QUEENS HEALTH
Life in the city can be draining sometimes. We all try to find ways to stay healthy. It doesn’t always work, but at least most of us give it some effort.
As we age, we rely on others to keep us healthy, and we eventually succumb to that which we can no longer put off.
Let’s take a look at how we are born, live and die in Queens.
NURSING HOMES
We all know that Queens is world renowned for its nursing homes and skilled care centers, but how can you trust which ones get the best reviews? Well, it turns out that the federal government does routine inspections and posts the results at www.medicare.gov for all to see.
Various criteria in the ranking are rated from a 1 to a 4, with 1 being the best. Any ranking between a 2 and a 4 is considered a “deficiency,” which in most cases for Queens places means that a site has ranked a 2 in a category, as opposed to a 1. These are the Queens facilities that have not shown any deficiencies in the last round of inspections.
Elmhurst Care Center, Inc
100 17 23rd Avenue
East Elmhurst, NY 11369
(718) 205-8100
Haven Manor Health
Care Center
1441 Gateway Boulevard
Far Rockaway, NY 11691
(718) 471-1500
Horizon Care Center
64 11 Beach Channel Drive
Arverne, NY 11692
(718) 945-0700
Park Terrace Care Center
59 20 Van Doren Street
Corona, NY 11368
(718) 592-9200
Queen Of Peace Residence
110 30 221st St
Queens Village, NY 11429
(718) 464-1800
St Marys Hospital For Children Inc
29 01 216 Street
Bayside, NY 11360
(718) 281-8800
Union Plaza Care Center
33 23 Union Street
Flushing, NY 11354
(718) 670-0700
Windsor Park Nursing Home
212 40 Hillside Avenue
Queens Village, NY 11427
(718) 468-0800
Source: Medicare.gov
The average number of deficiencies in the state is 5. These are the rest of the Queens facilities that, though not without any deficiencies, are above average.
Bezalel Rehabilitation And
Nursing Center
29 38 Far Rockaway Blvd
Far Rockaway, NY 11691
(718) 471-2600
Brookhaven Rehab And Health
Care Center
250 Beach 17th Street
Far Rockaway, NY 11691
(718) 471-7500
Cliffside Rehab & H C C
119 - 19 Graham Court
Flushing, NY 11354
(718) 886-0700
Dr William O Benenson
Rehabilitation Pavilion
36 17 Parsons Boulevard
Flushing, NY 11354
(718) 961-4300
Dry Harbor S N F
61 35 Dry Harbor Road
Middle Village, NY 11379
(718) 565-4200
Fairview Nursing Care Center
69 70 Grand Central Parkway
Forest Hills, NY 11375
(718) 263-4600
Far Rockaway Nursing Home
13 11 Virginia St
Far Rockaway, NY 11691
(718) 327-2909
Flushing Manor Nursing And
Rehabilitation Center
35 15 Parsons Blvd
Flushing, NY 11354
(718) 961-3500
Forest View Center Rehab Nursing
71 20 110th Street
Forest Hills, NY 11375
(718) 793-3200
Franklin Center For Rehabilitation
And Nursing
142 27 Franklin Avenue
Flushing, NY 11355
(718) 670-3400
Highland Care Center Inc
91 31 175th Street
Jamaica, NY 11432
(718) 657-6363
Hillside Manor Rehab And
Extended Care
182 15 Hillside Avenue
Jamaica Est, NY 11432
(718) 291-8200
Little Neck Nursing Home
260 19 Nassau Blvd
Little Neck, NY 11362
(718) 423-6400
Meadow Park Rehab
Health Center
78 10 164th Street
Flushing, NY 11366
(718) 591-8300
N Y S Vets Home St Albans
178 50 Linden Blvd
Jamaica, NY 11434
(718) 990-0329
New Glen Oaks
260 01 79th Avenue
Glen Oaks, NY 11004
(718) 343-0770
New York Center For Rehab
And Nursing
26-13 21st Street
Astoria, NY 11102
(718) 626-4800
Ocean Promenade Nursing Center
140 Beach 113th Street
Rockaway Park, NY 11694
(718) 945-6350
Ozanam Hall Of Queens Nursing
42 41 201st Street
Bayside, NY 11361
(718) 423-2000
Parker Jewish Institute For
Health Care And Rehab
271-11 76th Ave
New Hyde Park, NY 11040
(718) 289-2100
Queens Blvd Ext Care Facility
61 11 Queens Boulevard
Woodside, NY 11377
(718) 205-0288
Queens Nassau Rehabilitation
And Nursing Center
520 Beach 19th Street
Far Rockaway, NY 11691
(718) 471-7400
Regal Heights Rehabilitation
Health Care
70-05 35 Avenue
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
(718) 662-5100
Rego Park Nursing Home
111 26 Corona Avenue
Flushing, NY 11368
(718) 592-6400
Silvercrest ECF
144 45 87th Avenue
Jamaica, NY 11435
(718) 480-4026
West Lawrence Care Center
1410 Seagirt Blvd
Far Rockaway, NY 11691
(718) 471-7000
Source: Medicare.gov
Getting A Workout
When all the health enthusiasts throughout Queens are done gulping down their wheat grass shakes and the new comers to the well-being scene have purchased the latest and hottest workout gear along with yoga mats, the next step is obviously heading to the gym. According to many New Yorkers’ most trusted reference, City Search, there are a few gyms in Queens that seem to be a bit more alluring than others.
