Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

Sen. Chris Jacobs is pictured with People Inc. clients, board members and staff in announcing $1 million in funding he secured to expand health care delivery at People Inc.'s Elmwood Health Center.
Sen. Chris Jacobs is pictured with People Inc. clients, board members and staff in announcing $1 million in funding he secured to expand health care delivery at People Inc.'s Elmwood Health Center.

Jacobs delivers $1 million to expand People Inc. health care delivery

Submitted

Fri, Apr 20th 2018 09:45 pm
New center would serve both developmentally disabled and general population
New York State Sen. Chris Jacobs announced he has secured a major investment of $1 million in state funding to support People Inc.'s efforts to build a brand new Elmwood Health Center.
"People Inc. has excelled at providing quality health care, first for the developmentally disabled community, and then the general population, for the last 25 years at their Elmwood Health Center," Jacobs said. "The need continues to grow, and I am very pleased that this $1 million will allow People to significantly enhance their health care delivery and realize their vision for the future."
People Inc. opened the current Elmwood Heath Center in 1994 to address the unique health care needs for people with developmental disabilities. These individuals often require more time with a health care practitioner and sometimes have medical needs that require them to see various medical specialists such as occupational and physical therapists, podiatrists, neurologists, behavioral management specialists and social workers. Their health care experience is greatly improved by being able to access all these services under one roof.
Over the last 25 years, the organization gradually expanded its services to the surrounding neighborhood. As demand grew in the underserved community, so, too, did its existing clients, and the agency now serves people from as far north as Niagara Falls to as far south as East Aurora. With a growing wait list for services, People Inc. developed its plans and vision for the new facility.
"It's amazing when you look at how much we have grown at our Elmwood Health Center. Twenty-five years ago, we started here because we saw the need for people with developmental disabilities to get the proper health care they deserve," said People Inc. President and CEO Rhonda Frederick. "We began to provide services to people without disabilities because we saw the need. We are addressing the fact that this community is a medically underserved area - that there are critical health care issues here - by working with Sen. Jacobs to build a new health center. People Inc. and our board of directors are thankful to Sen. Jacobs and, more importantly, we are appreciative that he has a vision, too."
"I can attest firsthand to the exceptional services the Elmwood Health Center provides to my sister, Jeanne. The attention she receives give her and my family peace of mind," said Robert Mayer, immediate past board chair. "As a brother, and a member of People Inc.'s board of directors, I thank Sen. Jacobs and People Inc. for obtaining these funds so more people can have the same experience here and at the future Elmwood Health Center."
Over the years, People Inc. has become an integral part of the Developmentally Disabled Alliance of Western New York. Barbara DeLong is co-chair of DDAWNY's family committee and her daughter, Laura, receives care at the Elmwood Health Center. She participated in the announcement and tried to put the funding into the perspective of a family member whose loved one will be impacted.
"The whole team at the Elmwood Health Center - doctors, nurses and office staff - are patient-focused," she said. "It is clear they are committed to providing quality care to individuals with developmental disabilities, which is often complicated. There is a calming presence here. It's wonderful that this funding from Sen. Jacobs will help others experience it in a new facility."
"This funding and the expanded care capacity it will create will go a long way to ensuring the most vulnerable in our society receive the most basic and critical care, and improve the quality of life for both patients and their families," Jacobs said.

Hometown News

View All News