Racquel Williams interviewed Marcy Salzberg, Director of Social Work & Dementia Care Services at Parker.
Topic: Caring for the aging community during Coronavirus
Racquel Williams interviewed Marcy Salzberg, Director of Social Work & Dementia Care Services at Parker.
Topic: Caring for the aging community during Coronavirus
HIGHLAND PARK – With limits on in-person family visits and social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an escalating need to ensure older adults living at home can remain as engaged as possible, according to a release.
Although challenging, especially among elders who do not commonly use technology, it is important for loved ones and caregivers to introduce connected devices – from a basic tablet and smartphone, to virtual reality and interactive gaming – to keep them as connected as possible as months of isolation can prompt depression and other lasting ailments, the release said.
At the forefront of the issue is Marcy Salzberg, director of social work and dementia care at Parker, who handles the intake of all new guests at the residential campuses in Piscataway, Highland Park, New Brunswick, Franklin and Monroe. She is seeing many incoming residents eager for interaction and engagement after remaining at home, often alone, since the coronavirus shut down many parts of society in mid-March, the release said.
HIGHLAND PARK, NJ – Three Highland Park sisters donated more than $1,100 to Parker Health Group, a nonprofit New Jersey-based aging services organization in the borough, to provide PPE for its nursing home staff. Sophia, Olivia and Gabriella Cohen raised the funds by selling snow cones at their stand and setting up a Go Fund Me page for donations. Parker President & CEO Roberto Muñiz and staff recently met with the girls and their family to accept this generous donation.
“It is so admirable to see such caring young ladies,” Muñiz wrote, in a letter of gratitude. “You fill me with such hope for the future generations. I know your kindness is appreciated by our staff and all those residents we serve in our nursing homes and in our assisted living. We will use your donation to purchase the necessary PPE to help keep our employees and residents safe.”
These have been challenging months for long-term care communities, as we strive to ensure the health and safety of our Elders, patients and staff in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While we remain focused on that situation and providing the highest quality care possible, this is a critical moment in our nation to take pause and comment on the violent incidents we have experienced these past few weeks. These, among countless other acts of violence against members of our society who have fallen victim to unjust brutality and discrimination, are senseless acts of violence. They are profoundly heartbreaking to me.
NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker today announced that health care service providers across New Jersey have been awarded a combined $3.25 million in federal funding through the Federal Communications Commission's COVID-19 Telehealth Program to expand telehealth services throughout the state during the pandemic. The program was created as part of the CARES Act passed by congress in April.
'Expanding telehealth services is critical to ensuring the health and safety not only of patients and clients, but also our medical professionals and caregivers, especially as we continue to fight the coronavirus,' said Sen. Menendez. 'These awards will help providers build the framework and infrastructure necessary to keep patients connected with the evaluation, treatment, monitoring, therapy, and services they need with the caregivers they trust.'
'The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a bright light on the critical importance of tools like telehealth services in ensuring New Jerseyans receive the care they need,'said Sen. Booker. 'Expanding telehealth capabilities in New Jersey through federal funding like this will help provide both patients and heath care professionals the flexibility needed to safely deliver care to some of our most vulnerable populations impacted by this public health crisis.'
The awards include:
Parker Health Group in Somerset was awarded $28,838 to provide physical, occupational, and speech therapy through telehealth for elderly members of the community.
How often have you heard someone say, or perhaps had this statement directed at you: "You're only as old as you feel."
They might really think that or they might be trying to make you feel good if you look tired after mowing a tiny lawn, or shoveling for only five minutes.
I remember a few years back when someone said that to me and my answer was: "Yes, but I can't physically do the things I could do just a few years ago."
Now, it turns out, if a recent survey is even close to being accurate, 57 is when you're old. I take issue with that.
He grew up on a property on River Road in Highland Park that now houses the retirement community Parker at Stonegate.
The property was nestled near the Merriewold Estate Castle, which was built by his father for his mother, Ruth Dill Johnson. The castle is now part of the retirement community.
In 2008, Johnson visited the property for the first time since his childhood, according to a story in the Home News Tribune. He then contributed several sculptures of his for the grounds of the retirement community.
While touring the retirement community with Parker's President and CEO Roberto Muñiz, Johnson remarked, 'I feel very much at home here. My sculptures feel at home.'"
In this issue:
Roberto Muñiz, Parker Health Group, Inc. President & CEO joins the Board of Directors of The Global Ageing Network.
The Global Ageing Network is a worldwide organization of service providers, businesses, academics, scholars and others. Its mission is to connect and support care and service providers worldwide in order to enhance quality of life for global aging. Muñiz will work alongside colleagues from around the globe on issues that impact the senior population.