Francis E. Parker
1857-1905
Henrietta Parker
1866-1931
1907
Henrietta Parker establishes the Francis E. Parker Memorial Home in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in memory of her husband who believed that people suffering from chronic illnesses should have the opportunity to live in a home-like environment with excellent and affordable nursing care. A few years after opening the home, a nursing school for women is also established. Today, this nursing home is known as Parker at Landing Lane.
Funding to maintain the home is generated mainly from members of the local community, and many of the services are provided by volunteers.
1930’s – 1940
General Robert Wood Johnson, the Chair of Johnson & Johnson, becomes significantly involved with the nursing home. He provides financial support to the home with a generous gift, expanding its capacity to 30 beds.
1943
The Francis E. Parker Memorial Home receives tax exempt status from the United States Treasury Department.
1954
The Francis E. Parker Memorial Home is granted its first license as a non-profit nursing home by the New Jersey Department of Institutions and Agencies.
1960 – 1968
General Robert Wood Johnson becomes much more involved with Parker, and continues to uphold the Parker philosophy of offering high-quality, affordable nursing care in a home-like setting. He provides additional financial support to continue the expansion and modernization of the Landing Lane home. He then appoints members of Johnson & Johnson’s leadership team to Parker’s Board of Trustees.
General Johnson remains actively involved and provides financial support for Parker until his death in 1968.
1980
Recognizing the need for additional quality nursing home care, the Board of Trustees purchases property on River Road in Piscataway/Highland Park and begins the development of a 60-bed nursing home on the Piscataway part of the land. Parker at River Road opens in 1982.
1998
A new President and Administrator, Roberto Muñiz, is hired by Parker’s Executive Committee of the Board.
Under Roberto’s leadership, a major interior renovation project begins for both Parker at Landing Lane and Parker at River Road. Parker also embarks on a person-centered culture change journey by embracing the Eden Alternative® philosophy. In 2000, Parker at River Road is honored as one of only four registered Eden homes in New Jersey.
2002
Parker expands and opens Evergreen Way, a unique household model memory care neighborhood, the first of its kind in New Jersey. Parker at River Road is expanded to a 79-bed nursing home and continues its culture change journey.
2007
Parker celebrates its 100th anniversary by opening Parker at Stonegate, its first assisted living residence with 60 suites, as well as the Parker at The Pavilion community center, expanding its River Road campus into Highland Park.
Parker establishes the Center for Healthy Aging at Parker at Stonegate (CHAPS) and expands its affiliation with the UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Family Medicine to continue its mission of enhancing clinical services and training health professionals in geriatrics and gerontology.
2008
Parker at The Pavilion opens with a unique new service, the Parker Child Development Center, for children 4 weeks to 4 years old, offering on-site intergenerational programs.
2008
Parker establishes Home and Community-Based Services with the opening of the Parker Adult Day Center at The Pavilion on the Highland Park campus, expanding its services to support people who are aging at home.
2010
Home and Community-Based Services expands with the opening of the Parker Health and Wellness Center at The Pavilion, serving hundreds of adults age 55+ who are aging at home.
2014
Parker celebrates the grand opening of Parker at Monroe, a 96-bed nursing home that also utilizes the household model and specializes in memory care for all stages of dementia.
2016
Parker acquires the McCarrick Care Center, a 120-bed skilled nursing home, and establishes Parker at Somerset, adding Medicare and Medicaid certified long-term care services and post-acute rehabilitation.
2017
Parker celebrates its 110th anniversary by launching a new brand and identity to encompass all aging services, with a mission to make aging part of life.
“Parker honors its past while embracing our future where everyone, young and old, will join together to change the aging experience and to make aging part of life.” – Roberto Muñiz, President and CEO.
2018
Parker acquires Saint Peter’s Adult Day Center in Monroe Township, its second adult day care center.
2019
Parker changes the organization’s name to Parker Health Group, Inc. and announces the groundbreaking of a significant expansion and renovation of Parker at Somerset.
2021
Parker adopts a new strategic plan and the North Star Vision:
“Parker will enable the diverse senior population within our market area to live their best lives by providing access to a seamless network of high quality, innovative, and valued services and supports”.
2022
Parker Health Group, Inc. signs a partnership agreement with Visiting Nurse Association Health Group, Inc. to launch the Parker Advanced Care Institute at VNAHG, Inc. (PACI). PACI provides in-home primary medical care and palliative medicine for thousands of homebound older adults who are often living with multiple chronic health conditions.
2022
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Parker celebrates its 115th anniversary with the grand opening of a new state-of-the-art expansion of Parker at Somerset, a post-acute rehabilitation and skilled nursing care community. Parker at Somerset also offers an Adult Day Center as well as a Child Day Care Center.
2023
We are excited to continue expanding our footprint into Somerset County by opening a state-of-the-art Adult Day Center at our Parker at Somerset location.
