The Jewish Home recently announced the establishment of The Clare & Jerry Rotenberg Center for Excellence in Dementia Care, which will improve quality of life for those living with dementia and memory loss and empower and support their families and caregivers through innovative programs, education and training, and resource navigation.
The Dementia Center is a cornerstone of The Clare & Jerry Rotenberg Institute on Aging at Jewish Home and an important addition to Jewish Home’s robust continuum of care. Jewish Home leaders say they are creating a sustainable model of care excellence that integrates the latest in clinical expertise, caregiver support, and resident-centered programming, in addition to a navigator on staff who is on the frontlines for those diagnosed and their loved ones.
The formation of the Dementia Center is driven by a growing need for compassionate care and comprehensive resources, as well as statistics that reveal the need for heightened attention, according to a news release. The Rochester area has the largest and fastest growing population of older adults in New York state. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated in 2024 that 1 in 9 older adults live with dementia and the Alzheimer’s Association projects diagnoses will double in the next three decades.
Since the individual with cognitive decline is not the only one impacted, Clare and Jerry Rotenberg have pledged to the Jewish Home’s initiative to support the family and caregivers as they encounter the unique needs of their loved one with memory loss.
“The disease doesn’t just happen to individuals living with dementia— it also happens to their families and their loved ones,” said Courtney Porray, director of The Clare & Jerry Rotenberg Institute on Aging. “We want to make a difference by helping ease the burden for everyone on their dementia journey. There are no simple solutions, but there is a lot we can do to help caregivers navigate the realities of dementia while also providing specialized engagement and enrichment for their loved ones, enabling them to live their best lives despite the multitude of challenges associated with dementia.”