Press Release: Parker Health Group Inc. Teams Up with AARP Foundation to Combat Social Isolation

(Piscataway, NJ) – Parker Health Group Inc. (parkerlife.org) has provided a grant of $170,000 to AARP Foundation to implement Connect2Affect Connected Communities in 13 New Jersey affordable senior housing buildings, serving more than 1,000 residents across 11 counties.
 
AARP Foundation Connect2Affect Connected Communities is a comprehensive solution designed to connect older adults to their affordable senior housing communities and to each other by making it easy to get community information using just their voice. The program works with affordable senior housing providers to equip their communities with voice-activated devices, tools, and training that help residents maintain the social connections they need to remain independent and age in place longer. Older adults can hear what programs and activities are coming up, community news, or find out if the mail has been delivered, just by using their voice. They can also use the smart speakers for music, news, weather, and other applications suited to their individual interests.
 
Social isolation can have a negative effect on someone’s mental and physical health, and older adults are especially vulnerable during this time when social distancing is in place. Connect2Affect Connected Communities is a way to help seniors stay connected and socially engaged. Voice is a user-friendly technology that reaches across all ages and abilities.

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Technology is key for seniors during COVID-19 pandemic

HIGHLAND PARK – With limits on in-person family visits and social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an escalating need to ensure older adults living at home can remain as engaged as possible, according to a release.

Although challenging, especially among elders who do not commonly use technology, it is important for loved ones and caregivers to introduce connected devices – from a basic tablet and smartphone, to virtual reality and interactive gaming – to keep them as connected as possible as months of isolation can prompt depression and other lasting ailments, the release said.

At the forefront of the issue is Marcy Salzberg, director of social work and dementia care at Parker, who handles the intake of all new guests at the residential campuses in Piscataway, Highland Park, New Brunswick, Franklin and Monroe. She is seeing many incoming residents eager for interaction and engagement after remaining at home, often alone, since the coronavirus shut down many parts of society in mid-March, the release said.

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A Snow Cone Stand Nets $1,100 to Fight COVID-19

Roberto Muñiz Thanks the Cohen Sisters

HIGHLAND PARK, NJ – Three Highland Park sisters donated more than $1,100 to Parker Health Group, a nonprofit New Jersey-based aging services organization in the borough, to provide PPE for its nursing home staff.  Sophia, Olivia and Gabriella Cohen raised the funds by selling snow cones at their stand and setting up a Go Fund Me page for donations. Parker President & CEO Roberto Muñiz and staff recently met with the girls and their family to accept this generous donation.

“It is so admirable to see such caring young ladies,” Muñiz wrote, in a letter of gratitude. “You fill me with such hope for the future generations. I know your kindness is appreciated by our staff and all those residents we serve in our nursing homes and in our assisted living. We will use your donation to purchase the necessary PPE to help keep our employees and residents safe.”

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Parker CEO Prays for Peace, Compassion, Tolerance, and Greater Justice and

These have been challenging months for long-term care communities, as we strive to ensure the health and safety of our Elders, patients and staff in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While we remain focused on that situation and providing the highest quality care possible, this is a critical moment in our nation to take pause and comment on the violent incidents we have experienced these past few weeks. These, among countless other acts of violence against members of our society who have fallen victim to unjust brutality and discrimination, are senseless acts of violence. They are profoundly heartbreaking to me.

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Menendez, Booker Announce $3.25M in Federal Funding to Expand Telehealth Services CARES Act Across New Jersey Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker today announced that health care service providers across New Jersey have been awarded a combined $3.25 million in federal funding through the Federal Communications Commission's COVID-19 Telehealth Program to expand telehealth services throughout the state during the pandemic. The program was created as part of the CARES Act passed by congress in April.

'Expanding telehealth services is critical to ensuring the health and safety not only of patients and clients, but also our medical professionals and caregivers, especially as we continue to fight the coronavirus,' said Sen. Menendez. 'These awards will help providers build the framework and infrastructure necessary to keep patients connected with the evaluation, treatment, monitoring, therapy, and services they need with the caregivers they trust.'

'The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a bright light on the critical importance of tools like telehealth services in ensuring New Jerseyans receive the care they need,'said Sen. Booker. 'Expanding telehealth capabilities in New Jersey through federal funding like this will help provide both patients and heath care professionals the flexibility needed to safely deliver care to some of our most vulnerable populations impacted by this public health crisis.'

The awards include:
Parker Health Group in Somerset was awarded $28,838 to provide physical, occupational, and speech therapy through telehealth for elderly members of the community.

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How old is being ‘old’?

How often have you heard someone say, or perhaps had this statement directed at you: "You're only as old as you feel." 

They might really think that or they might be trying to make you feel good if you look tired after mowing a tiny lawn, or shoveling for only five minutes.

I remember a few years back when someone said that to me and my answer was: "Yes, but I can't physically do the things I could do just a few years ago."

 

Now, it turns out, if a recent survey is even close to being accurate, 57 is when you're old. I take issue with that. 

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J. Seward Johnson, world-renowned sculptor, dies at 89

He grew up on a property on River Road in Highland Park that now houses the retirement community Parker at Stonegate.

The property was nestled near the Merriewold Estate Castle, which was built by his father for his mother, Ruth Dill Johnson. The castle is now part of the retirement community.

