The opening of the new Emerge Nursing and Rehabilitation at Glen Cove is part of a new trend in healthcare. The reflects not only new treatment methods but also makes people feel at home, in modern, comfortable surroundings with amenities that existed only in luxury hotels.
Nursing homes generally conjure up images of rickety stairs, dark hallways and people seated about in wheelchairs gazing at the walls. But at Emerge, those images don’t exist, says facility administrator Jeffrey Spiegel.
“It’s a new facility, new concept, new look, new feel – not to mention brand new amenities,” Spiegel says. “We strive to make people feel at home.”
The 102-bed Emerge, which just underwent a million-dollar renovation, is on the leading edge of state-of-the-art care for people just discharged from hospitals who are not yet able to be at home.
Patients leave a hospital setting for a hotel-like atmosphere where they’re greeted by a concierge, who brings their luggage to their room where they’re able to watch their own 32-inch flat-screen TV. On Wednesdays, they can get their hair done at the in-house full-service salon, and on Fridays, their nails. They can take a dip in the therapy pool, access the internet, or watch a recent DVD movie. Each private patient bathroom has been redecorated with marble floors.
The facility offers live entertainment and social events which may feature wine, cheese, piña coladas, and possibly, a treat at the in-house ice cream parlor, Lickety Split. And on any given day, patients can relax with a coffee and cannoli served by Chef Rocco at a table in a brand-new bakery in a glass-paneled solarium.
A newly hired corporate director of neurological rehabilitation is developing a program at Emerge to offer hope to stroke, traumatic brain and spinal cord injury clients. The program will include enhanced rehab, physiatry and neurology consults, neuropsychological services, and cognitive remediation. The goal: improving attention, memory, language and speech.
Patient Ellen Weiss of Sea Cliff called the physical therapy staff at Emerge “Triple-A-plus amazing.”
