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. In addition, a nursing school for women is established. Today, this nursing home is known as Parker at Landing Lane.
1940
General Robert Wood Johnson II, the Chair of Johnson & Johnson, provides financial support to the nursing home with a generous gift expanding the capacity to 30 beds, and establishes the Board of Trustees. He continues the Parker philosophy of offering high-quality, affordable nursing care in a home-like setting.
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.
1968
General Robert Wood Johnson establishes the Parker Endowment with a generous gift to continue the expansion and modernization of the Landing Lane home. This expansion increases capacity to 52 beds. As a board member, he continues his active support until his death later that year.
1980
Recognizing the need for further expansion, the Board of Trustees purchases property on River Road in Piscataway and develops a 60-bed nursing home. Parker at River Road opens in 1982.
1998
Under the leadership of Roberto Muñiz, President and Administrator, Parker 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 opens Evergreen Way, a unique household model memory care neighborhood, one of 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 adding 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.
2008
Parker at The Pavilion opens with a unique new service, the Parker Child Development Center, for children 10 weeks to 5 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 adults age 55+ who are aging at home.
2014
Parker celebrates the grand opening of Parker at Monroe, a 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 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. Rehab at Home services is developed to support people who are aging at home.
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.
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.
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.
(adopted in 2021)
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.
