It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Historic Round Barn gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Cedar Falls, IA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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“Always Best Care in Cedar Valley IA realy helps me a lot. They have Reliable Caregivers who helped me to take care of my loved one for several years. They are highly trained and managed well the daily routines and activities like bathing and dressing. Caregivers of always best care is dependable and passionate to their work. I am satisfied and so glad that I chose their service. Highly recommend whoever needs their caregiving service!”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Black Hawk Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Montage or visit Cedar Falls Historical Society, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Cedar Falls, IA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Cedar Falls, IA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Cedar Falls, IA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission members voted 4-1 in favor of the Cedar Crossing CasinoCEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) has voted to approve a gaming license for Linn County, clearing the way for a proposed casino in Cedar Rapids.IRGC members voted 4-1 in favor of the application from Cedar Rapids Development Group, LLC and Linn County Gaming Association, LLC during its meeting Thursday at Prairie Meadows in Altoona.The Cedar Crossing Casino will be built at the former site o...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) has voted to approve a gaming license for Linn County, clearing the way for a proposed casino in Cedar Rapids.
IRGC members voted 4-1 in favor of the application from Cedar Rapids Development Group, LLC and Linn County Gaming Association, LLC during its meeting Thursday at Prairie Meadows in Altoona.
The Cedar Crossing Casino will be built at the former site of the former Cooper’s Mill on the west side of the Cedar River, across from Quaker Oats.
Jonathan Swain, president of Cedar Rapids Development Group, LLC, announced after the IRGC’s decision that groundbreaking will take place Friday morning.
“I’ve been at this for 12 years, I’ve been planning a groundbreaking for 12 years,” Swain said. “So, 11 o’clock tomorrow we’ll be in Cedar Rapids breaking ground.”
Swain believes it will take between 18 and 22 months to build the project.
MORE: ‘This was David versus Goliath!,’ mayor says after new casino license
Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell also said Cedar Rapids is ready to get to work right away.
“We’ll be moving dirt tomorrow,” Mayor O’Donnell said. “Wasting no time in getting this up and running. Linn County, Cedar Rapids deserves this. It’s only taken us 12 years to get here. Looking forward to a homecoming this afternoon and breaking ground tomorrow.”
IRGC member Amy Burkhart voted in favor of the Cedar Rapids casino, but called the decision challenging because she is from southeast Iowa where several casinos are located.
“At the end of the day I have to ask myself ‘what is my job and what is my role here?’” Burkhart said during the meeting. “Looking at the State of Iowa, and I won’t requote the numbers, all I see is net gain. I see net gain in terms of tax revenues for our state.”
MORE: Washington County nonprofit funding could be impacted by Cedar Rapids Casino cannibalization
Alan Ostergren was the lone IRGC member to vote against the Cedar Rapids project. Ostergren said he does not believe the IRGC has the legal authority to issue a license to Linn County.
“Obviously I’m one of five votes up here and that position has not carried any support,” Ostergren said. “We’ll see how that plays out.
Ostergren was referencing a petition filed last year by Riverside Casino and the Washington County Riverboat Foundation seeking to prevent the IRGC from granting Linn County a license. The petition argued the IRGC does not have the authority to grant Linn County a license because of language on a ballot measure passed by Linn County voters in 2021 that the petition argued was invalid.
In January, the IRGC opted not to make a decision over that petition. During Thursday’s meeting, IRGC chair Daryl Olsen said after consulting with legal counsel, that the majority of commissioners are satisfied that the IRGC has the authority to grant a gaming license to Linn County.
MORE: Quad Cities concerned after Cedar Rapids gets green light for casino
In a statement, Riverside Casino CEO Dan Kehl said he was disappointed by the commission’s decision.
“We appreciate the time and effort the commission and staff put into this,” Kehl said. “But we do have questions and concerns as we still believe the referendum requirement has not been met and are reviewing our next best steps.”
Mayor O’Donnell was asked about a potential lawsuit to block Linn County’s gaming license. O’Donnell said she expected more legal action.
“I’m really more focused on moving forward and a groundbreaking tomorrow for this casino,” O’Donnell said.
Cedar Rapids has faced multiple obstacles in its bid to get a casino license in addition to that petition.
