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Those afflicted by MS “are often relegated to nursing homes and other institutions because they cannot live on their own,” said Lori Grifa, the state Department of Community Affairs commissioner. “Kershaw Commons has changed that dynamic by helping 30 MS patients live as independently as possible.”
The advantages are enormous:
The Freehold Township complex is less than a mile from CentraState Medical Center’s Multiple Sclerosis Center and the MS Wellness Center.
The $7 million, 34,000-square-foot building features 25 one-bedroom units and 6 two-bedroom units, one of which is reserved for an on-site superintendent.
Every apartment has a kitchen with roll-out pantry shelves and roll-under sinks and countertops; a bathroom with grab bars and a roll-in shower with an seat and controls; and 42”-wide doorways throughout the unit and building. The complex has automatic light sensors and door openers, as well as an oversized elevator to accommodate multiple scooters.
Built by Regan Development Corp. of Westchester, the “green” complex is energy-efficient, with features that improve air quality, control moisture and conserve water and energy.
Kershaw Commons will house a wellness and community space that will feature programming and support services provided by the National MS Society – including educational lectures, self-help groups, employment-related programs, even tai chi and yoga.
The New Jersey Metro Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society has designated a professional services coordinator to help residents get situated. On top of that, the non-profit Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey will help with money management and other financial issues.
The State Department of Health and Senior Services will provide Medicaid waiver funding to eligible residents, allowing the transition from institutions to homes.
And thanks to the Monmouth County Division of Social Services, all of the apartments will receive federal Section 8 funding: Residents will pay an anticipated 30 percent of their incomes for housing expenses, including rent and utilities.
“Kershaw Commons is a wonderful example of the good that can come out of public-private partnerships,” said Anthony L. Marchetta, executive director of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency. “It also demonstrates that even in times of economic hardship, supportive affordable housing can be successfully developed.”
“Residents will be able to maintain their independence by having the necessary tools on hand for them to do so,” said Jim Roberts, president of the New Jersey Metro Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
MS is a chronic, so-far incurable disease that interrupts the flow of information between the brain and the body and can stop people from moving. For some, this means living with unpredictable symptoms that can come and go, like numbness and blurred vision. For others, there is more permanent damage, like paralysis. MS is a chronic disease of the central nervous system characterized by visual problems.
The unique disease requires unique approaches – and that’s what is happening in Freehold.
Less than a decade ago, the National MS Society teamed with CentraState Medical Center to create the Linda E. Cardinale Multiple Sclerosis Center, specifically dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of those with MS.
Another collaboration followed: the MS Wellness Center, which works proactively to improve their patients’ health and well-being – including aquatics and exercise programs.
Kershaw Commons is the third leg of that stool.
“The public support for Kershaw Commons has been overwhelming, in combination with private bank lenders and private equity investment,” said Regan Corp. Vice-President Ken Regan, a volunteer consultant for The National MS Society. “From the start of this project, so many public agencies have worked hard to help people with MS. Combining those public efforts with substantial private equity investment, we have crafted a stable affordable rental complex to help those with MS for many years to come.”
For more information about MS contact the New Jersey Metro Chapter of the National MS Society at (732) 660-1005 or online at NationalMSSociety.org
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