After all, when a loved one has Alzheimer’s or dementia everyone could use a helping hand.

That’s why we have a monthly Alzheimer’s Support Group meeting at The Willows on the last Wednesday of each month from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, with an optional lunch after.

At these meetings you can learn from a professional moderator from St. Croix Hospice who can answer all of your questions. A really helpful benefit of the Support Group is that you are with others on the same journey as you–with many of the same experiences and questions you may have.

In this group, you no longer need to feel alone navigating the challenge of living with a loved one with Alzheimer’s or Dementia. Questions like; “What is the best thing for them now?” or “How do I handle it when Mom or Dad acts this way or that way?” These are universal, and everyone has moments where they feel overwhelmed and alone.

Properly dealing with loved ones with memory issues is not intuitive. It is not something you just “figure out.” Help is crucial, and understanding is vital. And our Support Group at The Willows can give you both.

If you’re worried about how to get started, know this; these are informal meetings. Everyone is welcome. There is no form to fill out, no information to share…just come listen, ask questions if you want to but there is no pressure from anyone.

You can come as many times as you like. Our group has been a resource for families since 2019 and folks usually return with more questions.

You don’t need to feel alone when a loved one has Alzheimer’s or Dementia. Reach out and come visit. It’s free, it’s easy and it can really help.

And if you have any questions, I’m just a phone call away. 641 485 1672.

Call anytime

Sincerely,
Jennifer Stanley
Executive Director
The Willows of Marshalltown

I was born just a few weeks before my Mom graduated from high school. Right here in Marshalltown.

While I’m sure that raising me so young couldn’t have been easy, my Mom always had a wisdom beyond her years and she built a strong roadmap for me.

My Mom taught me that it was OK to be a kid and not grow up too fast, but she also showed me how to set goals and then achieve them, she encouraged me without pressuring me, she loved me, she cared for me, she supported me in everything.

Far too soon, at 36 years of age, I lost her. I was only 18 and my stepdad had passed just before her. My younger sister, brother and I were on our own.

During that incredibly difficult time, I began to realize that even though she was gone, the roadmap she left was still part of me. She had shown me how to have a servant’s heart, how to care for others, how to find strength and purpose. I used those lessons to pull myself up and support my siblings, to raise a family of my own, to get my master’s degree and to work hard and rise through the ranks.

And as I lead a business now, I realize that My Mom had also implanted the seeds I needed to be an anchor for hundreds of seniors. Seniors need much the same things our families do; they need love, care, attention, and someone to support them. Which is how my staff and I try to run The Willows, like this is our family. So when I go to work every day, I get to make her proud by living her legacy.

Thank you Mom, for teaching me how to lead with my heart.

I miss you every day and I love you so much.

Happy Mother’s Day to all Moms.