Last month, Iowa House lawmakers passed a bill that would have placed a moratorium on new gaming licenses in Iowa until July 2030. That same bill would have also restricted the development of future casinos in Iowa beyond the five-year moratorium.
Tuesday, Iowa Senate leaders announced that bill would not advance any further because it did not have enough support in the chamber.
Mayor O’Donnell praised Tuesday’s announcement as a victory.
“Honestly it took my breath away in the senate committee meeting,” O’Donnell said Tuesday. “What a victory for this latest hurdle, keeping in mind we have one more really big one, the ultimate one coming up on Thursday.”
A previous moratorium signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds in 2022 expired last summer.
Cedar Rapids has also faced strong opposition from Iowa’s other casinos. Market studies have shown that while a Cedar Rapids casino would generate millions of dollars in new revenue, it could lead to the cannibalization of some of Iowa other casinos.
Riverside Casino in Washington County would stand to lose the most.
“There’s no other way for Washington to get this kind of revenue other than the Riverside Casino,” Patty Koller with the Washington County Riverboat Foundation told TV9 in January. “It will be a significant loss of jobs in Washington County. It’ll be a significant loss of revenue to nonprofit organizations and the municipalities in Washington County because when our revenues go down, then what we can give out is obviously going to go down.”
This is the third time in 11 years that the IRGC has had to make a decision on granting a gaming license to Linn County. The commission previously rejected applications in 2014 and 2017.
IRGC Chair Daryl Olsen says if this were just another casino, he wouldn’t have voted for it.
“It provides amenities, restaurants, 1,500 person venue for entertainment, arts and culture center, STEM lab. It is so much more. It’s unique and it provides much more than gaming and that’s so important to me,” he said.
Commissioner Julie Andres said, “I don’t think a project that is desired by a local community, gives that community an opportunity to thrive and develop, meets and even exceeds our standards for quality of design and amenities, and then provides a unique and differentiated product in the market, and provides a net gain of revenues to our state should be denied.”
Commissioner Olsen said the biggest issue with approving Linn County’s license was cannibalization.
“That is the one negative to this entire, to this project that I can look at and it is a negative. And that bothers me, but I can’t let one negative stand in the way of all the positives,” he said.
Commissioner Alan Ostergren, the sole no vote, disagrees.
“I think we’re going to disrupt what is currently in existence too much for the benefits to the, to the Linn County community, which I think will be considerable,” he said.
Ostergren also says he voted no because he doesn’t think the commission had the authority to grant the license.
Copyright 2025 KCRG. All rights reserved.
No. 4 UNI wrestling (12-1 / 6-1 Big 12) vs. No. 14 Iowa State (11-4 / 5-1 Big 12)CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- Days after earning its highest national team ranking in 37 years, the fourth-ranked UNI wrestling team will take to the mat inside the McLeod Center for the final time this season as the Panthers battle in-state conference rival and 14th ranked Iowa State on Sunday afternoon.Competition is slated to begin at 1 p.m. CT with live coverage of Sunday's dual available on FloWrestling and CFU Channel 15 with Jeff Bradley and ...
No. 4 UNI wrestling (12-1 / 6-1 Big 12) vs. No. 14 Iowa State (11-4 / 5-1 Big 12)
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- Days after earning its highest national team ranking in 37 years, the fourth-ranked UNI wrestling team will take to the mat inside the McLeod Center for the final time this season as the Panthers battle in-state conference rival and 14th ranked Iowa State on Sunday afternoon.
Competition is slated to begin at 1 p.m. CT with live coverage of Sunday's dual available on FloWrestling and CFU Channel 15 with Jeff Bradley and Jim Miller on the call. Live results can also be found online through TrackWrestling. In anticipation of high attendance, doors will open to fans 90 minutes prior to the dual.
Tickets can be purchased online through the UNI Ticket Office, by calling 319-273-4849 or through email at [email protected].
As part of UNI's senior day celebration, the Panthers will honor their senior class prior to the start of their final home competition. This year's senior class includes Evan Yant, Wade Mitchell, Kaleb Olejniczak, Adam Allard, Colin Realbuto, Cael Happel, Kyle Gollhofer, Lance Runyon, Parker Keckeisen and student manager Hunter Philpott.
