It was the 1930s and tuberculosis had rolled over America like a cloud of chaos, leaving a steady death toll in its wake.
“Back then, it was commonly referred to as ‘consumption,’ and it was often accompanied by a bloody cough, fatigue and debilitating respiratory issues,” said local physician Dr. Frank Damiani. “With limited advancements in medicine, what the medical community came to realize was that fresh air and outdoor living could help combat many of those symptoms.”
By 1938 and in a large-scale and clinical offensive, more than 700 sanatoriums scaled the nation’s skylines as a response to the outbreak. Some experts claim that one out of every 170 Americans called one these facilities home in the early part of the century.
Among them was Roosevelt Hospital, a federally funded medical facility in Edison that opened its doors to ailing tuberculosis patients in 1936.
But Roosevelt is only a small narrative in a much larger storyline, albeit an important one for generations of Central New Jersey residents.
Marking its 80th birthday in 2016, present-day Roosevelt Care Centers has undergone any number of changes, transitioning to a general-purpose hospital in 1950s, and then to a long-term and subacute care center in the 1980s.
The infrastructure has since evolved too, said Damiani, who also serves as a Roosevelt Care Center administrator.
First came remodeling and then additions and finally, the construction of two modern stand-alone facilities. The first arrived to Edison’s Parsonage Road in 2005 and in 2011, a sister campus on Old Bridge’s Marlboro Road joined Roosevelt’s ranks.
“Our Edison facility was constructed just a few hundred yards from the historic hospital, so it’s not one to need much visibility,” said Roosevelt Care Center at Old Bridge Administrator Alan Fialka. “However, our Old Bridge campus is tucked away in these very scenic and rustic hills. It’s funny how often I hear local residents tell me that they didn’t realize there was this hidden gem in their own backyard.”
While the face of Roosevelt has changed and evolved over the years, the principals it was founded on have not.
Operated by the Middlesex County Improvement Authority and with the support of the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Roosevelt currently serves the region’s aging population with exceptional long-term, dementia-Alzheimer’s, subacute, respite and hospice care.
Much like their predecessors, Roosevelt’s dedicated staff ensures residents both the quality of life and the dignity that they so earnestly deserve.
At the same time, the administration looks to foster a sense of belonging and strengthen community relationships through extensive recreation, volunteer and outreach programs, as well as a partnership with the surrounding medical community.
For more information on Roosevelt Care Centers, visit www.RooseveltCareCenter.com or call Admissions at 732-360-9839.
The public is invited to stop into the Edison facility at 118 Parsonage Road or the Old Bridge facility at 1133 Marlboro Road.