Our residents proudly carried the Olympic torch across the Bartels campus today, sharing smiles, cheers, and a whole lot of team spirit along the way. Their journey culminated in the Chapel, where the torch was officially lit to kick off this year’s Bartels Olympic Games.
The energy was contagious, the camaraderie was inspiring, and the competition begins… with hockey!
We’re excited for a couple weeks filled with friendly competition, laughter, and community. Let the games begin!
She had 210 volunteer hours since January 1, 2024, which qualifies her for the Bronze level of recognition. Sharon was presented a certificate, letter from the President of the United States and medal for her accomplishment by Kristina Ladage, Volunteer Coordinator.
Bartels is among many area non-profit businesses to be accepted to participate in the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. This award recognizes volunteers who are committed to helping others. There are several steps to achieve recognition for this award including verifying volunteer hours, serving ethically according to the standards of Bartels, and maintaining a database of volunteers to name a few.
“Sharon is a one-of-kind person,” stated Ladage. “She is a retired teacher that spends time reading to our residents of Aspen Cottage three times a week. The residents just love the time she spends with them.
“When given the award, Sharon was shocked but also wanted to remind me and the residents, ‘I don’t do this for the recognition, I do this because I love all of you.’ That is a true heart of a volunteer.”
To receive the Bronze level, adults must have 100-249 verified volunteer hours. The Silver level is 250-499, Gold level is 500-plus and Lifetime Achievement is 4,000-plus hours. There are other categories and lower hour thresholds for children, teens and young adults.
The letter from the White House Sharon received stated, “The American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us. I congratulate you on taking it upon yourself to contribute to the public good, and I’m proud to present you with the President’s Bronze Volunteer Service Award in recognition of your 210 hours of service to this great Nation.
“Throughout our country’s history, the American story has been strengthened by those who combine an optimism about what can be with the resilience to turn that vision into reality. I know I’m not alone in recognizing that those who are willing to step up and volunteer in service of community and country are essential to the ongoing work of forming our more perfect union.
“By sharing your time and passion, you are helping discover and deliver solutions to the challenges we face – solutions that we need now more than ever. We are living in a moment that calls for hope and light and love. Hope for our futures, light to see our way forward, and love for one another. Through your service, you are providing all three.”
Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community has many opportunities for volunteers and welcome anyone interested to reach out for more information. Ladage can be reached at 319-352-6988, kladage@bartelscommunity.org or on the website at bartelscommunity.org/volunteer/.
It feels like this year, our 70th year, has gone extremely fast! Heading into Fall and the Thanksgiving holiday, it is a good time to express what we are grateful for and what is coming!
We have had many celebrations for our 70th, such as the Chamber Happy Hour, Heritage Days parade, a concert on campus and our recent Halloween carnival. These events bring us a great amount of joy, allow for fun interactions and remind us why we do what we do.
We are extremely grateful for all of our staff in the various areas on campus. They are engaged and show commitment to meet the residents’ needs. They enjoy engaging with the residents, getting to know specific needs for each and are heartbroken when we lose someone they are close to. It is critical we continue to stay competitive with their wages and recruit and retain our own in order to meet the staffing requirements and discontinue the use of agency staff.
Covid has now become just another page in our infection control manual. Although things have completely changed out in the community and everywhere else, there are still some requirements that remain enforced for the nursing center. This is confusing and frustrating for all of us. We still have a requirement to quarantine until negative test or 10 days.
The Flu and Covid vaccines have been administered this fall. Even with 75 percent of our residents receiving the Covid vaccine, we have several residents on the first floor and a few on the second floor who have Covid at the present time. There is no Covid in Evergreen Arbor, Aspen Cottage, Linden Place or Eichhorn House. We are not holding cross-floor activities or worship in the Chapel this week. Worship will happen in other areas as usual. The symptoms are mild, similar to cold-like symptoms. Visitation is open and the requirement is to educate there is Covid in the building and individuals are to wear a mask if visiting with someone who is symptomatic. If you feel sick it would be a good idea not to visit until you feel well. Staff are required to wear a mask in affected areas.
For Thanksgiving Day and the Thanksgiving meal, family members may take their loved ones out for a family festivity. We just ask you let the staff know and sign them out. You may also sign up to eat with your loved ones here if you sign up by Monday, Nov. 25, at noon with a cost of $14.00.
- For nursing areas (1st floor, 2nd floor and Evergreen Arbor) you will call Kathy at the main number 319-352-4540. You can also stop at the main desk to let her know and pay. There will be a limit of four guests per resident. There will be a variety of seating options.
- For Eichhorn Haus, Linden Place and Aspen Cottage…these areas have a sign-up sheet to eat in the dining areas.
- All staff working on Thanksgiving eat for free and will self-serve in the basement. Off-shifts, please go to the breakroom.
The menu is: turkey/ham, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy or sweet potatoes, green bean casserole or carrots and an assortment of pies. We will do our best to have enough to accommodate selections.
