A bill reaffirms the role of medical research at Cushing, further establishing it as an innovator in geriatric care. An Alzheimer’s unit opens to serve patients with dementia and their caregivers.
In 1984, a bill transfers Cushing Hospital to be under the Department of Public Health and establishs a formal relationship with UMass Medical in Worcester. The hospital’s mission is to provide a "comprehensive program of health care services to aging citizens (70)" as well as to research causes, prevention, and cures for aging-related diseases. These dual functions positions it well as a teaching facility for medical professionals.
As a result of this legislation, in 1985 the area’s first Alzheimer's unit opened to provide care for patients affected by the disease and conduct a limited amount of research. The Alzheimer's unit also included a new type of program - respite care, or a way for caregivers of older adults with dementia to receive temporary relief through brief inpatient stays for patients.
