United Hebrew Geriatric Center Intergenerational Program Wins Award

New Rochelle, NY (PRWEB) August 16, 2007 -- United Hebrew Geriatric Center (UHGC), a not-for-profit, non-sectarian, multi-service senior living campus in New Rochelle, New York, today announced that it has won the Isabel Brabazon Award for Evaluation Research (sponsored by Kevin Brabazon) from Generations United, the national membership organization focused on improving the lives of children, youth and older people through intergenerational strategies, programs and public policies. UHGC is a partner in the Westchester Consortium for Gerontechnology Research, which won the award.

According to Generations United (GU), the "award is presented to an agency or organization with an existing intergenerational program and has researched and documented the nature of the intergenerational dynamics that occur within it." The award was presented to UHGC at GU's 14th International Conference in Washington, D.C. last month.

UHGC and its partners in the innovative gerontechnology program, including Pace University, Westchester Community College (WCC), Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services (WDSPS) and Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services - SPEAK-UP (Student Participants Embrace Aging Issues of Key Concern), developed the pilot program in 2005 and implemented it in 2006.

Kevin Brabazon said that the decision to award the gerontechnology program was unanimous. "It provided a high quality study that is publishable in a peer reviewed journal and demonstrated the impact of intergenerational services on both participating populations," he said.

"The purpose of the award is to encourage groups that sponsor innovative intergenerational programs to document what they accomplish as part of the effort to add to the body of research available for policy analysts to promote intergenerational policies nationally. We believe that the team has done that very well," Brabazon added.

GU Executive Director Donna Butts commended Kevin Brabazon for his commitment to growing the intergenerational field. "The Westchester Consortium is an excellent choice to receive the inaugural evaluation research award," she added.

The goals and objectives of the program, which included enhancing the seniors' quality of life by mentally challenging them with new skills, building a livable community in which assets and resources are utilized to the betterment of residents and clients, developing a program replicable by other aging service organizations and creating a structured learning program for seniors, were all met upon the project's implementation.

"Not only did the program meet and exceed its goals and objectives, but the most unexpected result was the bonds that developed between our seniors and their student-teachers," said Rita Mabli, president and CEO of UHGC. "This program has demonstrated that with the proper tools and guidance, the 'digital divide,' the gap between new technology and the ability to use it, can be diminished and that seniors truly are eager to learn new skills."

United Hebrew Geriatric Center's 7.4-acre campus is located at 391 Pelham Road, New Rochelle, New York 10801. For further information, contact Linda Forman at 914.632.2804 x224 or lforman @ uhgc.org.

About United Hebrew Geriatric Center: United Hebrew Geriatric Center (UHGC) is a vibrant not-for-profit, non-sectarian, multi-service senior living campus serving the Westchester metropolitan area since 1919. UHGC offers a rich array of skilled and community-based programs and services that encourages and supports a life of dignity and spirituality and promotes the highest possible quality of life. UHGC serves over 600 clients daily in its campus facilities -- Willow Towers, a 126 unit assisted living residence; a 270 bed Nursing Home; the 135 unit Low-Savin Apartments for seniors; a Long Term Home Health Care Program; and the Azor Home Health Agency. Its newest project, the renovation and expansion of its nursing home facility, combines world-class care with state-of-the-art features.

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