Goodwill NeuroRehab clinic to open in Scarborough

COURTESY / NAI THE DUNHAM GROUP Goodwill is scheduled to open its neurorehabilitation program Sept. 12 in a new location at 8 Science Park Road in Scarborough. The new location is seen here before customized renovations for Goodwill were completed.

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By Staff

Goodwill Northern New England will hold a public open house showcasing the new location of a brain injury clinic at 8 Science Park Road in Scarborough.

The open house is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12. Goodwill will also hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m.

The NeuroRehab facility moved there from East Bayside in Portland in order to better serve clients, according to a news release.

The new space is custom-built to help people with acquired brain injuries. It features an indoor track where clients can practice walking, a safe kitchen to re-learn cooking skills, quiet rooms, a yoga studio, private medical treatment rooms and more. The new location is close to other medical buildings.

“A lot of people know about our thrift stores. We’re excited to show them some stories behind the stores,” Rich Cantz, president and CEO of Goodwill Northern New England, said in the release.

Goodwill’s team of case managers, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, neuropsychologists, speech pathologists and others treat the cognitive, emotional and physical needs of people with brain injuries. Goodwill NeuroRehab provides community-based therapies. For instance, after a brain injury some people need to practice skills like making a grocery list, shopping and cooking, so staff take clients out to practice those skills in the community.

“No one expects to get a brain injury, but it happens more than you might think,” Dr. Kathleen Albert, the clinical director of Scarborough’s NeuroRehab, said in the release. “We see clients who just slipped on the ice shoveling their driveways, or had a minor car accident. But brains are both fragile and resilient. We do our best to help people get back to life after an unexpected injury.”

Goodwill also operates a NeuroRehab center in Lewiston. Combined, the two locations have helped more than 9,000 people recover from brain injuries.

In April, Goodwill sold its East Bayside space to prepare for the move to Scarborough.

About Goodwill Northern New England

Goodwill Northern New England is a nonprofit social enterprise in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Profits from its 30 thrift stores support important programs in the region. Its programs include many workforce training programs, 23 group homes that support adults with disabilities, day programming for adults with disabilities, AmeriCorps programs and two business-cleaning services. The goal of each program is to help people achieve independence and personal stability. For more information visit GoodwillNNE.org.