Eldercare

“It was here I realized I was not alone”

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At the George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery dedication ceremony, Alfred, a 61-year-old ElderCare client spoke about his experience at Odyssey House. Below is the text of his speech.

Senior recovery centerGood morning. My name is Alfred, I am 61 years old, and a client in the ElderCare program. Fifteen months ago I came to Odyssey House as a longtime addict facing, in what time I had left, a life of loneliness and poor health. In two days, I will complete treatment and begin my new life in recovery, a healthier, happier, and more humble man.

It wasn’t easy to get here. I arrived determined to do things my way, even though “my way” had led to a near-fatal heart attack. The health effects of a lifetime of addiction had caught up with me and I was going to die if I didn’t get help. But still, I was arrogant and selfish. I thought I had all the answers, but I was only fooling myself.

Now, thanks to Odyssey House, I have the tools I need to live a successful life in recovery. My counselors challenged my thinking patterns and helped me see that I was using drugs to avoid the pain of confronting the damage I’ve done, to myself and to others, through my behaviors and actions. I have new coping skills – there will be bumps in the road, but now I know how to overcome them, and not use them as an excuse to use drugs again.

They also taught me to take care of myself – both physically and mentally. I live a healthier life now and the pain I had been living with for so long – it’s gone. And I know that I can’t help anybody unless I help myself first.

Being in treatment with people my own age made a big difference. Sitting in groups, talking to my peers, I realized that even though we come from different places, we all have the same underlying problem. Addiction is isolating – it makes you feel like you’re the only one going through this, especially at my age – but it was here I realized I was not alone.

I’ve come a long way from where I was. It’s tough to look back, but I won’t forget where I came from. I’m focused on the future, one filled with joy from being reunited with my supportive wife, and my relationships with children and grandchildren.

For far too long, I took life for granted. I’ll never do that again. You don’t get too many opportunities at my age, and because of the ElderCare program, I’m ready and able to make the most of this one. Odyssey House will always be a part of me. Thank you for restoring color, and sobriety, to my life.

“Creating a place of sanctuary”

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More than 200 people came out to Ward’s Island on a beautiful spring day for the George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery (GRCR) dedication ceremony. The 231-bed residential complex opens following a major restoration undertaken in partnership with New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS). The renovation project reclaimed and enhanced the original historic structure, built in 1915 as a hospital for psychiatric patients, to create a modern family treatment center for women, parents with young children, and adults 55 years of age and older.

“The story of this 100-year-old building is one of realizing potential, learning from the past, and creating a new place of sanctuary and healing,” said Odyssey House President Dr. Peter Provet at the dedication ceremony. “Its story, like those of the people who come here for help with substance abuse and related problems, is also a symbol of endurance and overcoming the odds.”

The GRCR is named in honor of George Rosenfeld, who for more than two decades has helped lead – and shape – Odyssey House. His visionary and compassionate public service leadership as Chairman of Odyssey House (2002-2012) and then as Chairman of Odyssey Foundation has helped save the lives of thousands of vulnerable men, women, and children suffering from substance abuse and mental health disorders.

Visit our Facebook page to see more photos from the ceremony!

 

George Rosenfeld“Here was a building … that could be renovated and rehabilitated to house those most in need of rebuilding their own lives and setting a better course for their children.” -George Rosenfeld

 

In just one week…

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THE GRAND OPENING OF THE GEORGE ROSENFELD CENTER IS ONLY ONE WEEK AWAY!

We invite you to join us on Thursday, May 11th to celebrate the grand opening, tour the campus, and learn more about the services we offer. Click here for more information and to register. See below for directions.

The George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery (GRCR) is a residential behavioral health treatment center for women, families, and older adults located on Wards Island. Since 1967, Odyssey House has established a strong tradition of providing a place of sanctuary for clients and families to focus on overcoming addiction, develop coping skills, and build lifelong recovery.

In keeping with this tradition, and the treatment services offered throughout the Odyssey House system, residential care at GRCR embraces a holistic continuum of evidence-based behavioral health care, including medication-assisted treatment; counseling, group therapy, and case management services; educational and vocational training; and peer-supported recovery and housing programs.

