Harrison Senior Living

Third-Generation Family Care in Southeastern Pennsylvania and the Eastern Shore of Maryland

Harrison Senior Living is a family-owned and operated senior living company that has been part of its home communities since the early 1970s. Today the company operates two communities: Harrison House of Chester County in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, and John B. Parsons in Salisbury, Maryland, offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care. The company is led by third-generation family CEO Harrison G. Saunders, and describes its focus as serving the Western Chester County, Pennsylvania, and Delmarva Peninsula markets with a hands-on, family-style approach to care. Visit the official Harrison Senior Living website to learn more, or view Harrison Senior Living communities on Senior Care Finder to compare listings, care options, and reviews.

Company at a Glance

●       Headquarters: Chester County, Pennsylvania (Coatesville area); the company does not publish a separate corporate office address distinct from its community locations.

●       Founded: 1967, with the first Harrison family senior care facility opening in 1972. The company has served families for more than 50 years.

●       Current leadership: Harrison G. Saunders, President and Chief Executive Officer

●       Approximate portfolio size: 2 communities, as of August 2026

●       States served: Maryland and Pennsylvania

●       Care and lifestyle options: Independent living, assisted living, and memory care (availability varies by community)

●       Official website: harrisonseniorliving.com

Senior Living and Care Options

Harrison Senior Living's two communities each offer a different mix of care levels, and services vary by location. Harrison House of Chester County in Coatesville, Pennsylvania offers independent living, personal care and assisted living, and memory care. John B. Parsons in Salisbury, Maryland offers assisted living and memory care, but does not offer independent living.

Independent living is designed for seniors who want the benefits of community living and maintenance-free housing without requiring daily support. Assisted living combines residential living with help for activities such as bathing, dressing, and medication management. Memory care provides structured, secure programming for residents living with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia.

Senior Care Finder's own directory listing for Harrison Senior Living also references home care (non-medical) services in Pennsylvania. 

Families should review the Harrison House of Chester County and John B. Parsons listings on Senior Care Finder to confirm current care levels and availability at each community.

What Makes Harrison Senior Living Different?

Third-Generation, Family-Led Operations

Harrison Senior Living was founded by James and Katherine Harrison, who opened the company's first facility in 1972. The company is now led by their grandson, Harrison G. Saunders, who has served as CEO since 2015. The company describes a culture in which owners and leadership remain directly involved in daily operations rather than managing communities remotely.

Deep Roots in Two Historic Buildings

Both communities occupy buildings with long institutional histories. Harrison House of Chester County was converted from a former hospital campus in 1984, and John B. Parsons has served the Salisbury area since the Harrison family began managing the property in 1983 before purchasing it in 1989. Rather than operating a large, standardized portfolio, the company has kept its focus on these two established communities and the markets around them.

A Workplace Culture with Independent Verification

Harrison Senior Living has been certified as a Great Place to Work for four consecutive years as of its most recent recertification in October 2025, based on an employee survey administered by the certifying organization. The company has pointed to staff longevity, with several current department leaders having worked at Harrison communities for a decade or more, as a reflection of that culture.

A Two-State, Two-Community Focus

Unlike multi-brand or multi-state senior living operators managing dozens of communities, Harrison Senior Living has maintained a deliberately small footprint of two communities in two states. The company describes this focus as allowing it to concentrate on the Western Chester County, Pennsylvania, and Delmarva Peninsula markets specifically, rather than expanding into new regions.

Life at a Harrison Senior Living Community

Amenities and programming differ by community, but residents may find restaurant-style dining with modified-diet and heart-healthy options, a calendar of exercise programs, games, and arts and crafts, and organized social activities such as live music, bingo, and resident clubs. Both communities describe an emphasis on individualized service plans and a home-like, family-oriented atmosphere.

Because Harrison House of Chester County operates in a converted hospital building, its unit layouts and floor plans may differ from newer, purpose-built senior living construction; families touring the community should ask about specific unit configurations. Families considering either community should evaluate current staffing, dining quality, and day-to-day culture directly, since experience can vary by department and over time even within a single, family-run organization.

What Residents and Families Say

Feedback on Harrison Senior Living's two communities centers on a few consistent, positive themes: staff described as compassionate, attentive, and often long-tenured; a warm, family-oriented atmosphere at both communities; and dining programs that reviewers frequently mention favorably. Family reviewers of John B. Parsons often highlight the character of its historic building and the personal warmth of its staff, while reviewers of Harrison House of Chester County frequently note strong communication with nursing and care staff.

