ACTIVITIES CENTERS
Poppies
Poppies made by IVH residents are distributed nationwide. The Iowa Veterans Home is one of the places in the nation where poppies are made. Any capable veteran interested in making poppies should contact the Rehabilitation Services Office. Veterans are paid for each poppy they make. The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors the Poppy Program by providing the supplies, payroll, and distributing the poppies in various communities. Only veterans are eligible to make poppies.
Annually, IVH ships out over 500,000 large and small poppies throughout Iowa, Vermont, and New Hampshire. IVH poppy season usually starts in July and the annual poppies quota is usually made by December.
Ceramics
Located on the main floor of Malloy Building, ceramics shop is open Monday through Friday for designated class times. IVH staff is available to assist in items' selection and provide instructions on how to complete a project. Residents pay for the cost of the materials and supplies they use, and may keep the finished projects or sell them in the Gift shop.
Arts & Crafts
Located on the main floor of the Malloy Building, Arts and Crafts is open Monday through Friday. The workshop has needlework, macramé, leather work, decoupage, painting, rug weaving, and much more available. The staff provides one-to-one assistance to residents enrolled in classes. There a minimal costs to residents to cover basic supplies. Residents have the opportunity to place items for sale in the Gift Shop if they choose to do so.
Woodworking
The Woodworking Shop is located in the Malloy Building basement. The Woodworking Program has the material, plans, power and hand tools needed to make projects such as cribbage boards, toy chests, picture frames, and other wood crafts. This shop is open when staff and/or volunteers who work in the area are available to offer assistance and monitor the shop area.
ON CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
IVH provides many on-campus resident activities and residents should always check Weekly Recreation Activity Calendars because new activities are regularly introduced along with popular and well-established activities.
Among popular on campus activities are the following:
Bingo - always a crowd favorite;
Nut Picking - residents gather in Kopper Kettle to pick walnuts clean, share coffee, cookies and conversation.
Current Events - residents view a DVD of the week happenings and discuss local and global happenings.
Out for Walks - residents walk outside weather permitting, inside if inclement weather and during their walks they visit Canteen, Library, Aviary, and other points of interest.
Sports Picks - residents pick a list of games each week during football and baseball season. Prizes are awarded to top two finishers.
Balloon Volleyball - residents use a lighter volleyball to play the game.
Card games and Table games – are available on all units. Some games are unit events, while others are individual games.
Reminiscing - is a popular activity among residents: they share their life stories and it is always fun to remember the past.
Exercise classes - are popular to keep people physically fit and motivated. Music – either with Fun Machine, CD player, or Music Therapist occurs on many units.
Movie & Popcorn - is popular with among many residents.
Coffee Club/ Seasonal Dinners - occur on regular basis. Dinners like BLT’s and Sweet corn, Oyster stew, Waffles, grilled steaks, hamburgers and seasonal side dishes like potato salad, chili suppers and many more.
Card Bingo - where two decks of cards are displayed to a table full of residents who see if they have the card in their area; and if so, in it goes until somebody has thrown in all their cards and wins.
Pool Tables are in the Malloy LRC available for use 24-7 unless a facility-wide activity is going on. The workout room is available for individual approved exercise.
Giant Crossword puzzles are completed in unit dayrooms.
In Heinz Hall, electronic touch play and Wii games are available
OFF CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
Residents of IVH attend programs off grounds to enhance their daily lives. Cultural opportunities such as Plays at the Community Center, Musical concerts at Marshalltown High School Auditorium, craft sales at Marshalltown community college, Model Trains exhibit at Colfax are examples of events IVH residents visit. Athletic events such as High School Football Playoffs at the Uni-Dome in Cedar Falls are very popular among residents as well as State Basketball Tournament in Des Moines, High School football and basketball at Marshalltown High School, and BCLUW High School. Stock car races at Marshalltown Speedway and Knoxville are always fun to attend.
Seasonal trips occur for Easter dinner and Thanksgiving dinner in Des Moines. July 4 is an annual trip to Marshalltown community college for the fireworks and food snacks. Restaurants within a 50 mile area are visited on a regular basis to give residents an opportunity to eat away from home and order different kinds of food. Mexican, Chinese, Swedish and Barbeque are some of the dining out opportunities presented.
