The structure

The Matera Geriatric Center, accredited with the Regional Health System, was created to complement the Lucanian health care network also due to the changing demographics of the population with the goal of becoming clinical pole and of search reference for the Basilicata Region, and not only, for cognitive disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, first and foremost Alzheimer’s disease.

Designed and built in compliance with the latest quality requirements in the field of care, it offers an innovative range of residential social and health services by accommodating individuals who are not self-sufficient and cannot be cared for at home. It stands a few kilometers from the city of the Sassi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, spread over an area of more than 12,000 square meters, with a bright inner courtyard of 3,400 square meters and surrounded by a large garden park has dedicated parking spaces for the disabled and pregnant women.

The structure, by Resolution Dec. 03, 2021, no. 792, operates in a residential and semi-residential setting providing hospitality, health care, welfare services, functional recovery and stabilization through activities aimed at preventing functional damage from chronic diseases towards those individuals whose physical and/or mental limitations do not allow them to lead an independent life.

To ensure that each type of dependent patient is taken care of, it is divided into cores:

• Intensive Residential RSA (RSA /R1 – authorized n. 22 beds)
  Intensive residential treatment of care and functional maintenance, with high health commitment, is provided to non-self-sufficient users with acute diseases with clinical instability, high level of complexity, and symptoms that are difficult to control and who need support for vital functions (mechanical and assisted ventilation, enteral or parental prolonged nutrition, specialized high-commitment treatment for vegetative states, prolonged coma, severe respiratory failure, neurodegenerative diseases of the nervous system) and appropriate social interventions, against a medium and prolonged care program.
• Extensive non-self-sufficient RSA (RSA/R2 – accredited no. 20 beds)
  Extensive residential treatment of care and functional recovery is provided to non-self-sufficient users with pathologies that, while not presenting particular criticality and complex symptoms, require high health protection (such as daily medical and nursing care, functional recovery treatment, administration of e.v. therapy, artificial nutrition, treatment for decubitus injuries, etc.) with continuity of care and nursing presence over 24 hours.
• RSA non-self-sufficient Alzheimer’s patients (RSA/R2D Dementia – accredited no. 8 beds)
  Extensive residential treatment is provided to users with dementia in the stages when the mnestic disorder is associated with behavioral and/or affective disorders that require extensive rehabilitative treatment, reorientation and personal protection in a “protected” environment.
• Long-assisted non-self-sufficient RSA (RSA/R3 – accredited no. 20 beds)
  Residential treatment of functional recovery and maintenance is provided, to non-self-sufficient users, aimed at reception, maintenance and/or recovery of residual autonomy, characterized by low health protection, continuity of care and socialization and animation activities.
• Semi-residential non-self-sufficient RSA (no. 38 beds) of which:
  no. 18 accredited rehabilitation and maintenance treatment beds for the elderly (SR)
  n. 20 licensed beds for the extensive treatment of dependent individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (SRD)

Long-term care, recovery, functional maintenance and reorientation day cycle treatments are provided for non-self-sufficient users with low health care needs, including those with dementia, for the improvement and/or maintenance of the person’s residual autonomy, prevention of institutionalization, as well as support and/or relief for the user and his or her family.

Amultidisciplinary team of selected and qualified staff, constantly updated through articulated continuing education plans, ensures that high levels of quality care are maintained and the most appropriate and effective individualized care is defined.

In fact, social and health care intervention is dictated by the peculiar characteristics of each guest and in safeguarding full respect for human dignity, faith, needs, interests and private life of each person.

The cores are accredited by Executive Determination no. 13BI.2023/D.00216 dated 04.07.2023.

Scientific Research

Translational scientific research will target neurodegenerative diseases in their clinical and neuropsychological aspects, as well as physiological aging.

The Center will also be a training site for neurology and neuropsychology residents, and rehabilitation science and nursing students.

All activities will benefit from the collaboration of:

• IRCCS San Raffaele
• San Raffaele Telematic University Rome
• University of Rome La Sapienza
• University of Bari Aldo Moro
• University of Catanzaro Magna Grecia
• University of Basilicata
• University of Salento
• University of Foggia

Main lines of research:

– Development of an innovative model of integrated care that can be exported to other regional and extra-regional facilities
– Prevention of the onset of dementia diseases
– Preclinical or early diagnosis of the disease, enabling effective targeted treatment
– Development of Neuroimaging protocols for diagnosis and evaluation of treatment efficacy
– Development of protocols for the treatment of behavioral and cognitive disorders
– It will also be possible for patients to access new experimental drug therapies that can halt or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease