Month: May 2020

Chad Nath is pictured with the two Mayflower VegTrugs.

Imagine Grinnell and Giving Gardens Provides Accessible Flower Boxes to Mayflower

While still the executive director of Imagine Grinnell, Rich Dana wrote a grant to the Iowa State University Extension Service for funding for four “vegetable trugs.” A “VegTrug” is a V-shaped wooden container used to grow plants. A VegTrug is a space-saving extra slice of garden with perfect soil that also looks great. Flowers as

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Kinnick Van Wyk

Thoughtful Pen Pals Supporting Mayflower

Pictured above: Kinnick Van Wyk writing a letter to his pen pal. Grinnellian Kristin Van Wyk contacted Kellie McGriff, Associate Director/Administrator of The Mayflower Community after seeing a Mayflower story about resident pen pal stories. Together, Kristin and Kellie made plans for Kristin’s three children to write to Mayflower residents in the Health Center and

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GMRC employees, Barb Baker, Allisa Stallman and Holly Tracy holding laptops

Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company Helps Mayflower with Grant

Pictured above: Holding the new Mayflower computer laptops from left are Tracy Woolfork, Activities Supervisor; Allisa Stallman, CNA and full-time pre-med student at the University of Dubuque; Holly Thomas RN, Director of Health Services; and Barb Baker, Director of Advertising and Community Relations at Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company. The Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company (GMRC) has

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Mayflower residents, Gloria and Wilma playing Bingo as Tina Frascht calls numbers

No Visitors, But Staying Engaged

Since early March, The Mayflower Community Health Center and Beebe Assisted Living buildings have been closed to visitors, with the exception of compassionate visits at the end of life. Fortunately, as of today (May 19th), not a single case of COVID-19 has been diagnosed among Mayflower residents or staff. Something is working! For our residents

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Health Center resident, Mary Ellen Lynch, talking with Chief of Police, Dennis Reilly.

Mary Ellen Lynch Honored by Grinnell Public Safety

On Wednesday, May 13th, Mary Ellen Lynch, a resident of The Mayflower Community Health Center, was honored with a drive-in visit by members of the Grinnell Police and Fire departments. Led by Dennis Reilly, Chief of Police, they arrived in front of the Health Center to read by loud speaker, a proclamation directed to Mary

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Mayflower distance walking community map

Mayflower is Active and Available

Life goes on in The Mayflower Community (Grinnell IA). Yes, our Health Center and Beebe Assisted Living are closed to visitors. And, all independent living group activities have been suspended. However, our over 200 independent living residents are still finding ways to live safe lives. We are practicing social distancing and asking that group gatherings

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Cheyenne Klos and Cindi Sheppard, winners of Mindy’s Meals gift cards.

Jennifer Stallman helps Mindy Do Meals Again

With the assistance of a contribution by Jennifer Stallman of Grinnell, Mindy’s Meals again provided free meal certificates to employees of The Mayflower Community. Jennifer is a pharmacy tech at Grinnell’s Medicap Pharmacy. Mindy Kriegel is the owner of Mindy’s Meals in Grinnell. She has been providing take-out dining experiences to locals (Grinnell, Brooklyn, and

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Front of IPOST form

IPOST. What?

Given the current focus on health, The Mayflower Community (Grinnell IA) feels that this a good time to remind you of the value of having a current version of your IPOST available in your home. IPOST stands for Iowa Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment. It contains specific instructions for emergency responders to use to

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Happy Nurses Day sign

A Touch of Thoughtfulness at Mayflower

Talk about timing! Yesterday, May 6th, marked the start of National Nurses Week, which then turns into National Skilled Nursing Care Week. If ever there were a time to stop and celebrate those thoughtful nurses and aides who put themselves at risk every day to provide loving care to those in need, it is now.

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Jeff Oliver (left) and Justin Routier head into a Mayflower apartment for some repair work

Please Wear Face Masks Around Mayflower

The push to protect others by wearing a face mask continues in The Mayflower Community. We have made face masks available to residents and have asked that they wear them when out and about. This is no guarantee, of course, but this process can help contain possible virus droplets from asymptomatic people. You will see

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