Photo of Jennifer Stanley

Photo of Jennifer Stanley

Lets face it, there is a lot of hard work in a lifetime. Going to school, a career, raising a family, then helping with grandkids. It can be happy work, and if you’re lucky, much of it is. But it always seems like that rest and relaxation part is always over just one more hill.

I’ll let you in on a secret, when someone moves in with us at The Willows, it’s like a little bell goes off and our residents realize they’ve finally managed to find the valley on the other side of that hill.

It marks a wonderful new phase of life, and we see it every day.

For some seniors having fun means being independent, reading books in our library or a TV marathon in our movie theater. The definition of relaxation looks different for everyone.

Many seniors look at this as the time to finally get in some fitness activity. Who cares how old you are…it still makes a big difference in how you feel. Is there a hobby you have been ignoring or always wanting to try? Writing short stories, painting, crafts, playing cards, doing puzzles, even shooting pool…these are all things we see our residents enjoying every day.

I hear it all the time from residents “I’m so much happier now. I’ve come out of my shell. I’ve made new friends and taken up new hobbies. I never thought this would happen.”

When a place like The Willows takes the hard work off your shoulders, what would life look like for you?

Honestly, I want to know! Call me anytime at 485-1672 and tell about the new phase of life you’ve been dreaming of for yourself, or for Mom or Dad. I can’t wait to hear about it.

Love,

Jennifer Stanley

Executive Director

The Willows of Marshalltown

Photo of Jennifer Stanley

Photo of Jennifer Stanley

Did you know that on average we spend a third of our lives at work? When you think about it that way, where we choose to spend those working hours takes on a whole new meaning doesn’t it?

As an employer, it’s not enough to just issue a paycheck every week. It’s not enough to just fill a job.

Because we work with real people.

And people are complex and special. They have purpose and drive and heart. And you aren’t just employing them, you’re with them through many of the highs and lows of their lives. So if you’re doing it right, you are like their second family. And you need to give them the compassion, support and guidance that a family would.

Working in a place like The Willows, this becomes doubly important because our employees are also an important part of the lives of the seniors we care for.

That’s why we have more staff per resident than you usually see in other assisted livings. We want our employees to have the time to form real connections with the people they serve with compassion and empathy. They can spend an hour holding a resident’s hand while they fall asleep, or reading the paper to them in the morning, or perfecting their mother’s meatloaf recipe.

It’s our job to support them, to build them up so they can do the same for the residents in their care.

So that when they come to work each day, it isn’t just a workplace, it’s home, it’s family, it’s a place where you know your friends have your back, it’s a place where you can feel every day, the difference you’re making in the lives of others.

We strive to create this environment every day at The Willows. If you want to hear more, I’d love to talk with you some time. Give me a call at 485-1672.

Love,

Jennifer Stanley

Executive Director

The Willows of Marshalltown

Photo of Jennifer Stanley

Photo of Jennifer Stanley

Remember when you were young and something scary happened?

Maybe it was a tornado, or a huge rainstorm, or a big windstorm. And always at night.

Remember that? I know I do. And remember how you woke up and were scared?

How can we forget?

But what I also remember is that at times like those, Mom or Dad came down the hall and reassured me that everything would be OK.

When I called, they were there, and the next thing I knew, I was back to sleeping peacefully.

Because I knew, no matter how scary the world got, I always had someone looking out for me, making sure I was okay.

And no matter what age you are, having the safety net of knowing someone who cares about you is looking out for you, is so vital. It gives us peace of mind and deep ease so we can thrive in our lives.

As Executive Director of The Willows my staff and I get to be that for all our residents, bringing them that comfort and reassurance every day. We are the ones down the hall who are always there if they need us. We are the ones who are always at home for them.

I can’t tell you how many times a staff member has told me about an experience where a resident needed them, and they were so proud to show up for them. Anything, from a health scare to holding their hand for a while on a blue afternoon. We all take such pride in being here for them, however small the task. Even if the need never comes up, they always know, we’ll be here just in case.

It is one of the many reasons I love my job. I feel so lucky to answer the call for our residents, and for you.

So call me anytime, we’re here for you at The Willows at 485-1672.
Love,
Jennifer Stanley
Executive Director
The Willows of Marshalltown

Photo of Jennifer Stanley

Photo of Jennifer Stanley

It creeps in. Cloaked in a desire not to change.

It’s the thing that can cause aging to accelerate faster than anything else.

And yet it goes on and on, every day, month and year.

It is loneliness.

When I say it creeps in, that’s just what I mean. It does not ring the doorbell, it does not announce itself, it just enters the lives of seniors. And loneliness is a destructive force.