In 2008, Johnson visited the property for the first time since his childhood, according to a story in the Home News Tribune. He then contributed several sculptures of his for the grounds of the retirement community.

While touring the retirement community with Parker's President and CEO Roberto Muñiz, Johnson remarked, 'I feel very much at home here. My sculptures feel at home.'"

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Parker Press – Winter 2020 Issue

In this issue:

  • Aging Services for a New Decade
  • It's a Beautiful Day
  • Leaders Challenging Ageism
  • Parker at Monroe Celebrates 5 Years!
  • Parker Earns Two LeadingAge Awards
  • Parker Health Group Honors Founders With Restored Monument
  • Prestigious Award for Parker at Stonegate
  • Major Changes Ahead for Parker at Somerset

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Parker Health Group CEO Joins the Global Ageing Network Board

Roberto Muñiz, Parker Health Group, Inc. President & CEO joins the Board of Directors of The Global Ageing Network.

The Global Ageing Network is a worldwide organization of service providers, businesses, academics, scholars and others. Its mission is to connect and support care and service providers worldwide in order to enhance quality of life for global aging. Muñiz will work alongside colleagues from around the globe on issues that impact the senior population.

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Parker Foundation Awards a $2.5M Grant to VNA Health Group for 2nd Year

Press Release

Doctor visits older woman in her home

Piscataway, NEW JERSEY (February 11, 2020) – For the second year in a row, Parker Foundation, Inc. has awarded a $2.5M grant to Visiting Nurse Association Health Group (VNAHG) to support its Advanced Care Institute (ACI), which aims to address the healthcare needs of high-risk older adults who are often living with multiple chronic health conditions by providing high quality, compassionate care in the home and in the community. The funding will continue to be used to expand the ACI’s efforts to provide in-home primary care through its “house calls” model and palliative medicine, two essential services in New Jersey and nationwide in addressing the aging population. As with last year’s grant, funding will also enable both organizations – VNAHG and Parker – to continue to develop and support new or improved programming in these areas. Learn more about it here.
 
In-home primary care is a critical service to home-bound seniors and can improve quality of life  and reduce overall medical costs. Visiting Physician Services (VPS), a member of VNA Health Group, currently provides medical services, particularly for aging individuals with chronic conditions. With additional funding, VPS will continue to expand these services to more individuals throughout the state. 
 
Palliative medicine focuses on people with serious or life-limiting illnesses providing symptom relief with an improved quality of life and is currently mostly offered in hospital settings. With this grant, VNAHG will continue to expand the availability of palliative medicine into the community, an area that has traditionally been underserved.
 
“The numbers are staggering in how many people will need services as they age, and with Parker’s mission being to make aging part of life, we see this as the perfect partnership to provide a better quality of care and quality of life and to expand innovative and transformative programs,” says Parker President & CEO, Roberto Muñiz. “These programs are making a huge difference in how people are cared for in NJ and throughout the country.”
 
“We’re just incredibly honored to be working with Parker on the ACI. This collaboration is one of the most exciting things because it’s focusing more attention on older adults and making sure they have the care they need to remain in the community and be comfortable and independent,” says Dr. Steven Landers, President & CEO of VNAHG.
 
VNAHG’s ACI services bring physicians, advanced practice nurses to over 5,000 patients and provides more than 36,000 in-home primary care visits per year. The palliative medicine program serves almost 5,000 patients with over 2,500 community-based visits.
 
Both Parker and VNAHG are committed to developing and creating innovative solutions to allow seniors to live their lives to the fullest while staying in their homes and communities as long as possible.
 
About Parker Foundation Inc.
 
Parker Foundation Inc. is an affiliate of Parker Health Group, Inc., a nonprofit New Jersey-based aging services organization with over 112 years’ experience in residential and home and community-based services. Parker is committed to empowering older Americans. Parker affiliates serve close to 1000 residents and participants through its Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living Homes, and Adult Day, Post – Acute Services Rehabilitation and Health & Wellness Services and employ more than 850. To learn how We Make Aging Part of Life®, visit parkerlife.org.
 
About Visiting Nurse Association Health Group
 
Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) Health Group is the largest independent, nonprofit provider of home-based health services in New Jersey and Mid-Central Ohio. Founded over 105 years ago with a mission to care for the community, today VNA Health Group helps individuals and families achieve their best level of health and well-being by providing high quality, compassionate home health, hospice, palliative and community-based care and offers private-pay personal care services. A full range of primary care services are available through the VNACJ Community Health Centers. Currently, VNA Health Group employs nearly 2,500 people and cares for over 150,000 individuals and families annually with a special focus on vulnerable populations such as children, older adults and those with serious and disabling chronic illness. Our unique partnership model with health systems leverages our clinical and technical resources to operate VNA of Central Jersey Home Care and Hospice, Robert Wood Johnson Visiting Nurses, VNA of Englewood, Barnabas Health Home Care and Hospice, Visiting Physician Services, and Visiting Nurse Association of Ohio.  For more information about VNA Health Group and the VNAHG Foundation please call 800.862.3330, visit www.vnahg.org and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/VNAHealthGroup or @VNAHealthGroup.

Parker Main Office: 1421 River Road Piscataway, NJ 08854   732.902.4200    © Parker Health Group, Inc.