Gurwin Healthcare Systems’ cutting-edge Immersion Room recently took home top prize in the Innovation Category in the 13th Annual Long Island Imagine Awards.  Designed for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, Gurwin’s Immersion Room was lauded for delivering immersive virtual reality experiences that enhance resident quality of life. 

The annual Imagine Awards competition was created by Cerini & Associates LLP to showcase the good work being done by Long Island’s nonprofit sector. The region’s top organizations are selected to receive the prestigious recognition in the following competitive categories: Arts & Culture, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility (DEIA), Innovation, Leadership Excellence, Rising Star and Social Impact.  The Innovation Award, sponsored by Flagstar Private Bank, is given to the nonprofit that has been innovative in adopting new platforms that have led to a significant increase in the organization’s ability to meet its mission. 

“We are truly honored to be the recipient of the Flagstar Innovation Award,” said Stuart B. Almer, President and CEO of Gurwin Healthcare System. “The Gurwin Immersion Room is bringing patient-centric care to a whole new level for our residents, helping to ease dementia symptoms as well as creating new memorable experiences for visiting families and their loved ones. We are literally putting our residents back in the driver’s seat, helping them reconnect with parts of themselves that in some cases have been lost for years. It is our goal to roll out this transformative technology throughout our other communities within the Gurwin Healthcare System.” 

Located in the heart of the Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center’s Memory Care Unit, the Gurwin Immersion Room is the first of its kind in long-term care on Long Island, and was made possible through collaboration with Besser Rooms of Amityville, and grant support from the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The Immersion Room incorporates state-of-the-art projector technology, custom-made props and immersive   experiences with stimulating sights, sounds and scents to engage the senses, mitigate symptoms and stir memories from bygone days. Calming scenes are customized to match resident interests, such as a snowy forest, quiet chair yoga, a lively, hands-on virtual drive, or even a roller coaster experience for thrill-seeking residents.

Details about Long Island Imagine Awards and the list of winners in all categories are available at https://www.imagineawardsli.org/finalist/.

About Gurwin Healthcare System

Gurwin Healthcare System is a renowned healthcare provider offering a full continuum of healthcare and senior living services for more than 35 years.  Set on a 36-acre campus in Commack, NY, the System includes Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, providing short-term rehabilitation and long-term skilled nursing care, memory care, respiratory and ventilator care, palliative and hospice care, social and medical adult day programs and on-site dialysis. Located within the Center is Gurwin Licensed Home Care Services Agency and Certified Home Care Agency, which provide in-home skilled care as well as home health aides.  Sharing the campus is Gurwin’s Assisted Living community, Gurwin Jewish ~ Fay J. Lindner Residences, and Fountaingate Gardens, a luxury independent living community.  Completing the Gurwin family of healthcare services is Island Nursing and Rehab Center, a 120-bed skilled nursing facility located in Holtsville, New York.   For more information, visit www.gurwin.org. Follow Gurwin on Facebook (@GurwinNursingRehab) (@GurwinAssistedLiving) and on X (@GurwinJewish).

About The Imagine Awards

The Imagine Awards was created in 2012 on Long Island by Ken Cerini, Managing Partner of Cerini & Associates, LLP. Honoring nonprofit organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Imagine Awards recognize outstanding performances in the sector. For more information, visit  www.imagineawardsli.com.