It also has a way of staying hidden to seniors. They only know things don’t feel quite the same. And they can’t quite put their finger on it. And its ability to hide is what makes it so destructive. “Oh well, I must be ageing” is what folks often say. But it is loneliness, pure and simple.

It shows up as an eroding force in daily life. Like poor eating habits, poor sleep, self-care slipping further and further to the back burner…all of which are so harmful to health and wellbeing.

Fortunately, there is a wonderful solution to loneliness: Community.

If loneliness as the thing that eats away at life, then community, friendship and love are the things that build it back up.

So here are a few ideas: Take up a new hobby that involves meeting up with others, plan outings every week, even if its just to a regular place for coffee or to the library, take a class, start a club. Find ways to surround yourself with community.

And if you think it might be time, consider moving to a place like The Willows. With a private apartment, chef prepared meals, a 24/7 team of caregivers, and a community of people to share hobbies, conversation, and friendships, loneliness doesn’t stand a chance.

Give me a call at 485-1672. I know just how important it can be to have someone guide you through this change and I am an expert at it. I look forward to your call.

Love,
Jennifer Stanley
Executive Director
The Willows of Marshalltown

Photo of Jennifer Stanley

Photo of Jennifer Stanley

New Year’s Resolutions are timeless and charming for so many reasons.

First of all, deep down, we know we’re not going to keep them…not most of them, or not for a whole year anyway. But we still make them, year after year, enthusiastically.

Second, we probably saw our Mom or Dad make them, and who among us doesn’t tend to do things like Mom or Dad did them?

Third, all our friends make resolutions and when they ask us about our resolutions, and nobody wants to say “I didn’t make any.”

And then, there is always the chance, however slim, that with our resolution we will gain a productive new habit or help us learn something new that sticks with us for life.

But what I love the most about new Year’s resolutions as Executive Director of The Willows is getting to see how enduring this tradition is. I am surrounded by residents who make a new set of resolutions, every year of their lives. And that is inspiring.

Many seniors make New Year’s resolutions. They stop me in the hall to share them with me, just as excited about them as the first ones they made.

Which brings me to the reason that New Year’s Resolutions are so charming. They restore youth. They restore hope, they remind us that even after a long and full life, we have the energy and enthusiasm for new goals. Every single year.

Resolutions are not just for the young. They are timeless. They are for all of us. They unite us and keep us working towards a better life together. And that is a wonderful thing.

Call me some time, I’d love to hear your resolutions, and the stories that go with them.

Reach me anytime on my cell. It is 485-6172. Let’s make this New Year better than the last.

Love,

Jennifer Stanley

The Willows of Marshalltown

 

Photo of Jennifer Stanley

Photo of Jennifer Stanley

Thank you for your service to our great country.

We honor you all day, every day.

We would not have the freedoms we have without you.

Our nation, our way of life, our future, would not be as bright without you.

Your service is always remembered with honor and respect here at The Willows.

We are so proud of you.

We also know Military Service is not easy, which is just one more reason we think so highly of you. The
sacrifices you have given are both mighty and countless. Our every day lives are possible because you
stood up and fought to preserve them when the call came.

Fortunately, in this busy world, there is at least one special day reserved to honor our Veterans, but
truly, to us Veteran’s Day is every day.

And that is the way it should be.

God Bless America.

God Bless our Veterans.

 

Photo of Jennifer Stanley

Photo of Jennifer Stanley

I’d like to tell you about the beginning of our story….

It was July 2018. Ben and Mira Daniels had been working full time since 2015 to build The Willows. It was a big task, but they got the job done and were getting ready to open their doors in the next couple of months.

But on one fateful afternoon that July, a large tornado tragically tore through downtown Marshalltown, leaving destruction in its wake. One place that took a large amount of damage was another senior community in town. Overnight, dozens of seniors needed shelter while their home was being rebuilt.

The Daniels’ knew they had a space that was specially designed for seniors. And just days prior, had received their final permits. So they made the choice, before much of the staff had even been hired, to open The Willows early to offer shelter for the displaced seniors.

In the coming days and weeks, they saw an outpouring of love and support to make these seniors comfortable. So many folks from all over brought food, blankets, beds, furniture, and essentials. Many new Willows employees worked around the clock and gave much of their own time to make everyone comfortable. The Daniels family moved into the building to help, and as a community, they found their way through.

In that time, they saw so many examples of selflessness, love, and of neighbors helping neighbors. It gave them a profound sense of gratitude for this little corner of the world and a first-hand introduction to Marshalltown Strong. A community shining bright in their darkest hour is a miraculous thing to see, and we were forever changed by it.

