The Norwegian Christian Home and Health Center in Dyker Heights celebrated the completion of its newest rehabilitation gym with a ribbon-cutting last week.
The $80,000-plus renovation, unveiled on March 19, aims to enhance the facility’s ability to provide top-tier rehabilitation services, including physical and occupational therapy. The gym will support residents recovering from strokes, arthritis, and other mobility challenges, officials said, helping them regain independence and improve their quality of life.
“We have given the gym an entirely new look by adding new equipment and training areas, all with the goal of preparing our residents for their discharge back to their homes in the community,” the home’s executive director, Anthony Restaino, told Brooklyn Paper.
The new gym includes an area with a bathtub, a washing machine and grocery shelves, Restaino said, as well as a revamped kitchen area and additional open space for staff members to work in. “This is all designed to assist our residents in navigating these areas within their home.”
“We have also purchased a car simulator which assists residents in getting in and out of a car,” Restaino added. “No longer will we need to bring the residents out to the parking lot to achieve this goal.”
The project was funded through the home’s first annual golf outing and additional fundraising efforts.
“This has all been done to create a more positive and effective experience for our residents,” Restaino said.
Founded in 1903, Norwegian Christian Home has served Brooklyn’s senior community for more than a century — its mission to provide compassionate, faith-based care for older adults. Since its inception, the facility has grown to include a range of services, from skilled nurses and assisted living to rehabilitation.
