The Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation announced on Tuesday that it will move its headquarters from Port Washington to a new state-of-the-art facility in Westbury.
Tom Killeen, chairman of the foundation, said the decision to leave Port Washington was difficult, but was important because the headquarters will be more central to its partners.
“The board’s analysis of the statistical data regarding the approximately 50,000 people on Long Island currently afflicted with Alzheimer’s, and where they lived, showed that LIAF needed to be more centrally located to carry out its mission,” Killen said. “Our partners in the health care and assisted living areas encouraged us to do so, resulting in LIAF’s expansion in 2016 to certain satellite locations in Westbury and Rockville Centre, and ultimately to its new space in Westbury.”
The new Westbury location will be at 1025 Old Country Road.
The foundation, which provides resources and support programs for people with early symptoms through end-of-life Alzheimer’s disease, was founded in Port Washington in 1988.
Instead of conducting Alzheimer’s research, the foundation provides patients with programs that involve staying active, including using music and dance, allowing people to enjoy songs from when they were younger.
The new facility, which is configured to allow for an expansion of the foundation’s services, features three program rooms for participants in all stages of the disease, a news release said.
There is also a presentation room for the foundation’s participants to enjoy daily entertainment, guest speakers and educational training, the release said.
With a strong focus on the caregiver, the foundation said, the new facility will include a support group room for caregivers and families, as well as an intake room for potential participants and a quiet room for a participant who needs rest.
The foundation’s Brian Fitness Workshops, which are for adults who do not have a diagnosis of memory impairment but are interested in maintaining and enhancing their cognitive ability, will have a room, too.
“All of us at LIAF are excited about this new chapter and the opportunity to bring our services more easily to those who need them,” said Tori Cohen, executive director of the foundation. “While our new location is being readied, LIAF will continue to provide its services at some of its satellite locations, as well as in homes providing respite for families throughout Long Island. We are planning a special community open house and grand opening celebration at the new facility in March 2017 to launch our new beginning.”
