Your Name: Chelsea and James Kleve

Ages: 36 and 38

Business Name: Glory Days senior day program

Town/Neighborhood: Mesa

Hours of operation: 12:30-4:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Professional background highlights: James is a U.S. Navy veteran and Chelsea has a degree in health care administration with 20-plus years working in the senior industry.

What we do: Glory Days is a nonprofit organization that provides a social/recreational daycare program for seniors with memory loss and other age related concerns. Glory Days aims to offer an affordable solution to caring for loved ones. We hope to improve our members’ quality of life through a safe and engaging creative environment while providing a time of rest for care partners. We create a space where our members can socialize and maintain their well-being through stimulating activities and friendships.

Changes I’d like to see in this area: Arizona has an ever growing senior population. This has put high need/demand for caregivers, thus increasing the cost of support services. The change we hope to see, and be, is more affordable resources for caring for seniors.

What makes us different: At Glory Days we focus on each participant’s individual interest. Our team works closely with the members and their families to bring a thoughtful program to be excited about. We pride ourselves on making each activity fun and exciting to create an ideal environment for seniors, ensuring our members receive compassionate care. We want to not only rekindle old interests but also spark new ones. We think creatively to bring innovative ideas and activities to our program.

What I’m excited about and why: We are excited about our growth in just one year. Glory Days has developed into this beautiful group of staff, volunteers and members that come together to have fun. It has escalated into something more than we could have dreamed up and is a truly special place.

How to get involved: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit we rely on the generous support of our community to keep our programs going as an affordable resource. This is all made possibly through volunteers and charitable contributions.

Future goals: We have big dreams! We want to be able to scholarship those in need as well as have our own community center some day.

When and why we started: Prior to starting Glory Days, Chelsea worked in hospice. She saw way too often isolation and loneliness in the individual as well as caregiver burnout in families. Resources that help with relief were usually too costly, especially when on a fixed income. That is why Chelsea and her husband started Glory Days. It was born to provide a solution to this commonly seen scenario. Glory Days Program is dedicated to bring joy to members and build friendships with their peer participants and offer a support system for members’ families by providing a break in giving care.

Interests & hobbies: Both Jim and Chelsea enjoy hiking, fishing, kayaking and spending time with their dog, Olive.

My guiding philosophy: Always do what is good and good things will happen.

My advice to today’s youth: Listen to your elders. They have so much useful wisdom.

How can people contact you? Email: Chelsea@glory-days.org; phone: 480-999-0424; website: glory-days.org; and Facebook: @glorydayscare