(Courtesy of The Jewish Home) The Jewish Home Family of New Jersey has won the prestigious Award for Excellence in Program Innovation from the American Public Health Association for its Parkinson’s Center. The center has gained national renown in just two years since it was established to serve those living with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease, their loved ones and caregivers.
Past winners of the award, co-awarded by the Archstone Foundation, include the Age-Friendly New York City initiative, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Alzheimer’s Association.
“We created this program because we saw a need among our residents and community and it has grown significantly in the two years since it began,” says Jewish Home Family President and CEO Carol Silver Elliott. “Whether it is our support groups, innovative therapies, Rock Steady Boxing or Parkinson’s Day Program, we intend to continue leading the way in helping those living with Parkinson’s succeed in living rich, meaningful lives while collaborating with partners like The Michael J. Fox Foundation to promote research and education in the hope that we will one day be able to find a cure for the debilitating disease.”
More than 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s disease and approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed every year. The Jewish Home’s Parkinson’s initiative involved retraining 300+ staff members, launching support groups, training coaches for specialized Parkinson’s boxing programming, connecting hundreds to research possibilities and partnering with local institutions like Englewood Health on well-attended symposia.
“The Michael J. Fox Foundation is thrilled to be collaborating with the Jewish Home Family to bring information and tools to the community to better navigate how to live with Parkinson’s disease and to be able to get more involved in clinical research for Parkinson’s disease,” says Vanessa Arnedo, director of research partnerships at The Michael J. Fox Foundation.
“It’s very encouraging to see that the medical community knows about this place,” says Pauline Kraft, who participated in Rock Steady Boxing classes at Jewish Home Assisted Living in River Vale, New Jersey. “This place is amazing. It really is.”
The outcomes are promising. Assessments of those participating in the Rock Stead Boxing program have seen 85 percent either improve or maintain their physical and cognitive abilities, and the award from the American Public Health Association is opening doors to help facilities across America better serve the community of individuals living with Parkinson’s.
The Jewish Home Family is part of a national association of elder-care nonprofits called LeadingAge. “LeadingAge is not at all surprised that APHA and the Archstone Foundation have selected the Jewish Home Family to receive this prestigious award,” said LeadingAge President and CEO Katie Smith Sloan. “Innovative programming is what sets our nonprofit members apart and the Jewish Home Family is exemplary in this regard. We are thrilled for Carol and her team and commend their continued efforts at serving older adults with dignity and respect.”
For more information on the Jewish Home Family’s Parkinson’s program, visit JewishHomeFamily.org/parkinsons.�
