Who We Are

Our History

Community with Compassionate Care

Jefferson Park at Dandridge, formerly Jefferson County Nursing Home, has a rich history dating back to at least 1933.  Our tradition of taking care of the sick and elderly began with a 283-acre farm and a building constructed as an accommodation for the poor.  This county farm became known as the “Poor Farm.” It was run by a caretaker and their family with residents contributing in any way they could with cooking, farming, cleaning, and more.  This farm was the beginning of the legacy that would become Jefferson Park at Dandridge.

In 1968, Jefferson County applied for the Hill-Burton grant to allow the county to build its first nursing home.  In January 1969, this nursing home replaced the Poor Farm and open its doors to the first nine residents of Jefferson County Nursing Home.  By 1987, our facility had 103 beds for residents.  Our current administrator, Mr. Roger Mynatt, began in 1992 and in three short years expanded our facility to include another 32 beds.  Holding true to our commitment to compassionate care of our elders and residents, we continued to expand our services and practices to ensure we continued providing a valued service to our community.

In 2006, the concept of the Green House Homes came to life.  Three homes, each with 10 private rooms and bathrooms, opened on May 6, 2010, with the first elders moving in June 2010.  The Green Houses were the first of their kind in Tennessee.  They provide a homelike environment that significantly improves the quality of life for our elders.  A year after the Green Houses’ grand opening, we focused on renovating our legacy building to give it a more modern look, including a complete kitchen renovation, the addition of laminate wood floors in resident rooms and throughout the facility, shower rooms with frosted glass windows to allow for more light, and a fireplace to add the warm touch of home that we strive to provide our community.

With the expansion of services provided, renovated facilities, innovated technology, and new equipment and programs, it was time to evaluate if the name Jefferson County Nursing Home was portraying us in the way we both wanted and should be portrayed. In 2017, after several meetings of the minds, Jefferson County Nursing Home decided to change its name to Jefferson Park at Dandridge. Jefferson Park at Dandridge is proud to continue to serve our community with compassionate care while offering expanded services, such as respite care and rehabilitation and therapy.