Gallen Adult Day Health Care Center celebrated its 8th anniversary in Rockleigh in February. The program – the first of its kind in New Jersey – began in Jersey City at the Jewish Hospital & Rehabilitation Center in 1972. In fact, said Chuck Berkowitz, JHR’s Executive Vice President, “the State adopted our protocols for use by other agencies with day care centers.” A second adult day health care program was added in River Vale in 1979, where it stayed until space grew tight, moving at that point to the YJCC in Washington Township. In February 2002, GADHC moved to the Jewish Home at Rockleigh where the current facility is prepared to take care of 55 participants per day.
Joan DiPaola, R.N., GADHC’s Director, says the mission of the program is to help individuals who may live alone or with their families and prevent them from moving into a facility before they actually need it. “We see frailer, more vulnerable people, including those with respirator needs, wound care, and incontinence as well as individuals who need nutritional support or those who get around with assistive devices, such as power wheel chairs and scooters. This program is designed to help relieve a sense of isolation in participants,“ she explained. The program enables individuals to meet others in their age group with many of the same interests, helped by the friendly professionals who work at the center as well as volunteers from the community. “This program also provides respite for families or caretakers,” Joan said.
Therapeutic activities are in place all day long that are geared to participants’ cognitive and physical abilities. Ranging in age from 60 to 100, participants discuss the news, play word games, exercise and move to music to help maintain physical agility, among other activities. Four buses are available to provide door-to-door transportation. GADHC also provides participants with a kosher lunch, snack, and continental breakfast each day. Participants have access to religious leaders of all denominations as well, if they desire it.
DiPaola points out that GADHC helps participants find funding for the program if they have difficulty paying the fees. “There are County grants available as well as funding through the Alzheimer’s Association for those with cognitive problems. GADHC is an authorized Veterans Affairs provider for medical day care for veterans.”