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

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

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

 

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

 

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