SUNY Downstate Receives $2.35 Million Grant for Alzheimer’s Disease Care
Jan 20, 2016
Five-year Grant from New York State Department of Health Creates Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease Designation
Brooklyn, NY – SUNY Downstate Medical Center has received a $2,350,000 award from
the New York State Department of Health to expand its care of persons with Alzheimer’s
disease and other dementias.
Under the direction of Carl I. Cohen, MD, Distinguished Service Professor and director
of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry at SUNY Downstate, the Brooklyn Alzheimer’s
Disease Assistance Center (BADAC) at Downstate has been recognized with a Center of
Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease award for the next five years. The designation
is one of six awarded statewide, and currently the only one in New York City.
“This award affirms Downstate’s leadership in Brooklyn in the care of Alzheimer’s
patients and their caregivers,” said Dr. Cohen. “The new funding will also enhance
Downstate’s capacity to address health disparities in the treatment and management
of Alzheimer’s among Brooklyn’s many diverse minority and ethnic communities.” The
additional support will enable BADAC to create three satellite programs in Brooklyn
and to provide outreach services to primary care physicians and their patients/caregivers
in health shortage areas in the borough.
The Brooklyn Alzheimer’s Disease Assistance Center offers comprehensive assessment
and a full range of treatment for memory disorders. Counseling, educational, and supporting
services include:
- Comprehensive memory evaluations including psychiatric, neurological and physical examination
- Neuroimaging such as MRI, CT Scan, and PET
- On-going treatment for memory, mood, and behavioral problems
- Social services to provide access to additional resources including legal, Medicaid, home care, and day programs
- Opportunities to participate in new treatment and drug trials.
- Family support groups
- Patient activity groups
- Public speakers for community groups
- Caregiver and home health aide training
- Volunteer companion services.
With its expanded staffing, BADAC will offer integrated, one-stop care for patients
and caregivers that will include geriatric psychiatrists, geriatric medicine specialists,
a behavioral neurologist, a nurse practitioner, social workers, care managers, and
a neuropsychologist. The program will also serve as a training site for students,
residents, and fellows in geriatric psychiatry and medicine. Many of the staff are
bi-lingual.
The Brooklyn Alzheimer’s Disease Assistance Center is located at 370 Lenox Road, Brooklyn,
NY 11226. For appointments or further information, please call 718-287-4806.
### About SUNY Downstate Medical Center SUNY Downstate Medical Center, founded in 1860, was the first medical school in the
United States to bring teaching out of the lecture hall and to the patient’s bedside.
A center of innovation and excellence in research and clinical service delivery, SUNY
Downstate Medical Center comprises a College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School
of Health Professions, a School of Graduate Studies, School of Public Health, University
Hospital of Brooklyn, and a multifaceted biotechnology initiative including the Downstate
Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT for early-stage and more mature companies, respectively.
SUNY Downstate ranks twelfth nationally in the number of alumni who are on the faculty
of American medical schools. More physicians practicing in New York City have graduated
from SUNY Downstate than from any other medical school.