiver was Sam and he was so great to my dad. On time, friendly, always smiling and ensuing my dad was comfortable at all times. Would use them again for sure”
“My grandmother needed to go to a skilled nursing facility from the hospital. She was scared and we wanted to ensure that she was well taken care of, so we arranged for caregivers there. She went home with 24 hour care. ABC made that process so easy and they were so kind. My grandmother found her caregivers to be dependable, courteous, helpful, compassionate and punctual. She wanted to personally thank Anne Marie Njang, Celestina, and Akosua Atta for being there for her.”
“Expert and professional care provided for my loved one.”
“We were very pleased with Always Best Care (ABC). We used ABC following a major surgery. We needed a CNA for various types of assistance for two people with limited mobility. Our original plan for help, with a different agency, fell apart early in my recovery. ABC had an excellent replacement in our home within 24 hours. The woman who provided most of our care was very good. Based on both responsiveness and quality, we would call ABC first if we need in home care in the future.”
“We used ABCSS for my Dad. When Mom needed similar care, they were the first we called. The need happened very quickly and ABCSS was able to find us a 24/7 sitter for the first night when we called them. They provide caregivers who indeed care about those they serve. Robin and Ashley (owners) are very attentive to our needs and are always looking for ways they can make things easier for us while caring for our loved ones. Highly recommend.”
“At a time when you need help the most. When you don't know what to expect next, other the expectation to be overwhelmed, Always Best Care was a great choice for help when I needed it the most in caring for my elder Father. I was out of my element and really didn't know what to do to properly care for my Father - but Always Best Care knew exactly what to do. When we first contacted Robin she responded immediately, met with us very quickly and was ready to go with as much staffing & care that we needed on Day 1. The caregivers were all experienced and personable, and genuinely nice people. When the time came that we had to shift to Hospice care, the staff already knew what to do with regard to interacting with the Hospice staff. And when the time came that my Father passed away they made sure we were notified immediately and remained with my Father until we arrived. I couldn't have asked for a level of service beyond what we received and I thank Robin and her staff for helping my Father and our family during his final weeks of life so that we could make him as comfortable as possible.”
“competent csring staff. always reliable.in Over six months of daily care, there was only one incident when weather prevented anyone from coming”
“My mother received services from ABC for about 2 years. I reached out to Robin (head of the agency) because Mom was struggling with her memory and other symptoms of dementia. Always Best Care has wonderful caregivers and the staff was always available, kind, hard working and helpful. This refers to not only the caregivers, but their staff of nurses, doctors, receptionists, everyone. I could (and did) call day or in the middle of the night, and someone was always available to help me with my mom's issues. The caregivers were prompt, professional, hard working and really patient and kind. My mom passed away last month with Advanced Alzheimer's disease. I feel good really about the final years of my mom's life, at home with all she loved most, and that includes all that Always Best Care has to offer.”
“Awesome staff and care givers!!”
“Always Best Care is what their name says -- always the best. We used them for a few family members and couldn't have been more pleased. Finding quality care for those you love can be overwhelming and unsettling. Through Robin, Blake and their excellent caregivers, we found not only the high quality care we sought but complete peace of mind. It was clear from the very beginning that they place the needs of their clients and clients' families above all else. They work hard to find the best match for your particular situation, communicate extremely well, and are always ready to help however they can. In short, they are outstanding partners in the care of your loved ones, and I personally am extremely grateful for the care Robin, Blake, and Marie provided my parents. We are fortunate to have found Always Best Care and recommend them enthusiastically and without reservation.”
“Great company, great staff, great care.”
“Always Best Care of Mid-Montgomery County lives up to its name! For over 2 years, our experience was responsive, professional, flexible and involved management and kind, caring, attentive, and utterly reliable caregivers. I highly recommend this senior care firm.”
“I am a past client of this provider Always Best Care is what their namesays -- always the best.We used them for a few family members and couldn't have been more pleased. Finding quality care for those you love can be overwhelming and unsettling. Through Robin, Blake and their excellent caregivers, we found not only the high quality care we sought but completepeace of mind. It was clear from the very beginning that they place the needs of their clients and clients' families above all else. They work hard to find the best match for your particular situation, communicate extremely well, and are always ready to help however they can. In short, they are outstanding partners in the care of your loved ones, and I personally am extremely grateful for thecare Robin, Blake, and Marie provided my parents.We are fortunate to have found Always Best Care and recommend them enthusiastically and without reservation.”
“I am a current client of this provider Our current caregiver is great. Whenever there has been an issue or concern about my parents’ care, Always Best Care has responded immediately and effectively.”