Iowa State leads the all-time series 62-20 and has won the previous six matchups. The Panthers last win over the Cyclones came in Feb. 2019 at home, 22-13. Iowa State bested UNI in Ames last season, 27-14.
Northern Iowa earned five bonus point victories and eight total wins in its last outing, a 33-6 rout of North Dakota State in Fargo last Saturday. Sitting at 12-1 overall and 6-1 in Big 12 duals, UNI will look to reach 13 wins for the first time since going a perfect 13-0 in 2013-14.
The Panthers come in ranked fourth in the National Wrestling Coaches Association's (NWCA) weekly rankings, its highest mark since 1988. Iowa State meanwhile opened the season ranked sixth, but have fallen to 14th.
Sunday's dual is expected to see a handful of competitive rematches, including at 133 pounds with Julian Farber and No. 4 Evan Frost. Cael Happel (141 pounds) looks to stay unbeaten all-time against No. 9 Jacob Frost, while Colin Realbuto is expected to face off with sixth-ranked Paniro Johnson at 149 pounds. Ryder Downey and Cody Chittum (157 pounds) are expected to face off in a rematch of last year's Big 12 title bout, as Parker Keckeisen (184 pounds) takes on No. 10 Evan Bockman, a Utah Valley transfer who he defeated at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational earlier this season.
Panthers in the rankings [NCAA] (Intermat/FloWrestling) [As of 2/13/25]
SCOUTING IOWA STATE The reigning Big 12 Conference champion Cyclones visit Cedar Falls in the second of a three dual road trip to close out the regular season. Iowa State defeated No. 11 South Dakota State on Friday by a score of 20-15 and will visit No. 25 Missouri on Feb. 22.
Iowa State has won its last five duals against UNI dating back to 2020 by an average margin of 5.6 team points. UNI's last victory over the Cyclones came on Feb. 21, 2019 at home, 22-13.
The Cyclones return seven of their nine NCAA qualifiers from last season including reigning conference champions Anthony Echemendia (141 pounds), who has since moved up to 149 pounds, and Younger Bastida (heavyweight). ISU placed fourth at the national championships in Kansas City last March, its best finish since placing third in 2010 in Omaha.
Head coach Kevin Dresser is in his eighth season with Iowa State, closing in on 100 dual wins with the Cyclones. Dresser, the reigning Big 12 Coach of the Year, spent 11 seasons as the head coach at Virginia Tech, having produced eight Big 12 champions, 13 All-Americans and two NCAA champions.
PROJECTED MATCHUPS [NCAA] (Intermat / FloWrestling rankings listed)
UNI wrestling action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (University of Northern Iowa Wrestling), X (@UNI_wrestling) and on Instagram (@uni_panther_wrestling). Check out the latest Panther news and information online at UNIpanthers.com.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - “I’d like you all to get your calendars out and just pencil in a date... New Year’s Eve 2026 -we’re opening!”Those were the words from Brent Stevens, the founder and chair of Peninsula Pacific Entertainment (P2E), the operator of the future Cedar Crossing Casino in Cedar Rapids, promising to have the gaming and entertainment venue open on New Year’s Eve 2026.Friday morning, Cedar Rapids leaders along with the groups that will hold the newly approved gaming license ...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - “I’d like you all to get your calendars out and just pencil in a date... New Year’s Eve 2026 -we’re opening!”
Those were the words from Brent Stevens, the founder and chair of Peninsula Pacific Entertainment (P2E), the operator of the future Cedar Crossing Casino in Cedar Rapids, promising to have the gaming and entertainment venue open on New Year’s Eve 2026.
Friday morning, Cedar Rapids leaders along with the groups that will hold the newly approved gaming license for Linn County celebrated the groundbreaking for the $275 million casino at the former Cooper’s Mill location in northwest Cedar Rapids.
It’s been a decade-plus journey for Cedar Rapids to get to this moment following multiple rejections from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, legal challenges and a two year moratorium on new gaming licenses in Iowa that expired last summer.
Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell credited the people of Cedar Rapids for making this moment possible.
“This was about Cedar Rapids and it was by the people of Cedar Rapids that made this happen,” O’Donnell said. “The emails, the calls, the texts, and you know what I appreciated the most as mayor? The swagger.”
“This is what Cedar Rapids looks like!” O’Donnell said.