Fishing trips to local lakes are very popular. Residents can fish with IVH equipment or use their own. Bait is provided to the fishermen. At noon or evening (depending on the time of the trip), a full meal is provided. Transportation, of course, is provided also with a specially constructed bus along with 2 – 15 passenger vans. The bus has a lift for wheelchair bound residents for their trips.
Cafeteria Menu
Dining Areas
Each nursing unit is equipped with a multi-purpose day room that can be used for a variety of activities. The dayrooms are the primary gathering spot for residents who receive their meals on the unit. Residents who choose to receive their meals on their living units can dine in the dayrooms and enjoy a social atmosphere with fellow residents, or with friends and family members who visit. Residents also have the option of dining in their own rooms.
The Atha Dining Room is located on the first floor of the Malloy Building. It was built in 2002 and has the capacity to seat 200 people at a time very comfortably. It is open for two hours every meal. This allows the residents some flexibility to attend meals around activities, appointments, or simply when they’re good and hungry and feel like eating. The Atha Dining Room has several display cases for exhibits, and also contains many windows to take in the view of the Veterans Home Campus. Two buffet style lines operate simultaneously to provide faster service to residents, guests, and staff.
The Dack Dining Room is located on the main floor of the Dack Building. This dining room is used to feed residents who live in the Dack Building or Heinz Hall. Most of the residents who eat there are mobile enough to get themselves back and forth from their unit to the Dack Dining Room, but usually not mobile enough to negotiate the distance needed to get back and forth from the main dining room in Malloy.
Weekly menus are posted in the entry way of both dining rooms and in specific locations on each nursing unit. Residents are able to look at the menus in these areas and determine whether they want to eat the meal that is being served by the food service department, have a sandwich or snack from the unit’s supply of food stock, or to eat in the canteen. Meal tickets are available for guests and family members at the switchboard, located in the lobby of the Sheeler Building, or in the gift shop in the Malloy Building.
The Canteen is located on the main floor of Malloy Building on the south side, between the Barber Shop and the Lounge. Sandwiches, soup, snack foods, pop, ice cream, watches, razors, tobacco, cards, and daily living supplies are available for sale there.
Payment is by cash or Canteen Books only. Canteen counter hours are from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. every day, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas days. The Canteen area is open 24 hours a day to allow access to the vending machines. Items sold by the machines are pop, coffee, sandwiches, soup, and candy.
Dietitian
A Registered Dietitian is a part of each IVH resident’s health care team. The Registered Dietitian:
- Evaluates the resident’s nutritional status, taking into account any medical problems, age, laboratory work, physical capabilities, and personal health and nutrition goals.
- Develops and presents options for a plan to the resident and/or family to improve or maintain nutritional status.
- Educates the resident on how simple changes may lead to a healthy lifestyle.
Reassesses every 90 days. Progress is recognized. Goals are revised, if desired, for the next 3 months.
Nutrition education is also available in support group settings such as Diabetes Support Group and the new Weight Management Support Group. Other educational opportunities are provided through displays in the cafeteria and monthly articles in the resident newspaper.
IVH has a staff of experienced long term care Registered Dietitians who are actively involved in the overall health care of each resident.
Alcoholic Beverages
The moderate use of alcoholic beverages is generally regarded as a socially acceptable activity. However, as a professionally staffed health care facility, we are acutely aware of the problems associated with the excessive use of alcohol and of the responsibility we have for instituting therapeutic forms of intervention.
If residents feel drinking presents a problem in their lives, there is an alcoholism counselor available to provide consultation and services. If problems with drinking persist, staff may make a referral to the counselor on residents' behalf.
Visitors, staff, and residents should be aware that under no circumstances may alcoholic beverages be brought onto the grounds of the Iowa Veterans Home. To do so may be grounds for dismissal from the facility.
Barber and Beauty Shop
The Barber Shop is open several days a week; hours are posted. The shop is located on the main floor of Malloy building next to the Canteen. A resident employee helps residents get to and from the Barber Shop, if help is needed. The Barber Services must be paid for by the resident.
The Beauty Shop is open several days a week by appointment. A resident employee helps residents to and from the Beauty Shop, if help is needed. The Beauty Shop is located in the Loftus Building basement near the Physical Therapy Department. Resident must pay for the Beauty Shop Services.
