The Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation (LIAF) has continually offered transportation for participants who attend LIAF’s Monday through Friday social adult day programs, now located in Westbury. This can be a tremendous relief to caregivers, who may not be able to drive their loved one to the center. This door-to-door, agency-owned bus transportation is available in parts of North Hempstead, and LIAF recently established a pick up and drop off point at Christopher Morley Park, at 500 Searingtown Road in Roslyn, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The 16-passenger, wheelchair accessible mini-buses bring individuals with Alzheimer’s and related forms of dementia to LIAF where they enjoy socialization and cognitive stimulation through a variety of structured activities, including word games, crafts, light exercise, music and entertainment. Buses are staffed by dementia-trained drivers with assistance from attendants, ensuring safe, reliable travel to and from the programs, which are tailored to each participants’ diagnosed stage of Alzheimer’s.
Many families are grateful for this transportation, including Maggie Babyatsky, whose husband, Gary, attends LIAF’s social adult day program. “My husband could not attend LIAF five days a week without the transportation provided because, as his caregiver, I work full time. The bus drivers are sensitive and caring to people with dementia and the trained staff members who ride with him provide a safe, supportive, and comforting environment,” she says. LIAF staff sees to it that loved ones are escorted right into the home before the bus leaves. Ms. Babyatsky concurs, “The transportation has also eased my anxiety as a caregiver – I know every day that my husband is arriving safely at home because he is walked directly into our house and the staff makes sure there is a caretaker waiting for him before they leave. I’m grateful for this reliable transportation and for the great communication from the coordinator regarding any issues in scheduling or delays.”
LIAF’s mission is two-fold; to help improve the quality of life for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and related memory disorders, as well as, providing much-needed support to caregivers. By utilizing LIAF’s transportation service, loved ones are in good hands while traveling to and from Westbury, and caregivers are afforded a little more time to take care of their own appointments, shopping, and household responsibilities.
LIAF’s Transportation services are available upon assessment.
For more information or to sign up for Transportation, please contact the Director of Transportation, Carissa McDermott, LCSW, LIAF Director of Late Stage Programming, at 516-767-6856, ext. 11.
—Michelle Yadoo