Another person at the groundbreaking was former Cedar Rapids council member Justin Shields. He was one of the first people to push for a casino 12 years ago.
“I knew that once we got something like this in Cedar Rapids that it would explode. I think it has done that already without being built,” Shields said.
Shields said he knew people from the county wanted a casino because he went to the other Eastern Iowa casinos and saw just how many cars with Linn County license plates were there visiting.
“People tried to tell me that there wasn’t a desire for this form of entertainment. But I knew better because I had studied it,” Shields said.
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Friday’s celebration comes after the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) has voted to approve a gaming license for Linn County on Thursday morning, clearing the way for the casino.
The Cedar Rapids Development Group and the Linn County Gaming Association are hosting the ceremony at the Cedar Crossing Site at the former Cooper’s Mill location in northwest Cedar Rapids.
Cedar Crossing is the largest gaming project in Iowa’s history.
The project is expected to include 700 slot machines and 22 table games.
It will also have restaurants and a 1,500-capacity entertainment venue.
Leaders on the project say the facility will revitalize an area of Cedar Rapids that hasn’t fully recovered from the 2008 flood.
Because it will be in an area prone to flooding, project leaders say improvements and reinforcements will be made, and the complex will be built above the flood plain.
Copyright 2025 KCRG. All rights reserved.
UNI men's basketball (11-7 / 5-2 MVC) at Southern Illinois (7-11 / 2-5 MVC)CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- Riding a two-game winning streak and sitting just one game out of first-place in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) standings, the UNI men's basketball team will look to complete the regular season sweep of Southern Illinois on Saturday when Panthers battle the Salukis.Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT at the Banterra Center, with live coverage available on ...
UNI men's basketball (11-7 / 5-2 MVC) at Southern Illinois (7-11 / 2-5 MVC)
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- Riding a two-game winning streak and sitting just one game out of first-place in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) standings, the UNI men's basketball team will look to complete the regular season sweep of Southern Illinois on Saturday when Panthers battle the Salukis.
Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT at the Banterra Center, with live coverage available on ESPN+, as well as the Panther Sports Radio Network with J.W. Cox and Kevin Boyle on the call.
Northern Iowa defeated SIU back on Dec. 29 inside the McLeod Center by a score of 78-67 to even the all-time series at 39 wins a piece. UNI, which has won the last three matchups with the Salukis, will look to complete its third regular season sweep of SIU in the last four years with a win.
The Panthers have been riding a hot shooting hand this season, ranking fourth in all of Division I with a 51.3% shooting clip, shooting over 50% in ten of its 18 games this year. UNI is also 14th nationally in effective field goal percentage (58%).
The Panthers, currently sitting in a three-way tie for second place in the MVC standings with Drake and Belmont, will look to keep pace with the first-place Bradley Braves after a 73-56 home win over Evansville on Tuesday night. Despite a tough shooting night from the purple and gold, UNI's bench outscored the Purple Aces by a 23-9 margin and held Evansville to 18% shooting from three-point range, a season-low for a Panther opponent this year. Head coach Ben Jacobson also picked up his 200th career win in MVC play with the victory, becoming the first coach in league history to reach that milestone.
Tytan Anderson finished Tuesday's game with 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while Will Hornseth's pressure inside the paint resulted in a career-high 12 point game. Ben Schwieger also posted a career night against the Purple Aces with ten points and a personal-best 12 rebounds for his first career double-double, as Trey Campbell, the reigning MVC Player of the Week, also notched ten points on three made three pointers. Jacob Hutson tallied nine points in the UNI win, with Max Weisbrod recording eight points.
Anderson, the MVC's leader in made free throws (81) and attempts (114) who also looks to continue climbing the program's top-ten all-time steals list, leads UNI with 14.7 points per game and a team-high 6.3 rebounds a game on 56.4% shooting. Anderson is also 15 assists away from becoming just the fourth player in program history to record 1,000 points, 700 rebounds and 200 assists in a UNI career, looking to join Seth Tuttle (2011-15), Eric Coleman (2004-08) and Don Lemons (1975-79) in an elite club of Panther players.
