White Plains, NY (October 2011) - White Plains Hospital recently announced several new initiatives to expand services to seniors in the greater Westchester community.
“We want to be proactive about caring for the steadily increasing numbers of older adults here in Westchester County,” said Jon B. Schandler, President and CEO of White Plains Hospital. Through the expansion of these programs and the hiring of new staff who are specially skilled in geriatric care, we are taking important steps to prepare our community for this growth in the older adult population and ensure that their safety and health will remain a top priority.”
Raj Buddhavarapu, MD joined the staff in August as the Hospital’s Director of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, a newly created position. Dr. Buddha will work with other physicians to consult on geriatric patients in the Hospital and help providers identify and address the complex needs specific to the elderly population.
Under the Hospital’s Senior Services Department, a new program called Partnerships in Dementia has also been implemented. The program sends a trained professional to coach and educate caregivers on the most effective strategies to help patients with dementia and/or Alzheimer’s disease retain satisfaction from their lives despite their limitations, as well as ease the burden for caregivers. The program is available to individual family members, professional caregivers, home care agencies, assisted living facilities and others caring for people with dementia. Research has shown that this person-centered approach can help individuals with dementia reduce feelings of depression, apathy, agitation and frustration. Geri Brooks, RN, GNP, Director of the Hospital’s Department of Senior Services oversees the Partnerships in Dementia program and said, “As our geriatric population continues to rise, we cannot overstate the emotional, social and financial toll that caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia can take on families and professionals. With the Partnerships in Dementia program, we will improve the quality of life for people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias, as well as provide skills and support for both personal and professional caregivers.”
The Hospital also offers an enhanced personal Fall Prevention program, which provides a comprehensive fall risk-assessment and treatments for patients who have fallen or are at risk for falling. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC,) falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries and trauma-related hospitalizations in the United States, and the leading cause of injury-death among adults ages 65 and older.
To learn more about any of these programs, please call the White Plains Hospital Department of Senior Services at 914-681-1249.