 

Directions to the George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery

By public transportation: Take the Lexington Avenue 4/5/6 to 125th Street and transfer to the M35 bus at 125th Street and Lexington Avenue (in front of Duane Reade). Download the bus schedule here.

By car: All vehicular access is via the RFK Triborough Bridge. Once on the Queens-bound leg of the RFK Triborough Bridge, stay to the far right and follow signs to Randall’s Island.

If navigating with Google Maps, please use “13 Hells Gate Circle, New York, NY 10035″ as your destination or click here for the GPS coordinates. MTA Bridges & Tunnels charge a toll of $8.50 to access the Island, but there is no toll upon exiting.

Download maps of our location and parking areas.

By foot: The 103rd Street Footbridge in Manhattan is open to pedestrians and cyclists 365 days per year, 24 hours per day, and connects the East River Esplanade/FDR Drive at 103rd Street with the southern end of Randall’s Island Park.

An advocate for recovery sees dream realized

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In celebration of our 50th anniversary, each month we have been sharing a personal story that highlights one of our programs or treatment populations. This month, as we conclude our anniversary profiles and prepare for the opening of the George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery, we are highlighting a very special member of our family: Odyssey Foundation Chairman Mr. George Rosenfeld. George is a tireless advocate for vulnerable New Yorkers who turn to us for help with substance abuse and mental health problems.

Addicton recovery advocateFor more than two decades, George Rosenfeld has helped lead and shape Odyssey House. His visionary and compassionate public service leadership as Chairman of Odyssey House (2002–2012) and then as Chairman of Odyssey Foundation has helped save the lives of thousands of men and women suffering from substance use and mental health disorders.

An advocate for the care and well-being of elderly substance abusers, his far-sighted recognition of their distinct needs led to the founding of the Odyssey House ElderCare Program and its permanent home at our newly renovated family treatment center on Ward’s Island in Upper Manhattan — a center we are proud to name the George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery.

We are immensely fortunate and grateful that George chose to join the cause at Odyssey House. He has donated his time and resources to those who often have few friends and allies as they struggle to overcome addiction and mental health challenges.

We cannot imagine a kinder, more thoughtful, or more compassionate leader. He is the cheerleader of cheerleaders. He has guided us through challenges and prepared us to make the most of opportunities to do more for the people we serve, and to do it better.

As we prepare to open the 231-bed residential treatment center for women, mothers with children, and older adults, we asked George to share with us how his commitment to public service evolved into championing the cause of underserved and stigmatized substance abusers:

 

Before I joined Odyssey House I had been closely involved in developing a hospice for AIDS patients, Rivington House in New York’s Lower East Side, which opened in 1993 at the height of the epidemic. Once the hospice opened and I felt that the project was in good hands, I was inspired to look further afield for other causes I could get involved with.

It didn’t take long. I heard a testimony at a New York City Council meeting, which gave statistics on the number of people in NYC addicted to drugs and alcohol and talked about an organization that was making a dent in these numbers — Odyssey House.

I wanted to hear more, and in 1997 I was introduced to the organization, met with the board, and they invited me to join them.

Early in my role as board member I visited Odyssey House’s treatment centers in New York City. One facility in particular captured my interest, a 100-year-old semi-abandoned former psychiatric hospital perched on a small hill practically underneath the Triborough Bridge. The facility was located on Ward’s Island — a veritable no-man’s land on the East River between East Harlem, The Bronx, and Queens — that is also home to Manhattan Psychiatric Center and other social service agencies.

Despite the dilapidated state of much of the building, the center I visited that day was a thriving treatment community where Odyssey House cared for a variety of recovering substance abusers, including women mandated by family courts, many of whom were pregnant, or caring for young children. At this center (known then as the MABON for Mothers And Babies Off Narcotics since its founding in 1973), Odyssey House not only provided essential shelter and therapy for women who were vulnerable and often abused, but it also cared for their babies and toddlers. When I saw the babies asleep in their cribs next to their moms, I knew I had joined a very special organization.

