Welcome

It seems like my entire life has been focused on the lives of seniors. My close-knit extended family helped one another care for our parents and grandparents. As a teen, I often stayed with my maternal grandparents to cook, shop and clean, allowing my aunts to take some time off. In the evening we would sit together and share life stories. This was my favorite time—also a pivotal time, as it helped me in my career choice: to become an occupational therapist, with the goal of helping seniors live meaningful lives.

After graduating from New York University in 1988 with a BS in occupational therapy, my focus was to get as much experience as possible in a variety of Geriatric settings. My first job was on a psychiatric inpatient unit. I moved on to develop a community integration program in a shelter for homeless seniors. Then I accepted a position in pain management at the Hospital for Joint Diseases. During this time I also took graduate courses in non-profit management at the New School for Social Research. Thereafter I worked in several nursing and rehabilitation facilities, both as a clinician and manager.

It is with this in mind that I say with confidence that The Sam L. Cohen Rehabilitation Center is the finest rehabilitation center I’ve experienced. There are many things that set us apart from others. Perhaps the most prominent is that, in contrast to other facilities in the Portland area, we employ our own rehabilitation staff; we are not sub-contracted. As a result, our physical, occupational and speech therapists are highly committed and motivated, instilled with the desire for continued learning in the latest rehabilitation techniques.

Furthermore, we are a non-profit organization, providing the highest quality patient-directed care for seniors. Our therapists provide one-on-one treatment specifically designed for each individual patient’s lifestyle, without the financial constraints often encountered in for-profit organizations.

Our team thanks you for your continued support and interest. We welcome constructive feedback to further improve our services.

Heidi Graf
Rehabilitation Manager, Lifestyle Enrichment