The Willows of Marshalltown Newsletter
Sharing our stories with you
It’s February and love is in the air!
Old Man Winter has yet to sink his teeth into the valleys and hollers of Marshall County. February, however, is well known as one of the coldest months of the year temperature-wise and the warmest to the heart as we approach one of the first holidays of the year, Valentine’s Day on February 14th.
Entering into February, it doesn’t take long to…
Read the entire February 2023 Willows Life Newsletter (pdf).
Happy New Year!
As we start a new year, I would like to express our sincerest gratitude for the generous holiday foods and goodies for the staff. So many gifts and greetings came through our front door. Thank you to all who gave in any way to our residents and staff. We are grateful to be living in such a loving and sharing community…
Season’s Greetings!
December is here and it’s truly “the most wonderful time of the year!”
Once again, the festivity of the holiday season is upon us, with 2022 soon to come to its close and the brightness of a brand-new year just around the corner. I don’t know if it’s just me, but it seems that December arrives earlier with…
Read the entire December 2022 Willows Life Newsletter (pdf).
Hello November!
Thank you for reminding us we have much to be grateful for.
November marks the beginning of the best season of the year. It is a month of change and well-deserved rest. It is a time for us to pay attention and give thanks for our many blessings and all the tiny details in our lives, all of which make life so beautiful…
Read the entire November 2022 Willows Life Newsletter (pdf).
Hello October!
Let the fall colors begin! It’s official, the summer is over, and autumn has begun. It’s such a beautiful time of the year! Who doesn’t enjoy the leaves from the trees and plants changing into multi-colored works of art before finally falling away? The bare and vulnerable branches that are…
Nothing Beats Fall!
Winter? Take it or leave it. But nothing, and I mean nothing, beats fall. It’s safe to say that fall is nearly everyone’s favorite season. The days might be getting shorter, and winter might be just around the corner, but autumn is full of pleasantly warm days with crisp air, sunshine, and beautiful fall foliage. The stunning hues of fiery red, yellow, and orange…
Read the entire September 2022 Willows Life Newsletter (pdf).
Wrapping Up Summer…
We were just talking about the start of summer, and now it’s almost time to say goodbye to the care-free warm days of this fun season. Although schools will be starting up again soon and we’ll all be back to busier schedules, there’s still time left to enjoy summer. The end of summer is September 21, so we will make the most of the next weeks with end-of-summer fun!
Jumping into July!
Summertime and the living is easy. Fish are jumping and the cotton is high. This Ella Fitzgerald song bumps through your mind, doesn’t it? Can you believe it is July? If anyone grew up on a farm in Iowa, July meant garden harvest. My grandparents had a large garden and would plant several different vegetables. My sister and I…
Welcome Beautiful June!
June just may be the most anticipated month of the year. After all, summer officially begins in June.
Everyone loves June because it is associated with relaxing and nature. The summer is a time for freedom, barbeques, beach days, and ice cream. Is it any wonder that we associate the summer months with feeling happy and carefree?
Hello May!
April showers… better be bringing a lot of May flowers! April ever changing. One minute it’s snowing, the next its 70 degrees, next day its strong wind gusts. It seems fitting that the spring is coming very slowly, but surely. Rainy as it was, we fully enjoyed
April…
Welcome Spring!
I am so excited. Spring is the season of hope and new beginnings. Spring to me is so much more than a change of seasons. It is a change of attitude. It’s a change of life. Spring is a season of action, to redo or begin life again. With that in mind, maybe we all should try something new and fresh in our lives…
Spring Is Almost Here!
In observance of National LTC Administrator’s Week we would like to recognize and honor our Executive Director, Jennifer Stanley.
Jennifer has been dedicated to providing quality care and leadership at The Willows of Marshalltown since 2019. We appreciate her strong leadership,
It’s February!
We’ve flown by January and into the season of love, perhaps the most powerful force in the universe. In this month of love and romance, I’m sharing the staff ’s favorite romance movies and quotes, mine included. If you haven’t watched these, check them out. Who doesn’t love curling up on the couch and getting lost in a good romance movie? Ok, maybe not the guys, but…
Read the entire February 2022 Willows Life Newsletter (pdf).
Happy New Year!
As we start a new year, we would like to express our sincerest gratitude for the generous holiday foods and goodies for the staff. So many gifts and greetings came through our front door. Thank you to all who gave in any way to our residents and staff. We are grateful to be living in such a loving and sharing community.
“You’re never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream (C.S. Lewis).” These encouraging words remind each…
Make it a December to Remember!
Wow! Here we are closing 2021, with all that December brings, and I swear it was just January. Tempus fugit!
When I think back to childhood Christmases, it’s not the gifts I remember, it’s being together as a family… it’s the memories I cherish. I remember how I felt on Christmas mornings past… excitement, pure joy for a day with family… and waking up way too early with my sister and brother… descending the stairs… seeing if Santa ate the cookies. I will never forget the warm monkey bread we enjoyed in our pajamas.
As a mom, I have tried to follow family holiday traditions.
Read the entire December 2021 Willows Life Newsletter (pdf).
Hello Everyone!