Furniture
Because of the limited space in resident rooms, any furniture brought into the Home must be approved prior to moving it in. The Home provides a bed, desk, two chairs (one lounge chair), lamp, curtains, and a closet. However, residents may bring their own furniture such as a lamp, TV, favorite chair, small table, computer, or a bed. Small refrigerators are allowed on a conditional basis. Pictures are allowed, but a maintenance representative should called in to hang pictures in residents' rooms. A resident may place a work order to accommodate such a request.
Rugs are not allowed. Bookshelves are supplied for residents' books or knickknacks. Besides the closet in residents' rooms, there is a limited storage area for other personal belongings. This storage area measures 24 inches long by 36 inches wide by 22 inches high. When a storage area becomes overcrowded, residents are asked to remove some items. Any appliances with heating elements such as electric blankets, recliners, coffee pots, toasters and alike are not permitted.
Gift Shop
Articles for sale in the gift shop are handcrafted by residents in the Iowa Veterans Home activities centers. Residents receive the full sales price of the item, less the cost of materials. Items for sale include craft, leather, rugs, ceramics, and wood items.
Gift shop hours:
Monday through Friday: from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: from 12:30 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Phone: 641-753-4472
Greenhouse
The greenhouse is located on the main floor of Malloy Building and can be accessed through the stairwell door at the top of the Dack ramp. The area is open Monday through Friday for residents and visitors who enjoy stopping in to look at plants. If residents want to do some work in the greenhouse, they must contact their unit Recreation Therapist or the Director of Recreation Therapies.
Garden plots are available to any resident who wants to plant and is able to take care of a garden. Recreation Therapy is in charge of allocating plots and having them prepared for planting. Garden boxes are available on a limited basis for gardeners who cannot work in a ground level plot. Residents may buy their own seeds and plants--a shopping trip is usually planned for gardeners--and gardening equipment is available for the gardeners' use. Gardeners may distribute the produce from their gardens as they wish. All gardeners are expected to maintain their plots or boxes and provide the necessary care for the plants.
Laundry
There are several ways for residents to keep their clothes clean. Residents may launder themselves; there are laundering facilities on each unit, equipped with a washer, dryer, detergent, iron, and ironing board for use. Laundering facilities are also available in Heinz Hall. Residents can have their clothing dry cleaned; clothes to be dry cleaned are picked up at the unit desk each Tuesday morning and returned on Friday afternoon. Dry cleaning is done by a local business and must be paid for by the resident.
Residents may have their clothes laundered by the Home. Laundry is returned two or three times a week, depending on where in the Home a resident lives. This service is free to residents.
By whichever means residents have their clothes laundered, it is extremely important that they have all their clothes marked with their name. If clothes' items are not marked, they could get lost. If not claimed in the Sheeler Personal Property Room, unmarked clothing is donated to the clothes closet.
Mail
Mail is delivered to each unit every afternoon except Sundays. It is then sorted and placed in residents' mailboxes.
Letters to be mailed can be put in the U.S. mailboxes in the Sheeler Building lobby, in Malloy Building, in Dack Care Facility, or given to Nursing Unit Coordinators. Heinz Hall residents can take their mail to the Dorm Office. All letters need to have U.S. postage stamps that are available at Heinz Hall Office, the Cashier's Office, and a stamp machine in the Canteen. All mail leaves the Home at the same time: 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Resident Council
All residents become members of the Resident Council when they are admitted to the Home.
Residents are encouraged to participate in the life of the Home and in decision making that affects their life. Residents are invited to attend Resident Council meetings on a regular basis. These meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month, except in December, at 6:30 p.m. in the Dack Care Facility. The Commandant meets with the Resident Council every third month, or quarterly.
Announcements of these meetings are posted throughout the facility on main bulletin boards under the Resident Council section and are distributed to resident mailboxes. The regularly scheduled Resident Council meetings provide residents with an opportunity to have an active voice in the life of the IVH community. The Council is run by officers elected by the membership every two years. The Executive Committee consists of a President, a 1st Vice President, a 2nd Vice President, and a Secretary/Treasurer.
Residents’ Rooms
Click on the following links to find out more about our rooms:
Dack/Malloy resident room
Loftus/Sheeler (dementia) room
Residents' living area consists of a bed, bedside stand, desk and chair, high-backed chair or rocker, and closet. Within the closet there is a set of drawers. In the Heinz Hall, Malloy Building, and Dack Care Facility buildings, one of the drawers has a lock. The key to this drawer may be obtained from the Nursing Unit Coordinator (NUC). There is a bathroom in each room.
