NEW ROCHELLE, NY — United Hebrew of New Rochelle today announced the completion of major renovations at its short-stay rehabilitation facility with new, state-of-the-art equipment and re-designed space.
The upgrades include a re-designed therapy gym where therapists from Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, a United Hebrew partner, can spread out and offer safe, socially distanced therapy sessions; Jintronix, an interactive, virtual reality rehab tool, delivers beneficial exercises in video-game style; and the new NeuroGym equipment, portable therapeutic devices, which allows therapists to bring rehab directly to the rooms of residents who have limited mobility.
“At United Hebrew, we are committed to the future, which means we always want to be ahead of the curve,” said Rita Mabli, president & CEO, United Hebrew of New Rochelle. “By partnering with Burke, United Hebrew provides therapy services that are of the highest quality. Rest assured, even during the pandemic, it is safe to come to United Hebrew, where our team is trained on the latest health and safety protocols.”
Jintronix, a high-tech virtual reality rehab tool, delivers beneficial exercises in an engaging format — video-game style, via television monitor, with the guidance of a therapist. Patients improve motor skills while participating in virtual competitions like soccer, skiing, and riding a motorcycle. Simultaneously, infrared sensors track motion and measure progress using real-time data.
“Our rehab residents are having a lot of fun simultaneously they’re regaining balance and strength,” notes Helen Dallaris, OTR, United Hebrew’s director of rehabilitation. “When they see their progress, they’re motivated to move on to more challenging routines. It’s fantastic.”
The updated center also features new NeuroGym equipment and brand-new electric parallel bars allow for more adjustability to serve the needs of a wider range of patients. Extensive work on the gym’s physical space created a new aesthetic, with new wood flooring and freshly painted walls in soothing colors reflecting a warmer home-like environment. United Hebrew’s first floor outpatient rehabilitation gym, which has a car simulator, kitchen, and bathroom set up to help patients practice daily living skills, also received a refreshed look.
The renovations are in addition to the amenities already offered at United Hebrew, including private rooms, each with their bathroom, in-room conveniences such as Wi-Fi, flat-screen televisions, and a 24-hour nurse call system, and a rehab gym offering views of the Long Island Sound.
Recently, former resident Stella Hall and her family gave high praise for United Hebrew’s renovated facility. Hall, 86, had developed an infection at home and was growing weaker, according to her daughter, Mary Beth Hall-DeRaffele. After five weeks in rehab, she returned home stronger, and happier.
“She was so comfortable there,” says Hall-DeRaffele. “Her therapists were amazing and the equipment was fantastic. The exercises helped her regain strength. They trained my mom, and my sister, who lives with her, on how to get in and out of bed, and a car. She could handle practical daily living skills when she went home.”
What’s more, Hall-DeRaffele said, the entire staff of nurses, aides, and therapists gave her comfort. “They brought her the sandwich she liked, they complimented her on her hair. They treated her like family. She’s been in many other facilities, but this one was a great experience. She still talks about and misses her ‘friends’”!
“We are proud to have a newly renovated environment dedicated to physical, speech and occupational therapy at United Hebrew, staffed with the best therapists in the world, ready to serve patients who are recovering from illness, injury, or surgery,” says Mabli. “We’re meeting the needs of today’s consumers, who desire top-quality care, with all the comforts of home.”