Center supports families and caregivers as they encounter unique needs of loved ones with memory loss, through resource navigation, programs, and training
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Jewish Home announces the establishment of The Clare & Jerry Rotenberg Center for Excellence in Dementia Care, which will improve quality of life for those living with dementia and memory loss and empower and support their families and caregivers through innovative programs, education and training, and resource navigation.
The Dementia Center is a cornerstone of The Clare & Jerry Rotenberg Institute on Aging at Jewish Home and an important addition to Jewish Home’s robust continuum of care. Jewish Home leaders are creating a sustainable model of care excellence that integrates the latest in clinical expertise, caregiver support, and resident-centered programming, in addition to a navigator on staff who is on the frontlines for those diagnosed and their loved ones.
The formation of the Dementia Center is driven by a growing need for compassionate care and comprehensive resources, as well as statistics that reveal the need for heightened attention. The Rochester area has the largest and fastest growing population of older adults in New York State. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated in 2024 that one in nine older adults live with dementia and the Alzheimer’s Association projects diagnoses will double in the next three decades.
Since the individual with cognitive decline is not the only one impacted, Clare and Jerry Rotenberg have pledged to the Jewish Home’s initiative to support the family and caregivers as they encounter the unique needs of their loved one with memory loss.
“The disease doesn’t just happen to individuals living with dementia— it also happens to their families and their loved ones,” said Courtney Porray, Director of The Clare & Jerry Rotenberg Institute on Aging. “We want to make a difference by helping ease the burden for everyone on their dementia journey. There are no simple solutions, but there is a lot we can do to help caregivers navigate the realities of dementia while also providing specialized engagement and enrichment for their loved ones, enabling them to live their best lives despite the multitude of challenges associated with dementia.”
Navigating the journey of dementia
The Clare & Jerry Rotenberg Institute on Aging, which launched in 2022, is recognized as a hub for knowledge and innovation serving residents, families, caregivers, and the community. Education and training programs for caregivers and professionals will equip them with the latest information and strategies for supporting those with dementia. Clare and Jerry Rotenberg founded the Institute to support older adults, and Clare has driven the formation of the Dementia Center to help other families on their dementia journey.
As residents of Jewish Home’s Summit Independent Living, the Rotenbergs experienced the impact of Jewish Home’s full continuum of care services as Jerry’s disease progressed, until his passing in August 2024 from Lewy body dementia. Today, Clare remains an active resident of The Summit. Through Jerry’s illness, she learned firsthand the immense need for medical guidance, access to resources, and the importance of support for caregivers.
“Through the Dementia Center we are now able to make caregivers aware of all the resources available to them not only at Jewish Home, but throughout our community,” Clare said. “When a person contacts Jewish Home and they say my loved one has dementia, they are immediately connected to a navigator from the Dementia Center who is able to guide them along their unique pathway. No longer will people have to needlessly suffer or worry.”
Collaborations and resources
Jewish Home is elevating existing collaborations with Lifespan and the Alzheimer’s Association to connect those in need with available resources rather than duplicate services. An education and training curriculum will be developed with our partners to ensure staff and caregivers have the knowledge and required competencies to care for and support people with memory loss, at any stage.
Jewish Home residents and patients with dementia will benefit from programming designed to enhance cognitive engagement and social interaction. The community also will benefit from a digital resource library of videos and expert talks on dementia care for families, caregivers, and professionals.
The launch of the Dementia Center — event on Nov. 13
The community is invited to attend the kickoff of The Clare & Jerry Rotenberg Center for Excellence in Dementia Care at 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at the Dryden Theatre at George Eastman Museum, 900 East Ave., Rochester. Respite care will be provided.
Jewish Home leaders will share the vision for the Dementia Center, provide expert guidance on the dementia journey and keynote speaker Ashley Williams will share the story of her mother’s dementia journey, which inspired Williams to produce and star in a Hallmark movie on the subject. To register for the event contact Morgan Porach at (585) 784-6481.
About Jewish Home
For more than 100 years, Jewish Home has been helping older adults live their best lives. Guided by foundational principles, Jewish Home embraces the idea of home as a place where families gather, care for one another, and welcome all. Jewish Home offers all levels of care — from independent living to skilled nursing on their Rochester campus to a variety of services throughout the community. As the only Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Rochester, Jewish Home is proud to be recognized for quality care and customer satisfaction—earning CARF International accreditation, as well as being certified a Great Place to Work® since 2020. For more information visit JewishHomeRoc.org or @jewishhomeroc on social media.