It was my dream to someday persuade the State of New York to help us renovate the entire building and provide this service to more young families. It took 20 years, but today that dream has come true.

I couldn’t be prouder of Odyssey House and more grateful to our many supporters who made this dream a reality.

 

Odyssey House shares George’s pride in this new family center, GRCR, which brings together elders, women, and mothers with young children and establishes a multigenerational community dedicated to forging a healthy future together.

Wellness services for women and seniors

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At the George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery (GRCR), women and older adults live and learn in a peer-driven environment that provides family-like structure and support. Supervised by a caring team of counselors, teachers, and health care personnel, clients receive the individualized support and attention they need to live a healthy life—free of drugs and alcohol.

Once clients complete our residential program, we work with them to find transitional or permanent housing, stay connected to an Odyssey House peer support group, and access outpatient services. The continuum of care services help women and older adults develop sustainable connections and maintain their recovery.

TREATMENT SERVICES FOR WOMEN

Mother addiction recoveryHelping women and families rebuild their lives is a priority. Our gender-specific treatment programs for women (including pregnant women and mothers caring for young children) feature a range of services that strengthen the family unit while supporting individual recovery.

For women with children, the GRCR features a Department of Health-licensed early educational center capable of providing services to children up to 6 years old.  The center has five classrooms, two of which offer Early Head Start Services through a collaboration with Northside Center for Child Development, a playroom, and a library.

Learn more about the range of comprehensive recovery services for women.

TREATMENT SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS

We created the Odyssey House ElderCare Program to address the behavioral health care needs of men and women 55 years old and older. Older adults with substance use disorders often face unique challenges. Some of our clients have tried to hide their addiction their whole lives. Others turned to drugs or alcohol in the face of later-life challenges—from losing jobs or spouses to dealing with the physical pain and loneliness of getting older.

However their lives got off track, Odyssey House helps older people find a better way forward. As part of our ElderCare residential program at the GRCR, clients live and work with older New Yorkers who have said enough is enough. Family members are encouraged to participate in group sessions, seminars, and other therapeutic activities to help rebuild relationships.

Learn more about the range of comprehensive recovery services for seniors.

Opening soon: The George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery

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WELLNESS SERVICES FOR WOMEN & OLDER ADULTS

 

Recovery happens in a dignified setting

The George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery (GRCR) is a multi-generational behavioral health treatment center with a focus on intensive substance abuse services for women and older adults. The 231-bed residential complex is located on Wards Island, within a 480-acre city park that, conjoined with Randall’s Island, lies in the East River between East Harlem, the South Bronx and Astoria, Queens.

The GRCR officially opens in spring 2017 following a major restoration undertaken in partnership with New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS). The renovation project reclaimed and enhanced the original historic structure, built in 1915 as a hospital for psychiatric patients, to create a modern family treatment center for women and children and older adults 55 years of age and older.

In keeping with treatment services offered throughout the Odyssey House system, residential care at GRCR embraces a holistic continuum of evidence-based behavioral health care. Individually developed treatment plans incorporate a range of services including medication-assisted treatment; counseling, group therapy, and case management services; educational and vocational training; and peer-supported recovery and housing programs.

 

Just as everyone’s life journey is different, so is finding the best path to recovery.

Odyssey House has a strong tradition of providing a place of sanctuary for clients and families to focus on overcoming addiction, develop coping skills, and build lifelong recovery. And because everyone has different needs, we personalize our residential and outpatient treatment programs to each person who walks through our doors.

We believe that integrated behavioral health care—a holistic form of treatment that addresses physical, psychiatric, social, and spiritual well-being, as well as family relationships and education—is the most effective approach to achieving a healthy recovery.

A safe and supportive environment is a fundamental part of the treatment experience. Residents are encouraged to relate to others and foster a feeling of safety that helps them focus on their recovery and learn about their addiction. An environment that reflects respect and dignity helps clients engage in their community and reduces feelings of institutionalization that can inhibit individual growth and learning.

