Elderly care provider receives $151,000 grant

A leading elderly memory care provider in Rochester has received a $151,000 grant toward staff training.

Rochester Presbyterian Home, an assisted living facility with three locations in Perinton, Chili and the 19th Ward, received the grant through the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, a community development nonprofit founded by the late businessman, famed for founding the Buffalo Bills.

The care facility received the grant as a response to their innovative approaches to dealing with residents suffering from memory disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease. Utilizing The Eden Alternative, a technique used to ease the burden of loneliness and helplessness, residents are allowed pets, given an array of stimulating activities and are attended to closely by staff. The grant funding will go toward training and certifying staff as memory care specialists.

The role of a caregiver can be both demanding and rewarding,” said David Egner, president & CEO of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, in a statement. “We applaud Rochester Presbyterian Home for its dedication in seeking innovative approaches for caregiving training that can ultimately lead to better outcomes and opportunities for its staff, while also improving the experience and relationships with residents and families.”

The need for increased training and specialized treatment is vital to the work of the facility, Edward Sigler, board of trustees president for the Rochester Presbyterian Home, said, in a statement.

“Consistent training, coaching and mentoring form the basis for all of the work we do,” Sigler said, in a statement. “We are deeply appreciative for the generous financial commitment from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and for the recognition of Rochester Presbyterian Home’s innovative leadership team as they continue to lead the way in memory care within the elder care industry.  This grant will support our commitment to training and employee development as we continue to expand our memory care staff and service offerings.”

Upon completing training, staff members are planned to work with other regional facilities, teaching others how to apply their technique with an ultimate goal of making it standard across Western New York and southeast Michigan; the regions supported by the Foundation.