I hope this finds you happy. November marks the beginning of the best season of the year. It is a month of change as we move into winter and a well-deserved rest. It is a time for us to pay attention and give thanks for our many blessings and all the tiny details in our lives, all of which make life so beautiful.
A few weeks ago we said we are going to blink and it will be Christmas. Well, it is getting closer, isn’t it? I suppose my enjoyment of the month stems…
Read the entire November 2021 Willows Life Newsletter (pdf).
Nothing Beats Fall!
There’s a chill in the air, leaves are changing, stores are packed with pumpkins and spices, and Halloween decorations are popping up everywhere. The crisp air, cozy atmosphere, field harvest, and Friday night football games are in full swing.
At The Willows, we are making fall crafts, and fall decorations are going up…
Nothing Beats Fall!
Winter? Take it or leave it.
But nothing, and I mean nothing, beats fall.
It’s safe to say that fall is nearly everyone’s favorite season. The days might be getting shorter, and winter might be just around the corner, but autumn is full of pleasantly warm days with crisp air, sunshine, and beautiful fall foliage.
Read the entire September 2021 Willows Life Newsletter (pdf).
August, Summer’s Last Stand!
Summer is in full swing, and we are having a great time enjoying our days here at The Willows.
July was filled with fun and excitement, and we are keeping the ball rolling with lots of special events to keep everyone busy, socially engaged, and happy. You will love it.
Whether it be time with family and friends or other fun activities, be sure to soak up all the good that The Willows Life…
July is here, and so is the heat!
Wow, summer is here, and things are heating up around our community! It looks like the Dog Days of Summer are upon us! I hope everyone is enjoying the warm weather. I want to remind everyone to drink plenty of water and wear sunscreen…
To Me, May Is All About Mom!
Because without Mom we would not be here. Yet the specialness of May is nearly endless.
Not only do we celebrate Mom with Mother’s Day, we also celebrate Veterans with our Memorial Day Bar Be Que, Nurses with our Nurse’s Day grand ice cream sundaes, Cinco De Mayo and of course the planting of our gardens.
We also get to celebrate the glorious sunshine that May brings, as well as visits from friends and…
Hello Spring!
Hey, hey!! It’s April! What a fun month!
The days are getting consistently warmer, all joined by Easter, daffodils, and baseball. So many good things happen in April. For starters, April is all about freshening your home, because we know how winter has been hiding dust and clutter. So expect to see us coming through your apartments doing some inside window washing and more.
Also, there is something so “right” about bringing out your spring and summer wardrobe and…
Dear Residents and Families,
This letter provides important information on visitation in our community.
For almost a year many families have had limited in-person visits with their loved ones who live at The Willows of Marshalltown. With the recent development of vaccines and the high rates of vaccine distribution among nursing facility and assisted living residents, many family members expected that visitation restrictions would be completely lifted. However, you should know that CMS has not yet lifted or revised the nursing facility guidance that was issued on Sept. 17, 2020. These guidelines are tied directly to county positivity rates and unfortunately still prohibit some in-person visitation options.
Assisted living programs have been advised to follow this same guidance as a basis for visitation. The fact that CMS has not issued new guidance after recent long term care vaccination clinics has led to a great deal of frustration for our staff, residents, and families alike.
The purpose of this letter is to provide you with the most current visitation options available to you and your loved ones in our community, based on current guidance.
Resident Outing Guidelines:
Fully vaccinated residents do not have to quarantine following an outing if:
- They have completed final vaccine dose two weeks prior and no more than three months prior.
- They are asymptomatic.
- They were not exposed.
Unvaccinated residents must quarantine based on county positivity rates:
- <10% – Quarantine for 7 days
- >10% – Quarantine for 10 days
- Followed by negative COVID-19 test
Visitor Guidelines:
Visitors can be accepted if the following guidelines are met:
- The visit has been scheduled in advance.
- The visitor (s) have passed the mandatory screening questionnaire.
- The visitor (s) have passed the mandatory rapid Covid test
- Scheduled visits will occur inside the resident’s apartment OR
- Outside in the Willows Gazebo- weather permitting
- Visitor (s) must wear masks at all times during visit.
- Compassion Care Visits that have been scheduled in advance
- Face time, and zoom calls are still available to schedule anytime
We know that this past year has been an extremely challenging time for your family. Please know that we actively support all efforts to safely reunite you with your loved one and will provide you with the most current information as federal authorities revise visitation restrictions or we have other guidance that impacts these restrictions.
Please contact me, Jennifer Stanley if you have any questions about visitation at The Willows of Marshalltown.
Respectfully,
Jennifer Stanley
Executive Director
Happy Irish Month!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I’m wishing each of you the luck of the Irish this month. I feel lucky every day to do what I love. It is my greatest hope that each and every resident feel lucky to live at The Willows.
Read the entire March 2023 Willows Life Newsletter (pdf)
Spring Is Almost Here!
Here we stand in the no man’s land between winter and spring… in other words, March. Full of hope and frustrations, March is tempestuous and teasing.
Picture my current frame of mind — I’m watching snow fall as I write. Although winter has been comparatively mild this year, it feels like I and everyone I know are just…
Read the entire March 2023 Willows Life Newsletter (pdf).