Jackie Edwards is the new administrator at Parker Oaks Communities, Inc. in Winnebago. She was welcomed to the community last week at a special luncheon at the community center.

There is a new administrator at the helm of Parker Oaks Communities, Inc., in Winnebago.

Jackie Edwards took over as the administrator on the first Monday in March. She replaced Deb Barnes, who became the regional director for the company’s other residences in southern Minnesota.

Edwards had recently been at the Truman retirement home which is also owned by ElderCare of Minnesota, the same company that owns Parker Oaks.

“ElderCare of Minnesota is owned by Jim Birchem,” Edwards said. “They own or manage 30 facilities in Minnesota, most of them in northern Minnesota.” She added that ten are skilled nursing home operations, and the other 20 are assisted living units.

Edwards is a native of Lake Crystal, and still resides there. She has degrees in gerontology (the care of the elderly) and also community independent living. That is besides her licensure in administration.

She was in Madelia for eight years as a long-term care administrator. When a company called Ecumen bought that home, she was moved to their other facility in Truman.

After that, ElderCare bought the Truman facility, and her next move was to Winnebago.

“I really like it here in Winnebago,” she said. “It is a good, friendly town.”

Last Wednesday there was a community welcome for Edwards that was held at the Winnebago Community Center. “This is a great way for me to meet and greet a lot of the community members from the area,” she said.

Parker Oaks is a 52 bed nursing facility and also has 27 assisted living apartments. It is located in the northwest corner of Winnebago.