Bringing holiday cheer to ElderCare

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seniors recovery holidaysA fourth grade class in Queens shared their holiday spirit with our ElderCare program this holiday season. As part of a lesson on kindness, teacher April Scott and her students created and delivered holiday cards for our clients. Ms. Scott explains:

“Each month our school has a character education trait that we discuss. The month of December’s trait was kindness. After a class discussion about the holiday season and acts of kindness we could do, we decided to create holiday cards for those who many not be able to be with their families during this time. My students really wanted to embody the idea of giving rather than focus on what they would be receiving for the holidays. We hope that you enjoy our small token of kindness as much as we did creating these cards for you. We want to wish you a very Happy and Healthy New Year.”

Many thanks to Ms. Scott and her fourth-grade elves for their wonderful cards and generous spirits! Check out more photos on Facebook.

“I am very happy, and I owe it to Odyssey House.”

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In celebration of our 50th anniversary, each month we will be sharing a story that highlights one of our programs or treatment populations. This month we had a moment to catch up with former ElderCare client Sheryl, who is now two years sober and still works closely with our Outpatient program.

Elder addict recoveryIn 2014, Sheryl, 53, was early in her recovery. She had recently completed a rehabilitation program and, though she felt good about her new life, she knew from past experiences that she needed the support of peers who understand the complexities that come from struggling with an addiction for over 30 years. As an older adult who had been addicted to crack cocaine for so long, Sheryl felt that the challenges she faced were unique and needed to be treated as such.

The Odyssey House ElderCare program gave her the hope and push she needed to stay on track to continue her recovery. Today, Sheryl is two years clean and “feels wonderful.” She credits much of her success to the counselors who were with her “every step of the way.” As someone who typically kept to herself, her counselors encouraged her to open up and speak during her group therapy sessions. Sheryl took this opportunity to challenge herself and found engaging with her peers made her feel comfortable and understood. “I want to be able to tell my story, and show others that living clean and sober is a wonderful way to live life.”

Sheryl is committed to spreading positive messages. She is an integral member of our Odyssey House community and helps facilitate the Women’s Group at our Outpatient program in the Bronx. She also reaches out to others in her community that have the same struggles she has. “I just want to give back and help the organization that helped me become who I am today.”

Sheryl is job seeking and will begin night school in the upcoming month to secure her high school equivalency.  She attends regular group therapies through Odyssey House and hopes to become a Recovery Coach through the program. “I am very happy, and I owe it to Odyssey House.”

ElderCare Services Address “Hidden Epidemic” Of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Among Older Americans

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BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEWS

 

As baby boomers, many of whom experimented with drugs in the 1960s and 1970s, head towards their senior years, the number of older Americans with substance use disorders is growing dramatically and with it the need for specialized treatment. Odyssey House’s ElderCare program has focused on the special needs of this population for more than 15 years, both by establishing dedicated residential and outpatient services and, more recently, developing a peer-run, community-based mentoring program.

Growing Demand for Services

Older adults represent one of the fastest growing segments of the US population in need of treatment for substance use disorders (SUD). The National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that among adults aged 50 to 64, the rate of current illicit drug use increased from 2.7 percent in 2002 to 6.0 percent in 2013. Additionally, Emergency Department (ED) admissions for illicit drugs and alcohol have been steadily increasing: from 2004 to 2010, the number of ED visits for drug use and misuse has grown 187 percent for adults ages 55-64 and 104 percent for those ages 65 and older.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) expects the number of adults aged 50 and older needing SUD treatment to double by 2020, from 2.8 million (2002 to 2006 annual average) to 5.7 million. The increase in substance abuse among older adults has led to a dramatic rise in the number admitted into treatment: substance abuse treatment admissions of individuals aged 50 or older increased by nearly 50 percent between 2004 and 2009 (Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, 2012).

The above data, coupled with national surveys that show older adults experience increased depression, isolation, and chronic medical conditions, point to the need for services that are age specific and address the unique physical, psychological, and social changes that may occur during this life stage.