Mt Olympus Gym in Flushing
Gold’s Gym in Astoria
A Womanspace Incorporated in Flushing
Diamond Gym Fitness Center in Jamaica
Fitness Point Health Club in Long Island City
Source: Citysearch.com 2006
Health Food Stores
Parker Jewish Center is above average, according to medicare.gov. |
Some places can cook tofu better than others; it’s just that simple. Sure, it’s no easy task preparing the fermented bean curd, but on the other hand it’s not that hard to stock the shelves of the health food store with some variety and rarity. Luckily, in Queens, we’ve got some interesting and accommodating stores we can jog to if we need an organic apple or two.
Future Health Food in Flushing
Guru’s Health Food in Jamaica
Health Nut in Bayside
Linda’s Natural Kitchen & Market in Kew Gardens
Organic World in Forest Hills
Quantum Leap in Fresh Meadows
Queens Health Emporium in Flushing
Vege Eats Inc. in Flushing
Vital Health Foods in Jamaica
Your Health Connection in Flushing
Most Polluted Areas
It’s no secret that cities are one of the major by-products of the industrial revolution, and it’s no secret that pollution is the next biggest. Walking along any street in Western Queens and it’s pretty much a given that you’ll be breathing in a variety of fumes ranging from warehouse emissions to the dizzying exhausts of yellow cabs and delivery trucks. Fortunately though, not all of Queens is suffocated with pollution, but there are those areas that are.
1. Kennedy and LaGuardia Airports
2. Queens Boulevard and Long Island Expressway
3. Broadway and Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights
4. Astoria Boulevard and 31st Street in Astoria
5. 23rd Avenue and 91st Street in East Elmhurst
6. Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue in Flushing
7. Guy R. Brewer and Farmers Boulevard in Rochdale Village
8. Jamaica Avenue and Merrick Boulevard in Jamaica
9. Queens Plaza in Long Island City
10. Forest Hills Gardens in Forest Hills
Source: Departments of Environmental Conservation
and Environmental Protection
Leading Causes Of Death
New York City ‘s death rate reached a historic low of 7.2 per 1,000 people in 2004, according to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s 2004 Summary of Vital Statistic.
Life expectancy increased to 78.2 years for a New Yorker born in 2003 – 7.2 months more than the national average – and 6 months more than in 2000. Females born in 2003 have a life expectancy of 80.7 years, and males’ life expectancy is 75.1 years, said the DHMH. This compares with preliminary 2003 national life expectancy data of 80.1 years for females and 74.8 years for males. Even though life expectancy is increasing for New Yorkers there are the unfortunate factors that cut time short, and some factors are deadlier than others.
Heart disease took 22,632 lives citywide
Cancer took 13,611 lives citywide
Influenza/Pneumonia took 3,003 lives citywide
Strokes took 1,794 lives citywide
Diabetes took 1,734 lives citywide
HIV took 1,384 lives citywide
Psychoactive Substances took 837 lives citywide
Assault (Homicide) took 574 lives citywide
Source: Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
based on 57,466 deaths citywide in 2004.
Deaths Due to Drugs
At least 17 New Yorkers have died from fentanyl-related drug overdose since May 2006, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said last month.
The deaths appear to be accidental overdoses of illegal drugs, such as heroin or cocaine, laced with the prescription painkiller fentanyl. There have been clusters of these deaths in other areas including Philadelphia, Chicago, St. Louis, and New Jersey, totaling more than 500 deaths nationwide. The fatal substances that have killed a total of 890 city residents, this year alone, aren’t just limited to the ones the DHMH have acknowledged, but reach into Queens neighborhoods.
Community Board 12: 17
Community Board 13: 16
Community Board 1: 13
Community Board 7: 12
Community Board 5: 11
Source: City Stats 2006
