Breathing easier at Five Towns Premier Rehab Center

The lobby of the Five Towns Premier Rehabilitation and Nursing Center looks more like a luxury hotel than a nursing home. The new Woodmere building, at 1050 Central Ave., was opened in January, and is more than twice the size of the previous location, which stood nearby at 121 Franklin Place, was about 75,000-square-feet. The venue is 183,000-square-feet, and has everything a long-term resident could need.

The center has 280 beds, each with its own flat-screen television. There are recreation areas, an outdoor patio, a synagogue and even has its own beauty parlor. Most importantly however, the center is equipped to provide residents with treatment without having to leave the premises. It has 14 dialysis machines, a rehabilitation gym and the first two floors have tubes suspended from the ceilings with piped-in oxygen, which allows residents to move throughout the building without having to carry around heavy and bulky oxygen tanks.

George Fandaros, the director of respiratory therapy, was particularly proud of the unit, which can house up to 62 patients, accommodate up to 39 on ventilators; currently there are 16 such residents. Fandaros said that through the rehabilitation program some patients have been weaned off ventilators. “That’s truly one of our biggest goals in this unit,” he said. “Try to maximize the potential of everyone who either has an artificial airway or is ventilator dependent, and get them back to the community as soon as possible.”

Oxygen hoses are available in many areas where people congregate, and Fandaros said they are equipped to add these hoses to every floor. There are several in the dining room, a couple in the rehabilitation room and beauty parlor, as well as a few spread out in different lounges where residents can socialize or bring family members.

“A lot of the therapy that happens here is about socialization,” said Erwin Navarijo, the assistant director of respiratory therapy. “With a lot of the residents with respiratory issues and are on ventilators, if they’re in their room their either alone or just with a roommate. When they come to the gym they’re able to interact with others and can bond. Especially when we get current events on the TV, when the World Cup was on this was a big happy place. Everyone’s excited it gets them out of the room.”

As one walks around the center they’ll notice many of the residents out and about. The center also hosts activities. There are regular bingo games and there was even patient prom. Resident Alan Morris gave the rehabilitation and nursing center his endorsement. “This place is the best,” he said.

Fandaros also showed off the in-house dialysis center, and explained that at other facilities patients might have to be taken to the hospital for treatment. The process is much easier for patients when they are just an elevator ride away, he added.

In addition to the long-term programs, the Five Towns Premier Rehabilitation and Nursing Center also offers short-term physical, occupational, respiratory and speech therapy to all adults. More information can be found at fivetownspremier.com.