Residents can have portable televisions which are hooked up to cable TV. Basic cable channels are provided for free; yet, residents should pay for additional Home Box channels. Arrangements for this go through the Adjutant's Office
Residents' requests for room repairs should be made through a Nursing Unit Coordinator (NUC). NUC will notify the proper department. Domestic Services (housekeeping) mops the floors daily; however, IVH requests that residents keep their rooms clean and neat. If needed, a secured storage area is provided for seasonal clothes or other personal items.
Smoking
Residents are asked to be considerate of others when smoking. Smoking is prohibited throughout the Iowa Veterans Home except for specially designated places assigned as approved smoking areas. Smoking in elevators and in resident rooms is forbidden.
Any resident who wishes to stop smoking is asked to contact a nurse or social worker. Individualized smoking cessation programs are available and staff will gladly refer residents to those services. There is informational material available to residents as well as staff who would like to stop smoking.
Social Workers
Every unit has assigned social workers. Often, social workers are the first line of resource or assistance for a variety of resident's problems, needs, or concerns of a personal, social, or emotional nature. Social workers are directly involved in the preadmission and admission processes. They will provide direct assistance and information about many matters if you choose to select the Iowa Veterans Home as your new place of residence. Social workers can help you maintain connections with your families and friends; they can be useful advocates as you try to get familiar with the system; or, they can simply be a friendly and helpful resource in dealing with daily living, coping, or problem-solving issues.
Social workers will help with Advance Directives if you become unable to make decisions for yourself, and your wishes will can carried out. Social workers will help you understand Residents’ Rights so that you will remain in control of decisions that affect your life.
Social workers will discuss the care planning process with you and your family and will assist you in the fullest participation in your own care plan. It is their goal to help make the Home as user friendly and as close to home as possible for IVH residents. Social workers at IVH are here to serve you, advocate for you, and help you have the highest quality of life you desire and deserve.
Spiritual and Religious Life
Meeting the spiritual and religious needs of the residents is a priority of the IVH. Residents come to IVH from a variety of religious traditions and spiritual backgrounds. Those beliefs and practices which are sacred to residents are respected and encouraged as residents make their home at IVH.
The IVH has a beautiful chapel, The Veterans Memorial Chapel, located at the southwest corner of the Malloy building on the main floor. The chapel was completed in 1978. Prior to its construction, services were held in Whitehill Auditorium and various locations around the IVH. The chapel features a drop brick architecture and stained glass panels. The chapel is used for several services each week as well as for personal prayer and meditation.
Each week there are a variety of services in the chapel. On Sundays, there are two worship services and, for those who need assistance to attend, escorts are available. Each Tuesday there is a video on a spiritual topic followed by discussion. Wednesday afternoons a Catholic Communion Service is held and communion is distributed through the units, upon request for both Catholic and Protestant residents. Thursdays are busy with Bible Study at 1:30 followed by Mass at 3:00. And every day at 4:00 residents gather in the chapel to pray the Rosary together. Sacraments are available on a regular basis and as needed or requested.
There are also weekly devotions on many of the units. These provide pastoral support for residents with special needs or for those who are unable to get to the chapel. A weekly Spirituality Group also gathers for those who want to explore spiritual issues in a supportive discussion format.
There are also special services planned through the year. Each quarter there is a special prayer service for the military. There are services for days within the Christian year like Ash Wednesday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. Morning prayer services are also held during the Lenten and Advent Seasons.
A special service, which has recently been initiated, is a Quarterly Memorial Service. This takes place every three months. The purpose of this service is to invite residents, staff, and families to share together in a healing service remembering those residents who died the past quarter. Refreshments and time for sharing are also part of this memorial tribute.
IVH employs three full time Chaplains along with a priest who serves on a part time basis. The chaplains balance their time between meetings with residents and family one-on-one and scheduled activities in the chapel or throughout the facility. Chaplains have the opportunity to provide on-going support for residents struggling with spiritual issues such as grief and loss, forgiveness, anger, acceptance, hope, or feeling as though God or life has treated them unfairly. Regardless of the faith background of the resident, chaplains are available for pastoral care. They also help residents as residents prepare for death and support families through this process. Chaplains provide pastoral support to staff as well and they work alongside other clinicians and provide consultation to interdisciplinary treatment teams.
