Rehabilitation Center
"Whether treating young patients recovering from a post fracture or sports injury, or older adults recovering from surgery or an illness, rehabilitation therapy is a proven treatment discipline that has tremendous impact on pain reduction, functional mobility and quality of life for patients," noted Hector Giancarlo, M.D., Founder of The Allendale Community. "Right from the start, we wanted to develop the Center as a resource for our residents and for the greater Bergen County community," he explained.
The Center offers groundbreaking treatment modalities in the areas of occupational, physical, speech, respiratory, recreational, cognitive/psychological, and social services," Dr. Giancarlo said. "Staying at the forefront of therapeutic practices ensures that our patients successfully transition from the hospital back to their home."
The process is not always easy for patients according to Dr. Shakeel Qazi, the Executive Director of The Rehabilitation Center, but the hard work pays off. "When people are discharged from the hospital, they often need a variety of rehabilitation services to restore their functional mobility before they can safely return home. We offer our patients programs tailored to their individual needs to allow them to focus on restoring their health while maximizing their confidence and independence."
The Rehabilitation Center helps to ensure this independence by having patients practice activities of daily living within the Center's home-style kitchen and laundry room. Its unique services also include a site visit and evaluation of the patient's home prior to discharge. "This assessment helps to identify areas that may require adjustments, such as bringing in adaptive equipment, adding a side rail at stairs or removing small carpets that can pose a fall risk," Dr. Qazi explained.
Kathleen Bedeau-Francis, Occupational Therapist and Supervisor of the Rehabilitation Center, said: "Depending on the injury or illness, patients may stay at the center for as little as two weeks or up to several months. They benefit from the residential options we have at the community as well to work on the skills they'll need at home." The Allendale Community includes individual apartments offering assisted living services.
Multi-Disciplinary Teams Provide Comprehensive Treatment
In addition to certified and licensed speech, occupational and physical therapists, the health teams at the Rehabilitation Center include social workers, dietitians, certified nurse aides, recreation therapy professionals and a patient-care ombudsman, all supervised by registered nurses. The multi-disciplinary teams develop individual care programs in collaboration with the patient's personal physician and family members.
Sheila Moussignac, RN, Director of Nursing, explained that the Center's programs also play an important role in reducing re-hospitalization rates. "Our patients have had a variety of acute illnesses, injuries or surgery, and after leaving the hospital, they may require additional therapies to avoid complications that can result in a return to the hospital."
The Center's large rooms feature cable TV, telephone service and individualized climate controls. Community spaces include a dining room, hotel-like entrance lobby, attractive seating areas and indoor plantings. Upscale private rooms are also available with plush wall coverings, carpeting and wood flooring.
According to Emily Brown, Activities Director of The Allendale Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center at The Allendale Community, social and recreational programs balance the patients' scheduled rehabilitation sessions. "Our recreational programs offer opportunities to socialize with residents and staff in many different ways. That's part of the recovery process as well."
The Allendale Community is Medicare-certified and approved by the State of New Jersey as a continuing care provider, developed in stages since 1967.
PHOTO CAPTION: The Allendale Community opened a full-service Rehabilitation Center in 2006, and as it marks its fifth anniversary, the Center continues to expand the therapies offered to its diverse patient population. (L-R) Bertha DeBenedetto benefits from a recent therapy session with Janet Hansen, a physical therapist at the Rehabilitation Center.
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About The Allendale Community for Mature Living: The Allendale Community for Mature Living is located on 12 acres in a scenic, quiet suburban neighborhood, with direct access to Route 17 South. The physician-owned Community offers three levels of residency and a continuum of care on campus: The Atrium, where independent seniors enjoy residential living; Carlton Court, which offers assisted living; and The Allendale Nursing Home & Rehabilitation Center, a skilled nursing facility focusing on rehabilitation. In addition, the Community offers the Senior Social Club, an adult day program that provides a variety of dynamic activities. For more information about The Allendale Community for Mature Living, call (201) 825-0660 or visit its web site at www.allendalecommunity.com.
Photo:
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