BAKER SENIOR CENTER APPOINTS DIRECTOR OF BROOKDALE COGNITIVE HEALTH SERVICES

BAKER SENIOR CENTER NAPLES APPOINTS COSTANZO AS
DIRECTOR OF BROOKDALE COGNITIVE HEALTH SERVICES

Baker Senior Center Naples, a nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive programs and social services to support older adults and their families, announced the appointment of Riley Costanzo, MSW as Director of Brookdale Cognitive Health Services. In this role, Costanzo is responsible for all dementia-focused programs, supervising staff and volunteers, and facilitating educational seminars and training.

Costanzo has more than three years of social work experience. She originally joined Baker Senior Center Naples as a Social Work Intern in August 2023, later becoming a Social Worker supporting individuals with mild to moderate dementia and early memory loss. Before that, she was a Social Worker at The Dubin Center in Fort Myers, Florida.

Costanzo earned both her Master of Social Work (MSW) and her Bachelor of Social Work from Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida, where she was named Undergraduate Student of the Year in March 2022. She also has received professional certificates as a Savvy Caregiver Trainer and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and Phi Alpha Honor Society.

Baker Senior Center is the only human services agency of its kind, providing “one-stop shop” services addressing the emotional and social needs of older adults in Collier and southern Lee counties. Since opening its doors in 2014, the organization has seen a surge in the depth and scope of need for comprehensive senior services in this region.

All programs and services are provided by licensed and credentialed professionals. These include the Brookdale Cognitive Health Center, which provides Dementia Respite Groups and Caregiver Support; Geriatric Case Management and Senior Outreach Programs; and Mental Health Counseling as well as a “choice” Food Pantry.

An average of 40 different social, educational and wellness programs also are offered each week thanks to a dedicated corps of more than 300 trained and vetted volunteers. Among these social programs are classes in art, music and film; brain fitness and educational seminars; courses in technology and computer science; physical well-being; and interest groups. The center serves everyone regardless of backgrounds and beliefs.

Baker Senior Center Naples is one of just 111 senior centers all across the United States, including just eight located within the state of Florida, to achieve accreditation from the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC). Accreditation means that the senior center meets the standards as developed by NISC in developing quality programs and services to meet the needs of seniors in the community.

For additional information on Baker Senior Center Naples and its comprehensive programs and social services for local seniors, visit www.bakerseniorcenternaples.org.