“Always Best Care of Mid-Montgomery County lives up to its name! For over 2 years, our experience was responsive, professional, flexible and involved management and kind, caring, attentive, and utterly reliable caregivers. I highly recommend this senior care firm.”
“I moved my parents, who have dementia, from a large retirement community to a group home. When I realized that the group home did not provide proper care for them, which resulted in both parents coming down with urinary tract infections simultaneously, 2 times in three weeks, I knew they needed to move. My father’s dementia had also escalated significantly and he became fearful of the caregivers, who had no prior experience caring for someone with advanced Alzheimer’s symptoms and their approach was not appropriate. ABC came to my rescue and immediately provided a wonderful male caregiver for my father from 4-8 PM, seven days a week, while she conducted a search to find the right place for my parents to move. She took into consideration our family’s financial limitations as well. Within a short period of time, we were able to move them to their current location where they are getting wonderful care, delicious food and ongoing bus excursions every other week! My father is no longer fearful of the caregivers and my mother is very content, as well. They have had no further urinary tract problems. ABC solved 2 challenges for me: 1) they immediately found the right caregiver for my father and 2) found the perfect location for my parents to be cared for properly. Daughter of E & F Silver Spring, MD”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Glen Echo Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Irish Inn At Glen Echo or visit Glen Echo Park Aquarium, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
Request More Information
While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Glen Echo, MD, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Glen Echo, MD understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Glen Echo, MD 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
The Back Room at Glen Echo is one of the Park’s smaller spaces. Tucked in a corner of the campus behind the Spanish Ballroom the Back Room’s wood floors are more used to hosting social dance events than Modern Dance performances (Thursday night Blues or Salsa night every third Friday.) However it was an ideal venue for “Crossing Boundaries” featuring choreog...
The Back Room at Glen Echo is one of the Park’s smaller spaces. Tucked in a corner of the campus behind the Spanish Ballroom the Back Room’s wood floors are more used to hosting social dance events than Modern Dance performances (Thursday night Blues or Salsa night every third Friday.) However it was an ideal venue for “Crossing Boundaries” featuring choreography from Sylvana Christopher, Stacey Yvonne Claytor, Katie Sopoci Drake, Kyoko Fujimoto, Keira Hart, and Malcolm Shute. With children sitting on mats in the front and adults filling the folding chairs and stools around the perimeter, the space was at capacity but no one was more than a few feet away from the performers.
…a delightful performance…
“Cross Dissolve,” a premier from UpRooted Dance choreographed by Hart, opened the evening. It began with simple walking patterns, but quickly morphed into more complicated group phrases. Half a dozen dancers in white tops and angular blue and black pants rolled and rippled across the floor to the repetitive ambience of a Steve Reich score.
“Cross Dissolve” was followed by “Curtains in the Wind,” the first of two works from choreographers, performers, and long-time collaborators behind Human Landscape Dance, Malcomb Shute and Katie Sopoci Drake. “Curtains in the Wind” seemed to exist in tension between two experiences. On one hand, Drake and Shute created an ethereal, almost eldritch plane of slow and suspended movement—unfurling their arms like wings to grasp hands behind their backs, and supporting each other through weightless lifts as if one of them was floating on the surface of a lake. This was in contrast to what happened as they separated and the movement became motivated by gravity. Effortless floating was replaced with intentionally heavy and loud falls to the floor, as the choreographic space Drake and Shute had created came crashing into the physical reality of the ground, buffeting their bodies. I felt the impact through my chair. The second work from Drake and Shute, “Winterbranch,” a premier which appeared in Act II, lived in a similar atmospheric vocabulary. Now the falls were silent and seemed to skim the surface of the floor instead of slamming into it as the lines slowly crumpled, rather than collapsing completely. “Winterbranch” also brought one of the best still images of the evening, with Drake spiraling in on herself into a ball and Shute unfurling into a high counterpointed shape as the work ended.
Companies SylviDances, the Claytor Company, and choreographer Kyoko Fujimoto each brought two works to the program as well. Claytor Company’s “Anemone,” with choreography by Shute, closed the first act. With nine dancers (the evening’s largest cast) in flowing white, “Anemone” was more textural than phrase driven. It’s gossamer but submarine quality was almost trance-like. “Cascade: An Excerpt from Healing Waters” with choreography by company founder, Stacey Yvonne Claytor, was more gymnastic, and came with some of my favorite costumes. It began with the corps in liquid phrases over the sound of bubbling water. Their printed tops seemed white, washed out under the cool blue lights. A single soloist in blue entered. Over the course of the solo the light shifted from a cool blue to a warm amber, and as the corps reentered their costumes were revealed as a brilliant turquoise.
