Some of the best resources for Lewy Body Dementia programming and activities are located right in your backyard! New York is home to a vast network of arts and cultural institutions, holistic care providers, and social service groups that offer a wide range of activities to help caregivers and people with LBD enjoy a high quality of living.
We’ve listed some of our favorites below and arranged them by region to help you find the best resources in your community.
Manhattan
Museum of Modern Art – MoMA provides comprehensive programming for people with dementia, their families and caregivers. The museum has two programs in particular that may be of interest to people with LBD: Meet Me at MoMA, which is for people with dementia, and Prime Time, for adults over the age of 65. Meet Me at MoMA is a monthly program renowned for its ability to help people with dementia through access to art. To learn more, call 212-408-6347.
CaringKind: Formerly known as the Alzheimer’s Association-New York City Chapter CaringKind offers extensive programming for people with dementia in the New York area. The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Early Stage Center — one of their many programs — serves people with early forms of dementia. Another program, TogetherWeCare®, provides training for caregivers. CaringKind offers a wealth of resources: a 24-hour helpline in 200 languages, education programs, bereavement and support groups, and the Wanderer’s Safety Program. Visit www.caringkindnyc.org to connect with their network.
Chair Yoga – The Mount Sinai Beth Israel Phillips Ambulatory Care Center (PACC) hosts this FREE class on Tuesdays from 3:15 – 4:30 pm. Chair Yoga is a relaxing class designed to help people with LBD and other types of dementia improve flexibility, gait, coordination, balance and facial movement. Registration is required. To sign up, call 212-844-6134, or email [email protected].
• Learn about other museum programs in the Manhattan area
Brooklyn
Brooklyn Museum – Once a month, the Brooklyn Museum invites people with LBD and their caregivers to Brooklyn Afternoons – a FREE program held from 2:00 – 4:00 pm where visitors can enjoy art and socialize with their peers. The galleries are closed to the public during this time. Light refreshments are also available. Registration is required. Call 718-501-6229 or email [email protected] for more information.
Long Island
Sid Jacobson JCC: This East Hills center located at 300 Forest Drive offers support groups, counseling and workshops for people with LBD, Alzheimer’s and other memory-loss diseases at 21 local synagogues through their Partners In Caring program. Sid Jacobson organizes several adult day programs and weekly activities for seniors with memory loss and those with early dementia onset. A full list of events can be found here. For more information, call Director of Specialized Senior Services Taylor Herbert, LCSW, at 516-484-1545 ext. 150, or email [email protected]. Their programs cost $60/day, but no one is ever refused for their inability to pay. The center will work with families and caregivers to find a solution.
Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation (LIAF): LIAF hosts two types of programs that accept people with LBD: Early Stage Programs and Moderate Stage Programs. Transportation may be available. Call 516-767-6856 for more information.
YMCA of Long Island: Several local YMCA chapters in Long Island offer “Moving for Better Balance,” a FREE 12-week fall prevention program that incorporates elements of Tai Chi to encourage balance and self-confidence in aging adults. To register, call 855.2YMCALI or visit your local YMCA center.
Westchester / Rockland County
Westchester Library: Music has been shown to increase communication, cognitive ability and general well-being in people with LBD and other types of dementia. The Westchester Library System hosts an event called Music and Memory at the Library to help caregivers incorporate music into their daily care regimen. Call 914-674-3600 to learn more.
• Rockland County also features some amazing dance-based programs for people with dementia.