Some independent reviewers have also raised more specific, facility-level concerns worth discussing directly during a tour, including occasional maintenance or upkeep issues and the practical limits of a former-hospital building's layout. As with any senior living community, families should review current, location-specific feedback rather than relying on general impressions of the company.

●       Harrison House of Chester County: Senior Care Finder listing rating of 4.5, reviewed August 2026 (community-level, not portfolio-wide)

●       John B. Parsons: Senior Care Finder listing rating of 4.9, reviewed August 2026 (community-level, not portfolio-wide)

Senior Care Finder does not currently publish a single portfolio-wide rating for Harrison Senior Living. Families are encouraged to review the current rating and recent comments on each community's individual listing.

Leadership

Harrison G. Saunders has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Harrison Senior Living since 2015. A third-generation member of the founding Harrison family, he has focused the company's efforts on the Western Chester County, Pennsylvania, and Delmarva Peninsula markets, and has also worked to develop offerings for middle-income seniors. Prior to his focus on senior living, he worked as a licensed landscape architect.

Visit the official Harrison Senior Living leadership page for the complete and most current team.

Recent News, Growth, and Recognition

Harrison Senior Living Certified as a Great Place to Work, Fourth Consecutive Year

In October 2025, Harrison Senior Living announced it had been certified as a Great Place to Work for the fourth year in a row, based on an employee survey. The company reported that roughly nine in ten employees felt a sense of pride in their work and that the workplace was physically safe, and about 85 percent felt welcomed when they joined.

Read the company's announcement of its Great Place to Work certification. This is a company announcement rather than independent news coverage; a thorough search did not surface additional independent news coverage of Harrison Senior Living within the past 24 months, which is itself worth noting for a company of this size.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Harrison Senior Living?

Harrison Senior Living is a family-owned and operated senior living company that has served Southeastern Pennsylvania and the Eastern Shore of Maryland since the early 1970s, currently operating two communities.

Where is Harrison Senior Living headquartered?

Harrison Senior Living's corporate operations are based in the Chester County, Pennsylvania area; the company does not publish a separate corporate office address apart from its communities.

Who owns or operates Harrison Senior Living?

Harrison Senior Living is a third-generation, family-owned and operated company led by President and CEO Harrison G. Saunders.

How many communities does Harrison Senior Living operate?

As of August 2026, Harrison Senior Living operates two communities: Harrison House of Chester County in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, and John B. Parsons in Salisbury, Maryland.

Where are Harrison Senior Living's communities located?

Harrison Senior Living's communities are located in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, and Salisbury, Maryland.

What care options does Harrison Senior Living offer?

Depending on the community, Harrison Senior Living offers independent living, assisted living, and memory care.

Does every Harrison Senior Living community offer the same services?

No. Harrison House of Chester County offers independent living, assisted living, and memory care. John B. Parsons offers assisted living and memory care, but not independent living.

Does Harrison Senior Living offer memory care?

Yes. Both Harrison House of Chester County and John B. Parsons offer memory care.

What do reviews say about Harrison Senior Living?

Feedback is generally positive and highlights compassionate, long-tenured staff and a family-oriented atmosphere, though families should review current ratings and comments for the specific community they are considering.

How can families find a Harrison Senior Living community?

Families can explore Harrison Senior Living communities on Senior Care Finder to compare listings, or visit the official Harrison Senior Living website.

How can someone schedule a tour?

Families can contact a community directly through its Harrison House of Chester County or John B. Parsons Senior Care Finder listing, or submit an inquiry through the official Harrison Senior Living website.

Explore Harrison Senior Living Communities

Choosing senior living is a personal decision shaped by care needs, lifestyle preferences, location, budget, and family priorities.

View Harrison Senior Living communities on Senior Care Finder to compare Harrison House of Chester County and John B. Parsons, including care options and reviews.

Each community has its own leadership, pricing, and day-to-day culture, so families are encouraged to read recent reviews and visit in person before making a final decision.

Harrison Senior Living is a paid Senior Care Finder partner. Partner status does not replace the need for families to independently evaluate individual communities, services, pricing, licensing information, and recent reviews.

Company information, leadership details, programs, recognition, and news were reviewed using publicly available sources. Information last reviewed August 2026.