New Educational and Recreational Resource is Located Within Eisenhower Park
(May 22, 2023)— The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) and Nassau County officials today cut the ribbon on a new Respite Care Relief Park for families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related illnesses. The park, one of the only of its kind anywhere in the country, is an educational and recreational dementia-friendly place where caregivers can feel comfortable bringing their loved one with dementia to relax and enjoy a peaceful outdoor setting, while also gaining helpful educational information.
The Respite Care Relief Park, which overlooks a lake, includes a gazebo, benches, landscaping, and educational information about Alzheimer’s disease; avoiding caregiver burnout; building caregiver skills and a team of support; and resources available to help. The park is located within Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, NY, which is the biggest park in Nassau County and larger in size than Central Park in New York City.
“The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is pleased to work with Nassau County to provide this new respite care relief park, only the second one in the entire country, for the growing number of families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related illnesses,” said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., President & CEO of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. “Staying isolated at home is extremely detrimental for both individuals with dementia and their caregivers, which is why families need to have dementia-friendly places that they can go and feel comfortable bringing their loved ones. This new resource, centrally located and easily accessible from all corners of Nassau County and housed in its largest and most utilized park, is another way for us to give back and help local families caring for a loved one with dementia.”
“On behalf of a grateful 1.4 million residents of Nassau County, thank you to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America for putting this together and having this dream of this beautiful park. This new Respite Care Relief Park is an integral part of what Eisenhower Park is. It’s about a place where people can go to be with nature in a peaceful setting. It’s incredibly important that people who have been afflicted with Alzheimer’s and dementia have a place like this, and that their caregivers have a place to bring them to enjoy nature, peace, and solitude in a gorgeous setting,” said Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
The need for dementia-friendly places is critical. Isolation is one of the biggest challenges for people with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. It can accelerate the progression of the disease and contribute to caregiver burnout. The park gives Alzheimer’s caregivers an outlet to get out of the house, enjoy a peaceful outdoor setting, socialize and receive information that can help them in their time of need.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 6.2 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease right now, and that number is projected to more than double by 2060. More than 410,000 people in New York State are currently living with Alzheimer’s, including an estimated 50,000 Long Islanders.
Information about additional services the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America provides to families affected by dementia-related illnesses, including a Helpline that’s available 7 days a week, caregiver support groups, and educational programs, can be found at alzfdn.org or by calling 866-232-8484.