Sylvana Christopher’s SylviDances brought the evening’s other large group works “The Back Story” and “Spare.” “The Back Story” was an idiosyncratic look into the inner lives of familiar characters from the 100-acre wood. Abstracted versions of the animal characters pranced back and forth in headbands with floppy ears. Set to Stravinsky’s “The Soldiers Tale,” the childhood characters seemed to be driven by more adult anxieties.
Kyoko Fujimoto’s work on the first act, “Hisha” was a dramatization of the inner conflict that takes place during a game of Shogi, a Japanese, chess-like, two-player strategy game. Although it was perhaps overly literal in its treatment of the subject matter as the dancers mimed a game board punctuating their play with dramatic poses, it was an excellent showcase of dancers Nozomi Nishitani and Drew Scammell’s technical ability. Fujimoto’s second work, “Joho Kata?” also performed by Nishitani and Scammell, closed the evening and was an equally technical statement. I overheard several of the other performers gushing about how athletic it had been. Although this was not a premier for “Joho Kata?” this is the first time the work has been performed as a duet. It was previously performed in New York and Kyoto as a solo.
“Crossing Boundaries” was a delightful performance, and I hope The Back Room at Glen Echo finds the time to program more shows like this.
Running Time: Approximately one hour 30 minutes with one 10-minute intermission.
“Crossing Boundaries: Dances of Transition” ran July 25-26, 2025 in The Back Room of the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park 7300 Macarthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD 20812. For more information and to purchase tickets for future events, please go online.
Glen Echo Park in Montgomery County, Maryland was first developed as a National Chautauqua Assembly. Their focus was on adult education and culture especially in more rural areas.Glen Echo Park began in 1891 as a National Chautauqua Assembly, offering lectures and classes in science, art, literature, and languages. Although the Chautauqua lasted only one season, the site quickly transformed. By the early 1900s, it had become Glen Echo Amuseme...
Glen Echo Park in Montgomery County, Maryland was first developed as a National Chautauqua Assembly. Their focus was on adult education and culture especially in more rural areas.
Glen Echo Park began in 1891 as a National Chautauqua Assembly, offering lectures and classes in science, art, literature, and languages. Although the Chautauqua lasted only one season, the site quickly transformed. By the early 1900s, it had become Glen Echo Amusement Park—the Washington, D.C. area’s premier amusement destination until its closure in 1968.
During World War II, the park’s iconic Spanish Ballroom hosted performances by some of the nation’s top swing bands. In the early 1960s, the park’s historic carousel became a symbolic site during the civil rights movement, playing a role in local desegregation efforts.
In 1971, after the federal government acquired the land, the National Park Service began overseeing the site, reviving its original educational and cultural spirit through partnerships with artists and arts organizations. Today, Glen Echo Park is managed by the nonprofit Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture, Inc. on behalf of Montgomery County, Maryland. The park continues to thrive as a center for the arts and community engagement.
In 2002, management of Glen Echo Park was transferred from the National Park Service to Montgomery County, which established the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture. The National Park Service continues to manage the park grounds and provide historical interpretation.
From 2003 to 2010, the park underwent extensive renovations. Some of the restorations included key structures like the Spanish Ballroom, Dentzel Carousel, Puppet Co. Playhouse, Arcade Building, Yellow Barn, Adventure Theatre, Candy Corner, Chautauqua Tower, Ballroom Annex, and the Caretaker’s Cottage.
Today, Glen Echo Park is a hub for the arts, a beautifully restored carousel, and a wide variety of visual and performing arts classes.
If you would like your county featured in Fun Facts, please get in touch with Amanda Grosskrueger at agrosskrueger@mdcounties.org.
Maryland’s behavioral health system for youth is under strain; families face long wait times, provider shortages, and fragmented care. A new roadmap from the Maryland Department of Health aims to tackle these challenges head-on with targeted strategies and statewide collaboration.
In a Maryland Department of Health (MDH) press release, the Department released a new roadmap aimed at strengthening the state’s behavioral health system for children, youth, and families. Developed in partnership with the Maryland Coalition of Families and Manatt Health, the plan outlines key strategies to improve access to care, expand the behavioral health workforce, and better coordinate services across systems.
The roadmap comes in response to growing concern over gaps in behavioral health services for young Marylanders and their families, particularly those with complex needs. It identifies five priority areas: workforce and provider capacity, crisis services, care coordination, youth-specific needs, and family support.
From the press release:
Developed with input from families through focus groups and public engagement, this roadmap serves as a practical, data-driven guide to creating a more accessible, equitable, and sustainable public behavioral health system for children, youth, and families in Maryland, said Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health Alyssa Lord.
The call for reform is driven by alarming data:
The plan recognizes the importance of tailoring solutions to community needs and aligning state and local efforts.
301.263.6982
