“Home” is such a wonderful word, isn’t it?

There is so much that comes to mind: the people, the place, the feeling of home.

In life there is “home,” and then there is just, well, pretty much everything else.

“Home” is that sigh at the end of a long day, that sense of place, our foundation of familiarity and comfort. Home is the place we hold our memories, the place we feel loved, the place we feel like we belong.

When our owners Ben and Mira Daniels opened The Willows back in 2018, that feeling of home was at its core, they even crafted our slogan with that in mind, “When you’re here you’re home.”

But how do you create “home” for so many folks, all with a different experience of it?

The key is what is always at the heart of a home, the people.

And the people at the heart of The Willows are our residents and our staff. Together we build home here every day. And we talk together often about how to make it better. So the home we build is one full of joy, of memories, of shared meals with visiting family, with friends and neighbors. Home is filled with tailgating parties and card games, of shopping trips and ice cream socials, games and bingo and long talks about life.

And caring, always caring.

For our team members, for our residents. When they need a helping hand, home is here for our Willows Family.

So as life evolves, and find you need a retirement community for yourself or for Mom or Dad, the advice I always give folks is this: Find a place that feels like home. And if you need any help with that, give me a call anytime, my number is 4851672. I’d love to share our home with you.

Love,

Jennifer Stanley

Executive Director

The Willows of Marshalltown

One of the best parts of my job is meeting with families who are considering The Willows as a future home for a loved one.

People call me regularly to arrange a tour, with time for lots of questions and answers. Now mind you, I have been doing this for almost 5 years now so you can imagine all the different questions I have received. I thought I had gotten most of them down.

Until just recently.

I was on a tour I received a unique “first time” question. It really brought my Iowa pride to the surface, so I thought I’d share it with you.

After a relaxed and enjoyable tour of The Willows, the daughter of a prospective resident asked me “if it was OK for her dad to move into The Willows and still wear his bib overalls.”

That caught me by surprise, but the answer was easy. “Of course he can wear bib overalls.” We have no dress code, and we want our residents to always feel at home and comfortable.

But you know, it got me thinking about how much I love Iowa. We are proud of our agricultural heritage here, and the kind, hardworking folks who make this place home. Our farming families put the heart in “Heartland” so you should wear your bibs with pride.

At The Willows we have beautiful gardens, a small corn field and room for more. It’s a part of who we are and so many of our residents share a love of planting things and watching them grow. It’s also one of the reasons we love our location on the west side of Marshalltown. Our spot is peaceful, with views of the Iowa countryside and wildlife but still just a few minutes from downtown. Something for everyone.

Give me a call sometime and come out for a visit. I’d love to show you around and answer any questions you have. My number is 4851672.

Love,

Jennifer Stanley

Executive Director

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

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

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.