Track Record in Treating Senior Substance Abusers

Odyssey House has an extensive track record in meeting the needs of this overlooked and underserved population. In 1997, we created the first-ever residential treatment program dedicated to treating older substance abusers, known as ElderCare. Since its inception, Odyssey House has increased capacity from 15 to 68 beds, reflecting the evergrowing demand for treatment among older adults.

While enrolled in the ElderCare program, residents receive specialized services and supports in addition to SUD treatment designed to help them to function independently within the community, such as life skills training, entitlements assistance, internal medicine, dentistry and psychiatry. Health care services are provided on-site at the Manor Family Center in East Harlem, where we also employ a geriatric social worker to work with our seniors to identify behavioral health care needs and develop a plan to address them.

In 2004, Odyssey House expanded services to include an outpatient SUD treatment track specifically for older adults. Because many elderly people are at risk of being cut off from their communities as they age, the treatment priorities of the ElderCare Outpatient Program, located on Southern Boulevard in the Bronx, are to encourage older people to develop a social support network among their peers in recovery; provide them with individual and group therapy; and visit them in their homes as necessary. Counselors trained in geriatric care develop individualized treatment plans incorporating age-related individual and group therapies targeting symptoms of depression and anxiety, bereavement counseling and life planning, and access to primary medical care.

To date, Odyssey House has served well over 2,000 older adults in residential and outpatient settings, and serves an average of 130 ElderCare clients annually. ElderCare consistently operates at full capacity and has a waiting list, reflecting the program’s appeal to a growing group of consumers as well as the tremendous need in the community.

Our residents are often the highest users of Medicaid services due to multiple risk factors: active SUD, cooccurring mental health disorder, (several) chronic illnesses, and homelessness. Forty-three percent have a primary medical diagnosis of hypertension, 20 percent are HIV+, 15 percent have asthma, and 10 percent have heart problems. Alcohol is the most common primary substance of abuse, 38 percent, although heroin and crack/ cocaine follow closely behind, 30 percent and 26 percent, respectively. Almost 68 percent list two or more substances of abuse at admission.

Building On Treatment: Peer Mentoring Network for Elders in Early Recovery

In Summer 2014, Odyssey House received a $445,000 grant from the New York State Department of Health to implement a peer mentoring track for older adults (Serving Older Adults Recovery System, or SOARS), based out of the Bronx-based Outpatient Services program. SOARS will allow Odyssey House to provide case management services and improve access to community-based recovery resources for up to 90 ElderCare clients over 14-16 months.

SOARS will deliver a continuum of support services for older adults utilizing both intensive case management and peer-based recovery coaching. Odyssey House case managers will work one-on-one with clients as they transition out of residential treatment, connecting them to community -based services to help them remain out of institutional care. In addition, clients will be paired with a volunteer Recovery Coach, who will serve as a peer mentor to assist in identifying and engaging in community-based recovery supports.

The goal of SOARS is to facilitate and expand older adults’ access to community-based Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) and ongoing support through the utilization of intensive case management and peer recovery coaching. The expected outcomes from this project are to: keep older adults residing in their homes in the community; increase engagement in the recovery process; improve retention; reduce depression and drug use during and after treatment; and improve social connectedness, quality of life, and self-image.

Reference: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (2012, January 12). Older Adult Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Have Increased; Number of Special Treatment Programs for This Population Has Decreased. Data Spotlight. http://www.samhsa.gov/ data/spotlight/WEB_SPOT_043/ WEB_SPOT_043.pdf

In the news: Recovery services for older adults

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News 12 Bronx interviewed Mary Callahan, program director of Odyssey House Outpatient Services, as well as clients about the $445,000 grant we just received from the NYS Department of Health. The grant will allow us to implement a peer mentoring track for older adults (Serving Older Adults Recovery System, or SOARS), providing case management services and improving access to community-based recovery resources for up to 90 ElderCare clients over 14-16 months. 


Check out the press release to learn more about this innovative program (pdf).