A huge shout out to our dining services team. They work hard to make this meal very special!
May you all have a very blessed Holiday. I will leave you with a couple of Thanksgiving thoughts.
“Thanksgiving Day is a good day to recommit our energies to giving thanks and just giving.” -Amy Grant
“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgiving, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” -William Arthur Ward
Peace be with you,
Paula Geise, CEO, MSN, LNHA
She has 133.96 volunteer hours since January 1, 2024, which qualifies her for the Bronze level of recognition. Susan was presented a certificate, letter from the President of the United States and medal for her accomplishment by Kristina Ladage, Volunteer Coordinator.
Bartels is among many area non-profit businesses to be accepted to participate in the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. This award recognizes volunteers who are committed to helping others. There are several steps to achieve recognition for this award including verifying volunteer hours, serving ethically according to the standards of Bartels, and maintaining a database of volunteers to name a few.
“I could have waited until Susan accumulated more hours for the Silver or Gold level, as I’m sure she will hit that mark, but I wanted her to know just how much Bartels appreciates her and all of our volunteers and Bartels is proud to have dedicated, caring volunteers,” commented Ladage.
“Susan is a gentle and kind soul that brings the best out in our residents,” added Ladage. “Whenever she walks through the dining hall or a hallway I often hear, ‘that’s Sue Blair, she is sooooo nice.’ She always has a smile, helping hand, a hug or sometimes a set of muscles when it’s time to put tables away after a birthday bash. She is someone I can always count on. When you think of a volunteer, one thinks of her smiling face.”
Susan was overwhelmed with joy when presented the award and kept stating that she is benefitting just as much from the volunteering and the residents at Bartels give her so much joy.
To receive the Bronze level, adults must have 100-249 verified volunteer hours. The Silver level is 250-499, Gold level is 500-plus and Lifetime Achievement is 4,000-plus hours. There are other categories and lower hour thresholds for children, teens and young adults.
The letter from the White House Susan received stated, “The American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us. I congratulate you on taking it upon yourself to contribute to the public good, and I’m proud to present you with the President’s Bronze Volunteer Service Award in recognition of your 133.96 hours of service to this great Nation.
“Throughout our country’s history, the American story has been strengthened by those who combine an optimism about what can be with the resilience to turn that vision into reality. I know I’m not alone in recognizing that those who are willing to step up and volunteer in service of community and country are essential to the ongoing work of forming our more perfect union.
“By sharing your time and passion, you are helping discover and deliver solutions to the challenges we face – solutions that we need now more than ever. We are living in a moment that calls for hope and light and love. Hope for our futures, light to see our way forward, and love for one another. Through your service, you are providing all three.”
Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community has many opportunities for volunteers and welcome anyone interested to reach out for more information. Ladage can be reached at 319-352-6988, kladage@bartelscommunity.org or on the website at bartelscommunity.org/volunteer/.
Tammy has been a member of the Aspen Cottage team for more than 5 years now and is an excellent ambassador for the Bartels Community. She demonstrates each of the “Bartels Heart Values” every day as she provides care and programming in collaboration with the Aspen Cottage team. The Bartels HEART Values include H-Honesty; E-Empathy; A-Accountability; R-Respect; and T-Teamwork.
Tammy recently demonstrated her strong commitment to Bartels by going above and beyond for one of the Aspen Cottage residents.
When resident Shirley Buhr found herself in the hospital in Iowa City, the Aspen Cottage team and especially Tammy demonstrated that their commitment to Shirley’s well being extended well beyond the walls of Aspen Cottage.
Tammy was planning a trip to Iowa City for an appointment of her own when she offered to make an extra stop to see Shirley while she was there. So, on behalf of the Aspen Cottage team, Tammy gathered some of her personal effects, put together a care package and delivered it all right to Shirley’s bedside in Iowa City.
Shirley was happy to see a familiar face in an unfamiliar environment. She appreciated Tammy’s visit and enjoyed having a few items from home. She welcomed the warm blanket and the soft stuffed animal from the care package as well. When their time together ended, Tammy said goodbye and shared the well wishes from all of her friends at Aspen Cottage.
It wasn’t long after Tammy left the hospital that Shirley’s family arrived at the hospital to keep her company, where Tammy’s kind gesture did not go unnoticed.
The very next day, Brenda (Shirley’s daughter), called Kara, the director at Aspen Cottage, to recount the event. She expressed her surprise and overwhelming appreciation for Tammy’s act of kindness. “Taking time to stop by, thinking of the things Shirley might need while she was away, gifts … and she hand delivered it,” Brenda exclaimed. “It’s just incredible!” She went on to say Bartels is very lucky to have someone like Tammy on the team and that they were beyond grateful for her kindness. Her thoughtfulness and commitment were simply above and beyond the call of duty.
As a proud member of the Bartels team, Kara stated it was a wonderful call to receive … even better to deliver the message to Tammy herself. Well done team! Keeping living those Bartels HEART values!
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