At Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation, a full-time staff of physicians, nurses, and therapists works around the clock to send elderly patients home healthy.
Parker Jewish Institute, located in New Hyde Park, promises “patient-center” service for patients seeking both short-term rehabilitation and long-term care. Patients in need of rehabilitative service can receive three-hour-a-day physical therapy, access to speech therapy, and psychological counseling for both individuals and families.
Parker discharges more than two thousand patients every year, “back home, and back to life,” according to their promotional literature. “The Institute’s unique restorative therapy program, reflecting the lifestyle desired by seniors, promotes independence and rapid return to home.”
The average length of stay is two to six weeks.
To ensure a rapid return, Parker Jewish Institute offers specialized treatments for tracheotomies, IV therapy, pain management, and chemotherapy, and on-site preventive diagnosis for a host of preventable conditions.
Founded in 1907 as a shelter for 25 homeless men and women, Parker Jewish Institute has grown into a 527-bed operation with state-of-the art and internationally recognized health care and rehabilitation services, according to their promotional literature.
Before settling at their New Hyde Park location, Parker Jewish Institute started as a private house in East Harlem, incorporated as the Harlem House of the Daughter of Israel in 1914. After moving to a three-story brownstone on East 119th Street, then to an eight-story building on Fifth Avenue, Parker finally settled in Queens in 1972 under its current name.
“The Trustees envisioned a prototype institution, the first of its kind in the United States that would provide total care for the geriatric patient,” Parker’s website says. “Its orientation would be unique: rehabilitation, restoration, and return to the community. This geriatric facility would not be the ‘last stop’ for its patients. On the contrary, it would be an inspiration to continued life.”
While a rapid return of revitalized patients may be their top priority, no amenity is spared to make sure that time spent at Parker is both comfortable and communal. A personal concierge service makes for a smooth transition for patients just arriving from a hospital, while restaurant style buffet dining, a full service beauty salon, and an entertainment lounge keep patients stimulated and social.
Parker’s unique ParkerCare Hotline connects patients directly to senior management for answers to their questions 24 hours a day.
“Parker Jewish Institute is one of the nation’s leading centers for short term rehabilitation, long term care and outpatient community health programs for adults,” reads the literature. “We not only have the best medical care, nursing and therapy, but also the hand of reassurance, the smile that warms the heart, and the words that say everything will be okay.”
For patients with long-term care needs, Parker Jewish Institute’s staff works with patients to develop individualized care plans.
“Residents at Parker enjoy a home away from home that offers advanced care and traditional caring,” their website says. “Our medical staff is one of the largest, most highly trained of any similar facility in the country.”
Instead of a traditional nurse, patients are attended to by “the Parker Nurse,” a specialized professional whose high-level skills reflect the overall compassion of Parker’s services. Parker Nurses have a 24-hour responsibility to provide supervision, treatment, and medication. Patients and their nurses often develop close relationships, but nurses are always looking to encourage independence where they can.
Parker’s Social Work Department counsels and supports patients who are easing the transition into a long-term care facility. Therapeutic recreation specialists provide social, creative and intellectual stimulation that is vital to the patient’s well-being and recovery. Among the various centers of activity are a computer center, live entertainment, exercise, games and arts and crafts.
Parker Jewish Institute’s hospice facilities for terminally ill patients provide pain control and symptom management, emotional and spiritual counseling, as well as at-home care services. Outpatient therapy is available at Parker’s community health center in Lake Success, New York, and directly at patients’ homes.
Lake Success is designed for the frail, elderly and disabled who choose to live at home. Parker specialists provide daily-supervised activities, medical care, and transportation at a lakeside atmosphere, the single largest medical model program in Queens and Nassau. Sessions run weekly 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Special programs include services for patients with memory loss, and a special Chinese cultural program.
The Nechama division offers hospice care in the Jewish tradition, with a rabbi overseeing tube feedings, a living will, Viduy (confession before death), a kosher diet, strict observance of prayer and the Sabbath, and Jewish pastoral care.
Parker Jewish Institute is Kosher-certified by the Va’ad of Queens, a council of respected Rabbis. A nutritionist is available to assess patients’ dietary needs.
While the Institute is Jewish in name, Parker welcomes the free exercise of all religions. The chapel is multi-denominational with services held weekly.
The on-site pharmacy is fully staffed with experts who work directly with patients’ nurses and physicians for optimal care. A computerized profile system monitors drug therapy, and consultation is always available.
To help assist with fundraising, education, social activities and advocacy, the Parker Jewish Institute established the Parker League for citizens interested in helping the elderly. The Parker League operates the Institute’s lobby gift shop in addition to planning year-round special events and activities. These include family dinners and brunches, Chanukah parties, music for bed-bound patients, “welcome packages,” restaurant nights, field trips, and a special “Prom Night.”
For generous citizens without the time to volunteer, the Parker Jewish Institute Foundation raises funds for residents and patients.
One of the beneficiaries of fundraising is the on-site Nerken Center for Research, a setting for Parker Institute staff to study emerging issues of aging. The Nerken Center is currently studying and researching developments in Alzheimer’s disease, anemia, dementia, influenza, stroke, and other conditions.
Parker Jewish Institute offers same-day admissions, including evenings, in an effort to make transitions quick and smooth.
A Concierge/Patient Liaison program helps ease the transition for new admissions from a hospital or from your home to our health care facility,” Parker’s website says. “Patient Liaisons meet new patients and residents at the door, orient them to the Institute and its services, visit regularly for the first three days, and help resolve any issues that may arise. When loved ones leave new admissions to Parker, they can rest comfortably in the knowledge that someone is there to provide special family warmth and caring.”
Parker Jewish Institute takes a variety of insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid.
Call Parker’s Admissions Counselors at 718-289-2163/2164, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 7 PM, and at all other times, call 1-877-PARKER3.
Parker Jewish Institute is located at 271-11 76th Ave., New Hyde Park, NY 11040. Visit www.parkerinstitute.org for more information.
