Associate Peggy Free Marks 45 Years of Service at Parkview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

Peggy Free, Director of Environmental Services at Parkview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Paducah, Kentucky, has been part of the Life Care family since 1980, faithfully serving residents, families, and fellow staff.

Over the decades, Parkview has seen lots of changes and growth, and Peggy has been there every step of the way.

The facility opened in 1964 as Parkview Convalescent Center and had four wings and 96 beds. Peggy attended the grand opening and the many changes to follow.

Her leadership career at Parkview began when her environmental services director resigned from his position. Knowing Peggy was a natural leader, he encouraged her to apply for the position. From the start, Peggy indeed proved to be an exceptional leader as she pulled teams together and made improvements that allowed housekeeping, laundry, and maintenance to run with more efficiency.

Around that time, Life Care Centers of America purchased the nearby Lourdes Hospital and renamed it Life Care Center of Paducah. Peggy and other Parkview staff often went over to the building to assist with their environmental services.

Eventually, Life Care purchased Parkview and began a major expansion of the facility, adding five wings and even bringing over a few residents from the Paducah facility. On June 9, 1996, Parkview reopened as Parkview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Peggy attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which included a color guard performance, live music, and remarks from community leaders, such as Sandra Wilson, President of the Chamber of Commerce, State Representative Frank Rash, and City Commissioner Zana Renfro.

Life Care Centers of America’s founder, Forrest Preston, also spoke before the ribbon cutting, alongside Parkview’s Executive Director, Marilyn Ingram, and Director of Nursing, Lynn Jones.

During her years at Parkview, Peggy has witnessed every shift, every change, and every moment of growth.

“Each time, it gets better,” she stated proudly.

Peggy has worked in nearly every department of the facility and has always focused on making sure residents felt at home and that their families felt supported.

Beyond her career, Peggy enjoys time with her family, including her grandchildren and great-grandchild. She also loves watching races at the local motor speedway. 

At Parkview, she is known for initiative, productivity, and creativity, and for always ensuring that responsibilities are met and that resident’s needs are fulfilled.

Peggy Free is truly a one-of-a-kind associate. For 45 years, her kindness, leadership, and dedication have touched countless lives. She is celebrated not only as a valued employee but also a beloved member of the Parkview Nursing family!