People with Neu­rode­gen­er­ative Disorders in Mid-Hudson Valley Now Have Place to Go

The Center for Neurodegenerative Care, at the Archcare at Ferncliff Nursing Home in Rhinebeck is the first of its kind in the Mid-Hudson Valley and one of only four in the state. Time Warner Cable News reporter Candace Dunkley explains why it's so important to the community.

RHINEBECK, N.Y -- Gail DeCicco is the primary care giver for her niece Frankie Teague, who has Huntington’s disease.

“At first it wasn’t that progressive, but as it became progressive, you know there was times when she was down," DeCicco said.

Huntington’s disease is just one of many neurodegenerative disorders that affect neurons, which lead to brain damage and can cause problems with movement.

“Diseases such as Parkinson’s, ALS, Lou Gehrig's, MS, progressive supranuclear palsy and many more," she said.

Now for the first time in the Mid-Hudson Valley there is a specific place to treat Frankie and other people with neurodegenerative disorders.

The Center for Neurodegenerative Care is right inside the Archcare at Ferncliff Nursing Home in Rhinebeck.

"We offer psychiatric services, psychological services, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. I am a social worker and we also have a social worker for the unit," said Center for Neurodegenerative Care Program Manager Charissa Brown.

Brown knows how serious these conditions can be. She lost her father to a neurodegenerative disorder. She says she’s excited to run the approximately 40-bed center, which can help people who may have had to leave the state for treatment. 

“About 230 have left New York state with Huntington’s alone to be served in nursing homes that have this specialized care," Brown said.

Representatives said while the center has opened, they’re not stopping there. They plan to start renovations in July.

“One of the first signs that somebody’s having trouble is they start to fall. So our unit is going to be set up in the safest manner possible, we will have protective bathrooms, we will have every corner rounded, we will have wide open spaces for people to socialize,” said ArchCare at Ferncliff Nursing Home Executive Director Carl Kelly.

It’s a center that DeCicco is extremely grateful for and hopes that centers like this will help increase awareness.

“I’d like to hope that there will be more awareness of Huntington’s disease throughout everywhere. The first time you are aware of it most times is when a family member shows signs and comes down with it," she said.