Hutson, who joined UNI's 500 career point club last week, has notched 12 points and 3.4 rebounds, while Campbell has posted 11.4 points and a team-high 54assists. Leon Bond III has tallied 11.1 points and 5.1 rebounds a game in his first season with Northern Iowa with a 58% shooting clip, as Schwieger, who is 35 points shy of his 500th career point, has put up 9.7 points and 4.4 boards per game as a starter in the the Panther lineup in the last nine contests. Hornseth, meanwhile, is shooting at a high percentage in his freshman season, posting a 75% clip on 42-of-56 shooting.
SCOUTING SOUTHERN ILLINOIS The Salukis return home to the Banterra Center after a commanding 73-51 road win at Missouri State on Wednesday. SIU dropped three in a row following its Dec. 29 loss at UNI, but bounced back with consecutive victories over the Bears, which also included an 88-78 overtime win at home to kick off a rare back-to-back against the same opponent.
Southern Illinois ranks third in the MVC in both offensive rebounds per game (11.2) and fastbreak points (10.6). The Salukis are also in the top half of the league in assists per game (14.7), blocks per game (3.2) and steals per game (7.4).
Ali Dibba, the MVC's leader in made field goals (111) and field goal attempts (226), leads SIU with 16. 1 points per game, with Kennard Davis Jr. notching 13.9 points. Jarrett Hensley has posted 11.8 points per contest for the Salukis.
Hensley led SIU with 20 points plus six rebounds in its loss at UNI last month, with Dibba scoring ten points. Drew Steffe tallied eight points as Rolyns Aligbe scored seven points with a team-high seven rebounds.
UNI men's basketball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Men's Basketball), X (@UNImbb) and on Instagram (@uni_basketball). The full 2024-25 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
LEWISVILLE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CareView Communications, a leading provider of integrated virtual care solutions for the healthcare industry (“CareView” or the “Company”) (OTCQB: CRVW), today announced a new business agreement with Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.Mercy Medical Center is an integrated healthcare system that serves as a major medical provider across Eastern Iowa. Founded 125 years ago, Mercy Medical Center ...
LEWISVILLE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CareView Communications, a leading provider of integrated virtual care solutions for the healthcare industry (“CareView” or the “Company”) (OTCQB: CRVW), today announced a new business agreement with Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Mercy Medical Center is an integrated healthcare system that serves as a major medical provider across Eastern Iowa. Founded 125 years ago, Mercy Medical Center continues to provide exceptional healthcare, with an emphasis on personalized and compassionate care for its patients. The system employs nearly 3,000 individuals across its more than two dozen locations.
“Mercy Medical Center has a rich tradition of serving its communities with a commitment to high quality healthcare services and compassionate care,” said Sandra McRee, Chief Operating Officer of CareView Communications. “For over 100 years, their commitment has been first and foremost to their patients, a commitment CareView shares, and we are excited to partner with their team to continue to enhance patient safety and experience.”
CareView’s Patient Safety System is designed to optimize virtual sitting outcomes. Leveraging AI and patented predictive technology, including Virtual Bed Rails® and Virtual Chair Rails®, it ensures continuous monitoring of multiple patients from a centralized location. Utilizing these innovative tools enhances patient safety while reducing sitter costs.
CareView’s solutions will focus on reducing patient falls and increasing patient safety. Focusing on quality and patient safety is a key initiative for the Mercy Medical team.
Mercy Medical Center has a group purchasing organization (GPO) contract with Vizient, Inc. CareView maintains strong relationships with Vizient and serves multiple healthcare systems with Vizient contracts, adding to the synergies and alignments the two organizations bring to this agreement.
About CareView Communications Inc.
CareView has been dedicated to supporting hospital care teams for over a decade with its innovative virtual care solutions. The Company has established successful partnerships with over 200 hospitals nationwide, implementing effective inpatient virtual care strategies that greatly enhance patient safety and overcome critical staffing challenges. The CareView platform, fueled by industry-leading predictive technology and supported by its purpose-built hardware, specifically addresses the unique requirements of virtual nursing and virtual sitting use cases. The CareView team works closely with their hospital partners to understand their evolving needs and deliver tailored virtual care strategies that align with their objectives. By providing healthcare professionals with the tools they need to deliver exceptional care, CareView contributes to improved patient outcomes and a more sustainable healthcare ecosystem. Learn more at care-view.com or follow CareView on LinkedIn.
Steven Johnson President & CEO CareView Communications 972-943-6050
877-292-2126
