There is an urgent need for expanded senior healthcare and support services in New Jersey. More than a third of our state’s residents are over 50 and more than 1.5 million are over the age of 65.
Community hospitals like Bergen New Bridge are playing an essential role in providing the care that older adults and their loved ones need. What sets the Medical Center apart from other healthcare providers is our ability to provide a full continuum of Alzheimer’s and older adult care services in one location. Specialized dementia units, comprehensive memory care, and long-term skilled nursing teams deliver total wraparound support for older adults and their families. This holistic approach means we don’t just diagnose — we are with our patients on every step of their journey.
Our dedicated Alzheimer’s unit is staffed by compassionate professionals who are specially trained in dementia care. The team includes doctors and nurses, as well as social workers, therapists, dietitians, and support personnel who coordinate individualized treatment plans addressing medical, emotional, and daily living needs. In this way, we provide our patients and residents dignity, safety, and a sense of belonging as they navigate cognitive decline.
The FDA’s recent approval of a blood test to screen for Alzheimer’s disease is a groundbreaking step in how we diagnose and treat one of the most devastating illnesses of our time. For the 6.7 million Americans diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and their loved ones—including more than 20,000 residents of Bergen County — this development offers new hope, earlier answers, and the possibility of more timely interventions.
At Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, we are proud to be among the first hospitals equipped to offer this critical new screening. As New Jersey’s largest hospital, home to the state’s largest licensed nursing home and most recently, the addition of assisted living at Mill Gardens in Midland Park, we understand the impact Alzheimer’s has on patients, caregivers, and their loved ones. We know early diagnosis is essential in improving quality of life and expanding the care and support options before the disease progresses.
The ability to offer an FDA-approved blood test for Alzheimer’s is not just a scientific milestone — it’s a moral imperative. It means we can shift from reactive care to proactive care. We can give patients and families more time to plan, more time to connect, and more opportunities to access the services they need.
As a public safety net hospital, our mission is rooted in equity, access, and compassion. No one should face dementia alone or go without the screening and support they deserve due to financial barriers or lack of information. That’s why our role is so vital — and why Bergen New Bridge remains a trusted leader in older adult care.
We are proud to be at the forefront of this new era in Alzheimer’s detection and even more proud to offer these services with the empathy, expertise, and integrity the community has come to expect.
Everyone deserves to age with dignity and know that help is not only available — it’s close to home.
Deborah Visconi is the president and CEO of Bergen New Bridge Medical Center located in Paramus.
The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ROI-NJ.
