Director Elizabeth Davis, LCSW, CALA
Elizabeth Davis is a licensed clinical social worker who has worked since 1982 for organizations and programs that serve the needs of older adults in New York and New Jersey. In 1990, she founded Geriatric Services, Inc. (GSI) in response to the lack of affordable supportive housing for older adults. That same year, GSI took over management of Bright Side Manor, a 50 bed licensed residential health care facility that had been operating as senior housing since 1916. In 2002, Elizabeth secured funding for a $5 million construction project, completed in 2003, that enabled Bright Side Manor to become licensed as an assisted living facility and increased its capacity from 50 to 65 residents. It is now the only assisted living facility in Bergen County that is affordable for low and middle income older adults.
Appreciating the severe shortage of subsidized senior housing, in 2009 Elizabeth located a property site and secured funding to build a 62 unit subsidized senior apartment building at 60 Bergen Avenue in Teaneck. In 2014, after a long struggle to secure zoning approval. ground was broken for this important project and construction was completed in April 2016. The building is fully occupied and designed to support aging in place. Wellness programs, recreational and educational activities and nutritional services will be offered to residents.
Assisted living programs are licensed to provide services for seniors in subsidized housing who are no longer independent but cannot afford or do not wish to move out of their community. With expertise in providing assisted living services in a cost effective manner, GSI now operates the PALS (Portable Assisted Living Services) Program. It was launched at Westwood House, a 182 senior apartment building in Westwood NJ and will be expanding into other subsidized buildings across Bergen County. With support from PALS, tenants can remain in their own apartments while being provided with assistance with personal care, meal preparation, medication administration, housekeeping, laundry and health monitoring services.
In 2016, GSI launched the Age Friendly Teaneck Project with support from The Henry and Marilyn Taub Foundation. We at GSI believe this initiative will improve overall livability of this community and will serve as a model for other communities committed to supporting an aging population
Appreciating the severe shortage of subsidized senior housing, in 2009 Elizabeth located a property site and secured funding to build a 62 unit subsidized senior apartment building at 60 Bergen Avenue in Teaneck. In 2014, after a long struggle to secure zoning approval. ground was broken for this important project and construction was completed in April 2016. The building is fully occupied and designed to support aging in place. Wellness programs, recreational and educational activities and nutritional services will be offered to residents.
Assisted living programs are licensed to provide services for seniors in subsidized housing who are no longer independent but cannot afford or do not wish to move out of their community. With expertise in providing assisted living services in a cost effective manner, GSI now operates the PALS (Portable Assisted Living Services) Program. It was launched at Westwood House, a 182 senior apartment building in Westwood NJ and will be expanding into other subsidized buildings across Bergen County. With support from PALS, tenants can remain in their own apartments while being provided with assistance with personal care, meal preparation, medication administration, housekeeping, laundry and health monitoring services.
In 2016, GSI launched the Age Friendly Teaneck Project with support from The Henry and Marilyn Taub Foundation. We at GSI believe this initiative will improve overall livability of this community and will serve as a model for other communities committed to supporting an aging population