Visiting Hours
The Iowa Veterans Home encourages visitors. Visiting hours are posted throughout the facility; however, the main doors are locked at 11:00 p.m. Special arrangements for late visitors can be made with administrative approval.
Visitors are expected to respect the privacy of other residents and all the rules of the Home. There are no age restrictions for visitors; however, children 12 years and under must be accompanied by parents or a responsible adult and should be supervised while visiting. Some visitors may stay overnight. The Home provides two kitchen/dining room areas for family meals. Everything but the food is provided. The Kopper Kettle, where visitors can cook their own meals, is located between the Gift Shop and Creative Clayworks on the main floor of Malloy Building. There is a kitchen-dining room area in the Heinz Hall recreation room. To reserve either of these areas, residents need to contact their Recreation Therapist.
Holidays and Special Events at the Iowa Veterans Home
MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATION AND VETERANS DAY
The Iowa Veterans Home celebrates these two holidays with a special program held in the Malloy Building. Special music, guest speakers and dignitaries are a part of each ceremony. The residents, families, staff and community residents are welcome to attend. On Memorial Day, a procession to the IVH Cemetery culminates in the placing of a memorial wreath to honor all veterans.
4TH OF JULY
The 4th of July is always filled with activity and anticipation of the community fireworks display in the evening. The picnic in the courtyard is served by volunteers/staff and sponsored by the Resident Council. Special entertainment during the afternoon is likely to include music. Transportation to a special viewing location is arranged by Recreation Therapies so the residents can participate in the Marshalltown Community.
MUSIC FESTIVAL
The annual IVH Music Festival is held on a Saturday in September from 11-4 in the South Malloy parking lot and the Shelter House. A number of top local musical groups perform. A meal will also be available with a donation requested. It’s a good chance for folks to spend a pleasant day outside listening to good music.
IVH APPRECIATION WEEK
Spring is the season of “renewal” and it is very fitting that the early spring is the time to celebrate the efforts and contributions of all the dedicated staff, support the Community Food Box, and provide opportunity to interact with the local elementary school children.
In May, IVH designates activities to be enjoyed by everyone and to include community participation. The week is full of special events that include: antique farm equipment show/parade, barnyard animals, Food Box Drive, raffles for prizes, bake sale, pie auction, barbeque, mini Olympics, patriotic bingo, and more.
HALLOWEEN
Halloween is celebrated with a party on each unit and a dance in the Atha Dining Room.
CHRISTMAS
Christmas for residents at the Iowa Veterans Home begins early in December with the annual Christmas Visit Day. Family and friends of residents respond to the invitations from their loved ones and come to enjoy church services, special music/entertainment, movies/popcorn, holiday cookies/refreshments, Santa’s Photo Shop, visiting the Gift Shop and touring throughout the facility. In addition to the Christmas Visit Day, the residents enjoy the opportunity to do some Christmas shopping at the American Legion Auxiliary Gift Shop where a limited number of gifts can be selected (at no cost to the resident), packaged and shipped, compliments of the Auxiliary. The Marshalltown Community Merchants have initiated the “Adopt-a-Vet” program which provides families in the community an opportunity to adopt a veteran and buy them a Christmas gift, all in the spirit of the season. The IVH Volunteer Services Program receives sufficient funding, from a variety of civic and veteran organizations, to purchase a gift and celebrate the Christmas season with every resident of the Iowa Veterans Home.
VETERANS FIELD
Veterans Field, located on the grounds of the Iowa Veterans Home, is home to Marshalltown Little League Baseball from late April to July each year. The field was reconstructed in 2004 due to a generous grant from the Region 4 U.A.W. Veterans. An average of 2 games are played each week during the season, much to the enjoyment of residents, staff, and the Marshalltown community. A concession stand is located near the field and is operated by residents of the Iowa Veteran Home.
ARTS FESTIVAL
Each Spring residents are given the opportunity to display their leather craft, ceramics, needlework, painting, drawing, and woodworking projects at the IVH Arts Festival. This event is sponsored by the Iowa American Legion Auxiliary. All residents receive a Certificate of Participation, and cash prizes are awarded to the top three finishers in each category. Residents take great pride in using their creative talents and look forward to this annual event.