This whirlwind was our beginning. When we opened our doors for business as usual, we already knew what it looked like to be filled with people who want to help make life better and easier for seniors. We have held strong in that mission ever since.

Thank you again and again Marshalltown. The Willows is truly yours. I feel proud to lead it every day.

Love,

Jennifer Stanley

Executive Director

641 485 1672

 

Photo of Jennifer Stanley

Photo of Jennifer Stanley

Doesn’t Everyone? For so many of us, our moms mean everything to us.

And as you and I have gotten to know each other through my weekly columns, I figured it was time to share a few of the things my mom taught me, important lessons that I use every day. Because they are as much a part of who I am as anything I do. And I’d like for you to know me better.

My mom taught me to always do my best. “OK but every Mother says that Jennifer.” I know, but she would take specific daily events and work through them with me, to find out what I wanted to do better or differently next time. Practical, but without lecturing. It is a tool that really helps me serve the needs Marshalltown’s seniors here at The Willows. They deserve my best, so I am always evaluating how I can do better for them.

She also taught me to never go to bed mad. At anyone, or about an event of the day. Another common lesson, but my mom really made sure I did it. She could just tell any time I was unsettled and she would patiently talk through it with me until I felt better. Only then would she let me turn off the lights.

She would also not allow harsh words when describing either a friend or someone who I had met. Sure, that didn’t keep me from trying. But she just wouldn’t have it. And finally that has become a lifelong habit for me.

These lessons, and the patience she taught me as she guided me through them, have served me in every part of my life, as a mother, a friend, a neighbor, and as a leader at The Willows.

I’m forever thankful for them and I think they help set us apart in providing the very best in Assisted Living and Memory Care for our residents. Give me a call on my cell: 485-1672. I’d love for you to share your mom’s or dad’s life lessons with me.

Photo of Jennifer Stanley

Photo of Jennifer Stanley

We are over the moon. For the fourth year in a row we have been awarded Best of the Best. This year we were lucky enough to win in all three categories of Best Assisted Living, Best Retirement Facility and Best Place to Work. Thank you so much!

I want to send a huge thank you to our incredible staff here at The Willows. Thank you all, for your dedication, your deeply caring personalities, your humor (which is very important!) and your collective vision in embracing this Willows family and this culture of putting residents first. You are the ones who win this award every day, showing up and giving so much of your hearts to this place and these residents. You make The Willows the wonderful community that it is.

I want to thank our founders, The Daniels Family, and our Management team, Brenda, Blake, David, Danielle, Felicia, Hailey, Tina, Esmerelda. All of you, thank you for your support in building this place and this team. We have created something different and special together here and I could not have done this without you all.

And I want to thank the community of Marshalltown. Thank you for seeing us and for recognizing the unique place we have built. It means so much to us to show up at work every day with the appreciation of this community at our back. Any storm that comes our way, we feel ready to face with this team and this community behind us.

We will not let you down. We pledge to keep working every day to do justice to this award and strive to be the best of the best; by supporting one another, by working to create the best quality of life possible for seniors at The Willows, and by honoring this great community we are lucky enough to live in.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.

Love,

Jennifer Stanley

Executive Director

 

Photo of Jennifer Stanley

Photo of Jennifer Stanley

If you’ve been reading my columns for a little while now, you’ve gotten a snapshot into the way my mind works.

As you might have noticed, I try to think of everything. You may be just like me in that regard.

The other day, I got to thinking about the Boy Scout motto of “Be Prepared.” Remember that one?

I realized that as Executive Director of The Willows, that’s a motto I use often too. And you know what? That is a great motto for every senior and their family.

“Be Prepared” for a Boy Scout means having what you need for whatever terrain you enter into.
For a senior, “Be Prepared” means much the same thing. But as we age, we realize that the terrain can change a lot, sometimes in a short time.

Every day in my job I take calls from seniors and their families who are facing the difficult challenge of building a whole retirement plan for Mom and Dad immediately after a fall or after finding out their health, their memory, or their quality of life has taken a steep decline. The road back from those unplanned-for challenges can be tricky.

But those families that prepare and have a plan for when Mom and Dad might need to transition to Assisted Living or Memory Care, often find themselves in much better shape when these challenges present themselves, making the transition so much smoother for everyone.

But hey, even if you’re in a tough spot, if you have the right trail guide (that’s me!) we can find a way through together.

So be like a good Scout, Be Prepared. Give me a call at 641 485 1672. This week, tomorrow, or anytime soon.

This gives us time to make a great plan for Mom or Dad to navigate the territory ahead with ease. I look forward to meeting you.

Love,

Jennifer Stanley
Executive Director
The Willows