Press Releases and News - Page 6

Hammond Center tenants and staff recently celebrated National Assisted Living Week with a variety of activities, including a campus visit from the Dari Barn on the Moove food truck for lunch one day and a French Toast bar complete with fresh fruit and various flavored syrups another day.

During its recent annual survey by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals conducted August 24-27, St. Francis Manor demonstrated why it is the highest-rated skilled nursing facility in Poweshiek County as it earned another deficiency-free survey in support of its 5-star rating by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). In addition to receiving this recent deficiency-free annual survey, St. Francis Manor was deficiency-free for an off-site infection control survey as well as an on-site infection control performance survey conducted earlier this year. 

On August 10-11, Iowa and parts of Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana and western Ohio saw one of the more significant "Derecho" storms in years. Derecho, coming from the Spanish word "straight," is an in-land storm that surges with tornado and hurricane-force winds. Derechos are known to appear during the summer, as they are considered a warm-weather phenomenon, tend to extend the gusts of wind longer than normal wind storms to hours and even days.

We all are missing the Iowa State Fair this year. What are some of the things you miss the most? Butter cow? How many different things you can eat on a stick? Perhaps you took part in the competitions? Share with us below and enjoy Seeland Park Resident, Gwen Rieck's fond memories of days at the fair.....

The derecho storm cancelled our staff appreciation celebration scheduled on August 12 but we still want to thank our amazing staff for being team players and doing whatever it takes to get the job done! “Our employees have shown great perseverance and adaptability especially during the last five months of COVID-19 and now with all of the storm damage,” said Dion Schrack. “We appreciate you and are blessed to have you working with us."

Seeland Park resident Susan Thorndike shares the story of her golden retrievers over the years as well as her affinity for training and breeding dogs. 

Seeland Park resident, Kathi shares some thoughts. "I have always believed in miracles; and during this terrible pandemic, I have not been disappointed! My mother always planted pansies every year; and she told me, “When you have white pansies, they are telling you that somebody is watching over you.”

Most of us probably haven’t even heard of a horse-drawn school bus—let alone ridden in one! Russ Sadler, resident at Seeland Park, however, rode to school in a horse-drawn bus in Selma, Iowa during the 1940s. 

Transportation to appointments is an important service provided to the residents/tenants of St. Francis Manor, Seeland Park, and the Hammond Center for Assisted Living. During a recent fundraising campaign, three matching pledges were met which helped to raise enough money to purchase two new handicapped accessible vans. 

In recognition of all the heroes working at St. Francis Manor during the COVID-19 pandemic, Seeland Park resident Mike Sawyer recently presented a wood-burning plaque created by artist Kathy Reed of Grinnell to Administrator/RN Tiffany Criswell, who continues to lead the COVID-19 charge at St. Francis.