Northwell Health’s Parkinson’s & Movement Disorders Center has received a $1.5 million grant from the Edmond J. Safra Foundation to fund two innovative programs designed to improve the quality of life of people living with Parkinson’s disease.
One of the programs to be funded through the grant is the Edmond J. Safra Parkinson’s Wellness Program at the Marlene Meyerson JCC in Manhattan, which is the largest community fitness program in the country dedicated to Parkinson’s disease. The program was founded by Alessandro Di Rocco, MD, professor of Neurology at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and Northwell’ s director of the Parkinson’s & Movement Disorders Center. The Wellness Program emphasizes the importance of exercise, which has proven to delay disease progression and improve motor skills. In addition, the Wellness Program provides ongoing education and coping skills to patients and their caregivers.
The grant will also fund the Edmond J. Safra Interdisciplinary Home Visit Program for Advanced Parkinson’s Disease. This innovative program is being developed for Northwell patients with Parkinson’s that reside in Manhattan and are unable to travel to doctor’s appointments, therapy sessions and other important visits crucial to their overall medical care. As part of the program, Northwell’s neurologists and other healthcare professionals will provide care to patients in the comfort of their homes, including medical visits, occupational, physical, and speech therapy services. Program staff will also assist patients, their families and caregivers in coordinating socialization activities, and arrange for in-home delivery of food and meals. The program will be available to patients in Manhattan with a goal of expanding to an even broader area following its launch.
“We are extremely grateful to the Edmond J. Safra Foundation for its overwhelming generosity and unwavering support in providing much-needed funds so that Parkinson’s disease patients can have a better quality of life,” said Dr. Di Rocco. “Beyond the medical and surgical treatment of Parkinson’s patients, it is also important to incorporate fitness, nutrition and psychological support as part of the overall treatment plan. The Edmond J. Safra Parkinson’s Wellness and Home Visit Programs enable us to offer our patients a better and easier way to manage their disease and will ensure that their individual needs are being met so they can live active and fulfilling lives.”
Lily Safra, Chairwoman of the Edmond J. Safra Foundation, said, “I know first-hand the challenges faced by Parkinson’s patients and their families, and I am very proud to support programs that will do so much to alleviate that suffering. My husband Edmond would have been honored to have his name linked with such efforts.”
For more information about Northwell’s Parkinson’s & Movement Disorders Center, visit www.northwell.edu/neurosciences/our-centers/parkinsons-and-movement-disorders-center, or call 844-56-NEURO.
Submitted by Northwell Health.
