Alzheimer’s & Dementia
New Community Extended Care offers enhanced services specifically geared towards residents with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. As part of the comprehensive care provided at New Community Extended Care, our caregivers received specialized training on how to care for residents facing diminished memory and cognitive functioning. We also hold onsite monthly Alzheimer’s Support Group meetings designed for caregivers to connect with each other and our staff.
New Community Extended Care Facility offers services and special training for care coordinators at the New Community Senior buildings, all health care staff, hospital social workers and all individuals that give direct care to elderly and/or cognitively challenged individuals. The training is specifically designed for proper identification of the symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
At New Community Extended Care Facility, Facility Administrator Veronica Onwunaka works collaboratively with Rev. Sr. Ejim, an adjunct professor of psychology at Essex County College. Both are Certified National/International Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia Care Practitioners. Together they teach the staff at New Community and other clinical facilities to identify the broad classifications of the brain diseases that lead to degeneration and memory decline; educate participants about different diseases and other forms of memory loss which may increase the susceptibility of dementia; and highlight the neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system that causes progressive decline in the elderly. They encourage staff at Extended Care to give adequate and early intervention for the vulnerable residents who may experience early onset of dementia.
Extended Care offers services to residents diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia that promotes daily stimulation of brain activity, in a format that is moderately structured and individualized with the aim of gradual enhancement of memory and thinking abilities so as to decelerate cognitive decline among the residents.
At Extended Care, the staff is committed to serving and helping residents maintain their God-given dignity by providing comprehensive care for all the residents under the umbrella of New Community. Monthly on-site Alzheimer’s support group meetings are held for caregivers. The support group is designed to train and assist families, friends and other caregivers who will work collaboratively with the multi-lingual staff at Extended Care to improve cognitive functioning among older adults.